“The men were clustered together in groups. They were doing little talking. Their faces were turned to the south, listening. Occasionally musketry could be heard accompanying the artillery. Smith and Thayer and their staff officers collected around me, and were surprised when I told them the order General Grant had left me.
“Ten o’clock, and still the air laden with noises of the struggle going on—still no order; 10:30—yet no order. Smith got into his saddle and rode away, saying: ‘I guess Grant sees he can get along without us.’
“Eleven o’clock. The firing was no longer continuous, but at intervals and in outbursts. Thayer suggested that an order might have been started and the messenger intercepted. I thought not; for if the situation on the field called for us, the possibility of an accident to a courier by land would necessitate sending him by boat. So I ordered a staff officer, Major Ross, to ride to the landing and see if anything had come down by the river. About half a mile down the road he met an officer on the horse I had left, who asked him where General Wallace was. Ross told him; then he asked, in turn, if he had orders for General Wallace. The officer said he had, and gave the Major a paper, which the Major read. In a short time Captain Baxter, a Q. U. of General Grant’s, introduced himself to me and placed the paper in my hand, saying: ‘Here is an order.’
“Our watches showed 11:30 o’clock. The officers of my staff and of Thayer’s closed around me while I read. The paper was a half sheet of foolscap, dented with boot heels and soiled with tobacco juice, and it was folded, not enveloped. The writing was in pencil. Strangest of all, no signature was attached. I passed the paper to Thayer to read, and, turning to Baxter, asked: ‘How is the fighting going, Captain?’
“Baxter replied: ‘Very well. We are repulsing them all along the line.’
“The paper was returned to me, and I read it a second time, and, noticing its deficiencies, inquired:
“‘Who is this from, Captain?’
“‘General Grant.’
“‘Why is it not signed?’
“He then explained: ‘I received the order verbally. Not being used to carrying orders, I picked the paper from the floor of the cabin as I came down and wrote what you see. I was afraid I might make a mistake.’