Cannonading was kept up until dark, firing being in the direction
of the ferry to defeat a crossing. During the night preparations
were made for an assault on the intrenchments on the following
morning. The Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Steedman, and the Tenth
Kentucky, Colonel Harlan, reported after the fight, where placed
in the front of the advance, and were the first to enter the
intrenchments. Schoepff's brigade joined the command during the
evening, and was placed in position for the attack.

At midnight Crittenden abandoned everything, and between that hour
and daylight escaped across the river by means of a steamer and
some barges at the landing, which he burned, leaving behind him
his badly wounded, all of his cannon--twelve pieces--with their
caissons packed with ammunition, a large amount of small arms,
with ammunition for the same, over one hundred and fifty wagons,
and more than one thousand horses and mules, with a large amount
of tools, stores, camp and garrison equipage.

As all the boats were destroyed, it was impossible for Thomas to
cross his command in pursuit. General Thomas in his official report
of the engagement says: "Their command was completely demoralized
and retreated with great haste and in all directions, making their
capture in any number quite doubtful if pursued. There is no doubt
but that the moral effect produced by their complete dispersion
will have a more decided effect in re-establishing Union sentiments
than though they had been captured."

The rebels suffered terribly by heavy marching through the rain,
mud, and cold, with insufficient food; frequently with nothing but
parched corn to sustain life. Crittenden finally took position at