Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

A dry moat surrounded Fort Davidson. During the third and final desperate Confederate assault, Arkansas troops of General William Cabell's brigade fought their way into the moat and prepared to climb the wall. Hand grenades were brought from the magazine to drive them out.

"...We rushed back to the banquette with the grenades and passed them to the men in front, with orders to throw them into the ditch. Pandemonium instantly broke loose ... Men were blown above the parapet and fell back dead; the ditches were cleared as if by magic. It struck terror to the enemy's lines, and they fell back in disorder...."

Confederate officers blamed the failure of the assault on the depth of the moat and the steepness of the fort walls.

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