Interpretive Sign: The Moat (1 on map)
Tour Stop
Directions: There is an interpretive sign [ Waypoint = N37 37.204 W90 38.395 ] that provides information about the moat that surrounded Fort Davidson. Do not enter Fort Davidson right away, but walk clockwise around the outside of the fort. The interpretive sign is just a few yards ahead.
Description: The text on the interpretive sign:
A dry moat surrounded Fort Davidson on all sides. During the third and final desperate Confederate assault, Arkansas troops of Gen. 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.
Captain William J. Campbell, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, later described what happened when the Confederates were threatening to scale the walls and get into the fort. [97]
"The enemy was now making his third desperate charge, and only veteran soldiers can appreciate what that means. If this could be repulsed, the worst part of the battle would be over. We sprang upon the banquette to see where the men could best be posted to meet the terrible on-coming masses of the enemy. We could count three long lines, each four ranks deep, coming from two directions, while our artillery and musketry mowed down their ranks. In a moment their front line went down in the ditch. I shouted to my men: “Turn your fire into the ditch! The enemy is in the ditch!” … an artilleryman called to me in a hoarse voice: “Get out the hand grenades!” … we rushed back to the banquette 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."