The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-21


important forced, reconnaissance last night,
which was completed to-day. We broke up
the rebel nest at Blooming Gap. We ran
down and captured seventeen commissioned
officers, among them Colonies, Lieut., Coils.
Captains, &c. We engaged them with 400
cavalry. Our infantry was not near enough
to support the cavalry. and the enemy were
retiring. We have in all, IS prisoners and
killed 13 Of the enemy, and lost two men and
six horses ut their first FIRE.
led the charge in person, and 1t was
complete surprise. Col. Carroll commanding
the 9Th or 9Th regiment made o very daring
and successful reconnaissance Immediately
afterwards, 10 Myers store. Major Froth.
ingham is entitled % great credit for build
ing. under my direction, In four hours, in
the dead Of night, complete bridge across
the Great Cacapon ut an unfrequented noun
tain road. Two columns Of 1000 men each
marched 80 miles, and one column AZ miles
since fonr o'clock yesterday afternoon,
besides bridging the river.
The papers taken, and my own reconnois.
ance. prove the country clear, and that Jack.
SON and Loring are in Winchester. We
made move and occupied Blooming Gap
and Roint Mill, on the belief, by information
obtained from deserten, that Gen. Casson'S
Brigade was there. ..-........-.
Gen. Dunning has just arrived at New
Creek from Moorfeld, 40 miles south OF
Romney. He has captured 225 beet cattle
and broke up the guerrilla haunt there
Two oil his men were badly wounded, but
several Of the rebels were killed. The enemy
has been driven out Of the Department.
(Signcd.) F. w. LANDER.
.. Brigadier General.
.. . ST.. LOUIS, l6.
A special dispatch to the Democrat, dated
Cairo, Sunday afternoon, says Commodore
Foote reached here at IL O'Clock last night,
on board the gunboat Conestoga. lie storm
ed Fort Donelson Friday afternoon with the
gunboats St. Louis, Louisville, Pittsburg,
Carondolet, Tyler and Conestoga. After
fighting little over an hour, he withdrew.
FIfty.four were killed and wounded, our gun
boat pilots, Riley and Hinton, Of the st.
Louis, being among the latter.
Commodore Foote, while standing on the
pilot house Of the st. Louis, his flagship,
was slightly wounded. The st. Louis was
hit 6l times. Two Of the gunboats were
disabled. The Tyler and Conestoga remain.
ed out Of range Of the enemy's guns.
The line of battle was as follows The
st. Louis on the right, next the Louisville,
and the Pittsburg and Carondolet on the
left. The enemys firing wns very accunte.
They had three batteries, one near the wa.
ter, one GO feet above this, and third so
feet above the second. The upper one mount
cd four eighteen Founders, and was held in
reserve until our boats got within 400 yards
of the fort. Our fire was directed principal
ly at tho water battery. One Of the enemy's
gnns burst, and number were dismounted.
The enemy could DO seen carrying the dead
out of their trenches. All gunboats were
left up the Cumberland, excepting the Con.
estoga. She left there yesterday morning.
A riaed gun on the Carondolet burst, kill
ing six men. The rudder Of the Pittsburg
was shot away. The mortar boats left here
this morning.
Tho above statements OF the fight were 70.
ceived from gentlemen who were on board
the St. Louis during the engagement.
LATER.-A gentleman who left Fort Dom
elson yesterday afternoon at three o'clock,
and reached Cairo this noon, says the fight
had been going on all day yesterday. The
right wing of the enemy's iortiication was
taken, and the stars and stripes were waving
over them.
The forces were breast to breast, and the
fight was to be snewed.
Another despatch from Cairo, dated to-day
says the steamer Minnehaha, has arrived here
from Fort Donelson, having LETT the fort at
five o'clock last evening, bringing military
mail and dispatches, and $50 Of the wound
cd to the hospital ut Paducah. Tho fight
commenced on Thursday, and on Friday and
Saturday was desperate. Tho Illinois 18th
regiment suffered severely, and the Iowa 9TH
sustained considerable loss. Swartz's battery
which was taken by the enemy was recaptur-
ed by our men. The loss is heavy on both
sides.
The upper fort was taken ut o'clock and
the Union flag is now waying over il. Our
troops behaved with great gallantry.
The gunboats. st. Louis, Louisville and
Pittsbnrg were disabled. Minnehaha met
the mortar boats at Paducah, going up.
Dispatches was telegraphed from Wash.
ington, containing the official report OF Com
modore Foote, but consisting only OF the de-
tails which had been previously received.
ST. LOUIS, l6.
Dispatches received at headquarters, say
that oil the gunboats were pretty effectually
disabled, except one. Com. Foote was
wounded twice but not fatally. The upper
redoubt has been taken by our troops. 1t
commands Fort Donelson, and Gen. Grant
telegraphs he would be able to capture that
fort to-day, (Sunday.)
Gen. Halleck has also received dispatches
from Gen. Curtis stating that Prices rear
guard was overtaken in the pursuit from
Springfield, and after brief resistance, the
rebels fled, leaving the road strcwn with their
wagons and baggage. Gen. Curtis reports
that no has taken more prisoners than he
knows what to do with. "ltnever rains but
II poun."