Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-02-28
Terrible Fighting at Fort DOnei-
S0n--Rncidents, &c.

Some of the hardest fighting which ever
occurred on this continent, took place at
Fort Donelson, on both sides. Undoubted-
ly the most brilliant charge in the entire
siege was that Of the I'd and 4h Iowa, and
the l1th and 25th Indiana, under the COM
mand of Gen. G. f. Smith who led them
in person, amid a storm of balls and bull
lets, and cheered them through all The ter
rible strife. lie even rode his horse upon
the breastworks, and for fifteen minutes ex-
posed himself as target 20 every one Of
the passing messengers Of death. That he
was not killed or wounded is something
marvellous, for the brave soldiers were fall
ing all around him.
Many instances of recklessness of life
are told. Three members of the Sth Hi
nois rushed over the rhe-pts after the enc
my had retreated, and persisted fighting
against thousand foes. On Saturday, a
young man, James Hartley, who had lost a
brother the previous day, swore to be re-
venged, and in one of the sorties by the
rebels attacked six of them single-handed :
killed three of them, and then lost his own
life. Corporal Mooney, an Irishman, see-
ing that the staff of one of the resimental
flags was shot away, picked up the stars
and stripes, and wrapping them round his
body, rushed over the parapet of the out
works. and, crying, Come on, my brave
boys, was blown to pieces by shell.
An orderley sergeant, seeing rebel
pointing a rife at the captain of his COM
pany, threw himself before his beloved Of
ficer, and received the bullet through his
breast, and fell dead in the arms of the
man he had saved. The orderly sergeant
bad been reared and very generously treat
ed by the father Of the captain, and had de-
clared when he first enlisted that he would
be happy to die to save the life Of his ben
efaclor's son. Most nobly and most glofi-
ously did he redeem his promise
In the heat of Saturdays fight. several
soldiers, wounded and covered with blood.
were about to 90 on TO the field again. and
would have done so had they not been or
dered by the surgeons 10 the hospital
Even then, one Of the determined fellows
ESCAPED, and carried his musket into anoth-
err regiment. Seven privates who had been
struck in the arm and head went to the sur.
geons, and asked them to extract the balls
as soon as possible, that they might again
participate in the action. Their reqnest
was granted, and five of them returned to
the field.
Within the fort small secession FLAG
was planted, and twice the pole supporting
It was shot away. A rebel soldier picked
IT up. and said =" That is bad omen: 4
it is brought down again. we will be de.
feated.' Hardly had he spoken before
fore shell burst above his head. and 4
fragment shivered the staff. and crashed
through The speakers skull. One of The
rebels mounted the breastworks in full view
of our forces, and defied the id Yankees
but harkly had his defiance passed his lin,
before he fell pierced by a score of bullets
/ Another remained OUTSIDE. Of the rife-nit,
after all his companions had resreated be.
hind them, and fought with hi, sword
against half a dozen of the Unionis's whe
had surrounded him and were anxious tc
take him priSoaer, They asked him sew.
eTal times to surrender. but he declared he
would rather lie, and die he did on he
punt O Union bayonct but not before
] ne had slain one and wounded three OF H.