Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1862-02-28

man, and IS may oe imagined, the events of
I the morEing had tended 10 decrease ia no nas.
sure bis pugnaeity. When be received ri.
long desired orders for an assault of the enc
my's works, his eyes glistened With Gre which
/ conld it have been seen By his tnali0ner.
would have left them in no doubt as 10 b;s
| private feelings in regard to the prescnt com
test. AL the arrangements were corDpletes
by three o'clock, and his column was put iu
motion soon after. The foreo under his com.
/ mand was as follows;
Col. Cooks Brigade-Seventh Illinois, Fif.
tieth d., Twelfth Iowa, Thirteenth Missouri,
Fifty. second Indiana.
Col. Laumau's Brigade Second Iowa.
Seveulh Iowa, Fourteenth lows, Taent,-6gth
Indiana, Fifty sixth Indiana.
Upder cover Of Capt Stones Missouri bat.
terry, this force began the assault Il was
formidable undertaking, which, under less
brave aud skiliful commander than Gen. Sui,h
might have proved disastrous failure.
The hills at this point are among the most
precipitous Of those upon which the enemy
were posted. Selecting the Second and Sew
enth Iowa, aud the Fiiiy- second Indiana for
the stoTmiog party, Gen. Smith defscted the
main portion Of bis division TO the right, aud
having succeeded in engaging tha attention
of the enemy at this point, himself headed
the sioruipg party and advanced upon the
works from bis extreme left. 1t was most
magnificent sight Uuappslled BY the perfect
storm of Bullets which rsined about him, the
General on horseback, aud with bis hat on
the point Of bis swofd preceded bis troops, aud
INSPIRED them With future there was no Rilh-
Standing.
Sfsadly With unbroken line, the gallant
Hagkeyes aud IndiansGs advanced. The ep-
emy's giaps and canister came blowing through
Their rauks, bnt rot shot was fred iu return.
Closing u2 tue ranks as one after another of
the brave fellows dropped to rhe earth, and
aIim.ied by ,hs fearless example Of their un-
daunted leader, they pressed steadily on
The works gained, one tremendous yOiiey was
poured into the astonisbed enemy, and with
6zsd baYonels, charge was made ipt their
ranks which there was 10 withstandng. They
aed in confusian over the mills, aud at last
we had penetrated The rebel Sebastop6l, and
the mislortunes of the morning we're retrieved.
Capt. stones bsttery, which, IN the meantime,
had been doing Tremendous execution in the
rebel ranks, vas promptly advanced to The po-
sision gained, aud instantly, support ed by the
remainder Of bis division, the point was secur-
ed agsiust any force the enemy could bring to
bear against il.
GEN. LEW wALLAcE's ATTACK ON gHR RIGHT.
In The meantime, Gen. Lew. Wallace had
completed his preparations for an attack on
The enemy occupying the position he had
wrested from US 10 the morning, some two
miles and baf to, the right. just as his col,
umn xas being put iD motion, messenger ar
rived With the joyful tidiugs that Smith was
inside of the en- trenehmenis
With cheer that resounded far and near,
the irresistible Eighth Missouri and Eleventh
Indiana, which occupied the front, advanced
on .he double quick into the encounter they had
so long been seeking. These two regiments, from
their superiority in driii lighting capacities
have been considered afseraciz corps,'' and most
ncbly did they uphold to the letter their enYiabI
reputa ton.
They did not tsrry long to bother with the pow
der and bali, but with shout of itself terrific
enough to appal their foes, gave them tha cold
steel with will which viii long be re emenbered.-
Shell and round shot, grape aud canister were
hurled at them in vain.
Still onward they pressed, and regiment after
regiment fed before them Yaliantly supported by
the First Nebraska, Thirteenth Missouri, and other
regiments of Col ThayeT's and Crafts brigades,
steady advance was made. until by dusk the sround
which had been so holly contested in the morning,
was ours again, and once more the rebels were for
ecu 70 seek Lhe protecting SnadoW OF tle eafaWorks
The effect Of these successes upon the army was
electrical-six hours before with gunboats disabled
and the enemy in possession of q portion Of our
ground, the position OF affairs gloomy, indeed
Bat now all was changed. Elated with victory and
the knowledge that at they had obtained foot
hole in the enenys Notifications, and savage at the
thought of the privations they had encountered,
and at being SO long balked in the possession of
heir prey, officers and men alike clamored for an
immediate assault that night.
Gen. Grant, however, mindful of the risks atten-
ling such operations even with troops exhibiting
such veteran characteristics those underhis COM
mand had displayed wisely postponed the finai coEp
lie main till the coming of the morrow's light.
What the morrow brought forth, and how the
rebels, worn out and disprited by the protracted
concluded to give mp their strong
hold and lay down their arms is alrcadywell known.
The more detailed particulars of the surrender of
Fort Donelson, and its Gordon of field works, the
departing mail allows me no time to speak of.
g. W. B.