The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-15
LETTER FROM LIEUT.. JOBE.
GAINESVILLE, Tenn
March Cd. lsGg.

our regiment has been moving from place
place, and we have been exposed most OF u
time to the open air, having no tents or iac'
tiles for writing, or should have written
you long ere this. Many have been III
changes since last wrote 10 YOU anu h'an.
brave sons of the north have passed IRON 'ih'
to eternity, having fallen upon the oH'''e'heI
by the hand Of a southern Toe ana many
rshel hos also been consigned to his final rest
inc rlace which should justly be the fate o
ororv man who would take up arms to battl
ocainst ~ righteous cause as that in whic
we are now engaged II is needless for N
70 enter into detail Of what has taken plac
since we left Paducah-of that the Telegram
has informed you long ago, but might men
ton few things which may prove interest
ing and which are not given by newspape
reporters. Suffice it to say that Fort Henry
was taken by the gunboats without any rs
sistance from the land forces, although We
were on hand, willing to pitch in" when or
dered to do so. From Fort Henry we march
ed across the country to Fort Donelson
| distance Of about twelve miles, where we had
| the honor Of participating in one OF the hard
est fought battles ever recorded in the history
Of our country We lay outside the fort for
| three successive days and nights, without
| blankets, tents or fires, aud the weather was
etremcly cold there being abundance Of rain,
=. M, 4
short, we having to live on half rations part
Of the time, and the day before the surrender
the men went into the field early in the morn
Ing without a mouthful Of provisions in their
havcrsacks, where they remained until sun.
down, not receiving anything to eat until ai.
ter dark. The first two days the fighting was
not general, principally diminishing, Birgc' >
sharpshooters doing good execution. Sat
urday, the day before the surrender, the fight.
ing WAS general and continued without ceo-
sation during the whole day. Early in the
morning, before the men had time to prepare
then scanty breakfast, the rebels fred on
the pickets upon our right flank, it evidently
being their intention to cut their way out, az
those Of the rebels who were killed in the un.
successful attempt had about three days ra-
tons in their haversacks, and their knapsacks
on, containing all their clothing. The first
brigade was on the right flank, the Jth, 18th
and +lst Illinois regiments, and, in half an
| hour after the pickets Of the 9th were fired
/ ON, our regiment was in the thickest Of the
! fight, and we held our position for about an
| hour and a half, when We were compelled to
1 fall back, it being impossible to hold our posi-.
ton any longer against such odds, We failing,
from some cause or other, 10 receive any re
sent out as skirmishers, and suffered severely.
Company c. took position in an old building
near by, and also suffered terribly, the enemy
shooting almost every man who approached
the windows to fire Company u. was order.
ed to fence few PAGES in advance Of the
regiment, whore, opposed to u raking fire
they fought bravely and manlully until or.
dcred to retire. The left wing of the reg.
ment was kept in reserve, and did not take
any active part in the engagement. Our com.
! pany was very fortunate, we only having Ave
wounded and one missing. The names Of
the wounded are az follows Elisha VI.
! Diyinncy, in the leg Geo. Bruner, in the
! thigh; Alonzo Lewis, in the arm; Andrew
| Mctijnni~, in the side: Theodore Simmons in
the arm; Martin v Allen, missing. The
number Of killed, in our regiment, is repre-.
scented at 3d. and 100 wounded. have not
yet ascertained the exact number. don't
think the number Of wounded is quite SO
great
Whilst We were engaged on the right flank,
the "a Iowa regiment did good execution on
the left. With Gen. Smith at their head,
| they made IA gallant and fearful charge upon
one OF the enemys principal breastworks, up
steep and rugged hill, rendered still more
difficult by the fallen timber They routed
the enemy from their stronghold; they could
not stand our gittcring steel, and made a
dlsorderly retreat for their main fort, tho
iowa boys dealing deadly IRE INTO them as
'hey "ed' Inc "a Iowa lost considerable
number OF men IN the charge With the ex-
ceptlon OF their bold and daring charge, for
which the Iowa boys deserve great credit, the
principal part OF the lighting was done by
Illinois troops. After we had got possession
Of this breastwork, the battle ceased for the
day, Saturday evening, February 18th.
The next morning at day break, Sunday
nag OF truce was seen floating from the enc
mys main fort, messenger was dispatched