Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-18
The Bombardment of Fort Donelsol
Commenced.
THE FORT SURROUNDED.
GuNBoA1s ON THE RIVER.
TIIt. REBEL FORCE Is 900 MEN
SLyERE Loss On BOTH sIDEs.


Ch@lgo, f,6. l4.--The following is Il special
dispatch tp the l'rbune office
CAMP ~ TnE FIELD NEAR FORT DosELsoS,
February, l"lh. l2t o'clock z. NJ
Fort Daneson is Invested by om troops, Our
lines are formed from right 10 left, and from
moth to south, nearly surrounding the fort --
llehyy cahuonhdng md skirmshing has been
going 0n since 2 O'Clock A. NJ. Owing to the
extent of the acton but little eau be learned Of
the result hear however, that u captain in
( Company l. ilh regiment has been killed.
General MeClernaud's division i4 operating on
the right, General Smith on the left We have
hal lut one gunholt To play upon the fort until
gust within The last halt hour, when other gun
bouts are firing un the fort The force within
the lieaslworks is estimated At about ., 900 from
the hest information,
hElsfORCEMEaTs cur OFF.
No reiniorcements eau now arrive to the
rehels, n all communication is rnt oil
II is now thought that their left redoubt has
fallen into our hands.
Al the officers are acting with great valor,
exhibiting Il fearlessness highly creaitabe to our
western army
Gen. Grant and staff has been riding along
the lines all the morning regardless Of the
grape TINT is beng showered in every drec.
ton.
LATER
?
akrmish has continued bIiskly oil day, but has
lately discontinued. A considerable number has
been wounded on both sides. The 18th Indiana,
which rushed boldly up to the inircnchments,
had, during the day, forty Of the men wounded
all slightly.
The 7th illinois and It'll Iowa, who have been
close to tile enemys fire, have also lost some men.
Among the killed is Capt. Wendell, of Company
!, ith Illinois, and Col. Morrison, Of the 4gth
Illinois, is wounded.
Berge's Sharpshooters have done good service.
They have kept several Of the enelny's guns idle
by picking oil the cannoniers as fast az they ap-
peared at the guns.
Capt. Birak with company Of cavalry went
around to the left bank Of the river this afternoon
reports that the gunboat Carondolet received
ten inch ball through her casemate, which woun-
ded eight men but did not iujure the boat mate
rally. Capt. Walker, Of tie Carondolet, SAYS
that he has dismounted three Of the enemy's
river guns. The other gunboats had not arrived
up to six O'Clock Z. NJ,
lhe enemy rifle shots and the grape have been
flying thick and fast about here oil day. Some
six shots struck around Gen Grant and his
stall this afternoon, while they we're riding
along our lines. One bullet hit one of the
horses Of the body guard near by. The fort
Will be slormed in two days if not surrendered
before
Our men have driven back the enemy in every
instance. Generals Pillow, Floyd, johnson and
Buckner are shid to be here,
One of our companies has been within seven.
ty five yards Of the enemys entrenchments
ST. LOUIS, Feb. lG.--rhe city is perfectly
wild with excitement and rejoicing at the
announcement just made public, thnt the
American flag now waves over Fort Donel-
son,
The loss has been heavy on both sides.
One of General Grants batteries was taken
by the rebels, but was soon recaptured by our
troops.
The gun boats are said to he badly dana
ged
We expect the particulars of the victory to
night,