The New York herald., 1862-02-25
OPERATIONS AT THE WEST.
General McClernaDd's Order
of the Day.
One Of the Rebel Flags for New
York City,
&C., &c.. &c.
Our cairo Corresrondence.

Our Cairo Correspondence.
CAIRO, ILL.,, Feb Is, 1852.
The Occupation Of Carksue-7ns Stampede Of the Rebels
Destruction Of the 7tnnessee Rolling Null. Importance
to the Enemy-Etacuation of Clarksvuc-1he Victor Of
Fort Doneox-Further Particulars of the Comtest1he
Bravery Of Our 7roops-Cartmre Of Magnificent Rebel
Flag-Kis to be Presented to NnO Fork City, dc.
The huge anaconda" has been wagging his ponderous
narrative again. and this time he has simultaneously
thrust his orked tongue about forty miles further south
ward and fastened his fangs still deeper int the cntras
Of the rebellion. Carksville Tennessee, visited by
Of hellbounds Gas the rebel prisoners cali
gunboas the night before last which occasion
there another general stampede Of rebels to safe
covers and the hugest kind of generally The
commander OF tho foe learned from "psachng prison
at ponelson that much Of the ammunition and sup
plies for that place furnished by the Tennessee Roll
ing MILL located just below Clarksvle about forty miles
above Doneson SO Sunday night the ST. Louis, Capt
Paulding, United States Navy, despatched to dry
it up" Capt Paulding proceeded to the locality where
he found several rebel boamen and darkes busy bees
ladpg heavy balls upon couple Of fatboats in
front of the MILL rebel steamer with steam up, lay
just above taxing wood and COAL but the moment she
saw the cowcatcher shaped nose Of tho man ofwar
poking around the point she off in the direction
of Nashville, her steam had been generated by the
fires of the neither world and the Old Nick himself
acting engineer leaving the butternut coored rebels and
griunng contrabands the mill to shift for themselves
best they might Captain Pauldrg had been led to
believe that heavy ortlcatons in of erec
ton this point and wi hing to too close upon
masked batteries torpedoes, he sent shell off in the
direction Of the mill which, bursting within it, set the
whole fire. and in two hours in ashes
Captain Pauding ascertained from contrabands that
the residents Of Clarksve removing with all posi-
bic despatch Nashville. taking such of their effects
with them they cah conveniently carry, but leav-
ing their live stock for the OF tho federas
There is small rebel work at Clarksville and small
rebel garrison but IL is not thought that they will
mako much Of a stand there.
Already discover the press has begun to agitate the
question, /" Who Fort Donelson?'' Some say the
navy" " the army" some say " Grant, some
Foote;' some" Smith, and thero is scarcely army
officer from brigadier general down fourth corporal
that does not claim for himself to have the day.
have yet to the first Of army that did
that memorable Saturday say from to hundred
do deeds of of which Samson might be proud
yes might steal from this old biblical hero his boast
With the jawbone Of an ass, heaps upon heaps with
the jaw Of an ass, have slain thousand men," Let
gvo you the facts in the case then Judge to whom
belongs the honor have sptes to crafty friends
20 particularze heroes to build up, to pull
down. but truth and justice require that statement be
made which has not yet been made and there is not
army naval officer who will testify to its truthful
ness
Upon the morning Of Friday, February IA, the army
under General Grant found itself encamped before the
enemys works at Fort Donelson. The fect under Flag
Officer Fooe consisting CT four ron-cad steamers and
two ordinary ones had up from Cairo, and were
anchored in the Cumberland river about three miles be-
low the fort Early IN the morning OF Friday General
Grant had interview with Flag oicer Foote which
time IL arranged that the army and navy should
make Simultaneous attack upon the encmys works, at
hafpast two O'Clock the boats could not get coaed
and ready before that time. Commodore Footc to
begin the attack by firing upon the river batteries, and
his first gun to be the signal FOR The land attack
General Grant had told Commodore Fooie that the forces
under his command ready action and there
would be no delay. At precisely hali-pas two O'Clock
the flagship opened its ire upon the batteries. The feet
fought valiantly for hour and half, and
repllsed, in consequence Of arrangement Of
mach nory. The army male no attack except by two
field batteries at long range doing but little damage
to the enemy The boats fell back their anchorage OF
the nj. .ht before, anu Commodore Foote
ger to General urant TO and lin lately,
as h. wounded and could not go ashore to the
General. But all night passed away, aid General
aid decamp appeared TO confer with the Commo-
doTc, and II not until about eight O'Clock the
Gay that the General came down To the boats. Then
Commodore FCote said that IL would take at ieaS
to lit his boats TO tho action and General
Grant concluded to 30 On without them.
But to go back now to the proceedings at headquar
quarters. General Grant left his headquarters on the
field to visit Commodore Foote (the second timu) at
half past four O'Clock saturday morning, leaving orders
with Captains Rawlings and Hiyer to ride immediately
Smiths, Wallace and hcCofnards s brgades and in
struct them not to make any adv ance upon the rebel
works until he should return from the nee-to make
movement Of any kind unless attacked Rawlings
ricd the order to General smith who commanded on the
extreme lott, and Hlyer started to convey To Wallace,
tha hss(fn Iartyl IIn. .altk
cd it 10 Wallace but when he reached McCernand he
found thai brigade had been attacked by superior force
and partially compelled t. fall back. fiiyer what
was Eong on and Immediately ordered Wallace to send
part of his brigade to reinforce McCcrnand, which Or
der was complied with -Four regiments marched at
double quick To the rescue. McClernand, with almost
supchunan excrtion, rallied his forces which charged
bayone;s and regained thor old position on the right.
after hours Of the most severe fighting OF the day
While this fight raging Captain Hyer started of to
find Gcncral Grant, who had not been the field
since half psst four O'Clock in the morning-
near noon Hiilyer met the General coming back from
the transports and communicated TO him the fact that
McCsrnand had been attacked and compelled to fall back
but had rallied and regained his position General Grant
Immediately rode upon the field it being thcn hafpast
ocockand there learned the status Of the army.
body Of from ten ~ twelve thousand Of the enemy had
cut through right flank and escaped This was the
attack upOn Mc(Iernand. CALLING fire being kept
up upon our lett and centre from heavy siege and held
artillery and forces being fast dccimated. To
remain this position would surely prove ruin; to
fall back out Of range Of the guns would dcmora
ize the army and alternative left but to hazard
everything upon united charge III the whole enemy
works. Though officers camored and the i'm
patient Ike the assault still the General hesitatcd
and IL not until half past two that the order to
sau the works was given. Then Captain Hillycr rode
down General Smith to communicate tho order, when
the old Generals visage cleaned with light Said
Captain Hilver-'General Smith, General Grant orders
you assault and take the enemys works in your 'front.'
at all hazaSds.'
"Iettcr late than never" said Smith, "but I'll do II
Tell General Grant III do np And turning to his men
he d-"So!d rs ordered to take those works
by assault Are you readyY"
faye, aye. sir, ready Hurrah |" And a shout came
from that phsanx OF brave men, such rs comes only
from patriots upon great occasions
"Resdy Close ranks Charge bayonets Forward
Double quick Blarch p And march they did in
close order, the advancing brigade looking more
like blue porcupinc, with its quills turned
forward than agh else compare to, right up to
the rebel Though the enemy kept up an ncessant
re from howitzer neld piece and musKe Of Shells solid
shot and lead, still that brigade marched on nothing
dauntcd TO the ensmys earthworks which
IL went right into tue midst Of the butternut coored
devils who had savagey welcomed them inside the en-