Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-02-18

from gentleman who was aboard the 81. Louis
during the engagement.
CHioAeo, Feb. l6.--A special 10 the Tribune.
from = tne camp near Fort Donelson, 18th, 6 p.
NJ, M, says the right wing Of our forces at Fort
DoneisoD, commenced stoFming the fort about
noon, ana nave taken the right wing of the en-
stripes are now floating In triumph. The op-
posing forces are now almost breast 10 breast.
ready to open the work OF death upon each
o'ner at any moment. Lieutenant Colonel
smith, OF the Forty-eighth Illinois, was killed,
ana Two Colonels were wounded. Schwariz's
battery, taken this morning, has been re-
taken. ~
ST. LOUIS, Feb. l6.--A Cairo spe,ial 10 the
Democrat says: Captain Wise, OF the nteamer
Minnehaha, reports that the enemy made
sortie from the fort at ten o'clock Yesterday
morning, and drove our troops back three QUAR-
ters oil mile, and captured SchWariz's bat
terry, AT one O'clock our troops rallied, recap
tured the battery, drove the rebels before
tnem, ana planted our flag on their outer iorh-
foeion.
A steamer from Evansville brings a report
that four of our Colonels were killed Yesterday
afternoon, among them Col. John A, Logan, Of
Illinois. The names Of the Others are not as.
certained
A special to the Democrat, dated In the rear
oi Fort Donelson, Friday afternoon, says last
nignt was very severe on our troops, a rain hay
ing set In which turned TO snow. II is freezing
to'oay' and old citizens say they rarely have
suon cold weather in this latitude.
The more see of the Fort, the mere con-
WINGED am that 1t cannot be reduced without
terrible battle It's rear eeems almost i'm
pregnsole The outer works and bastions of
the Fort are located on ridges one hundred and
nifty TO two hundred and fifty feet high, covered
With dense timber and undergroWth.
upon similar range Of hills, outside these
our army is drawn upin line Of battle, complete
~ encircling the enemy from the Cumberland,
soath Of the Fort. to the backWater Of stream
which TANKS the Fort on the North.
: Gen. Oglesby, who has the extreme right,
last night pushed forward bis brigade to the
Cumberland, and has planted battery COM
manding the river. which will effectualiy pre-.
vent the arrival of any more renforcements -
In TACT, we have them completely surrounded,
and can complete the job at our leisure. :
a formidable attempt was made last night to
take Taylor's battery by the enemy, who ap-
preached under cover Of darkness; but they
were CALAMITY repulsed by the Twentieth Hi.
noiso
Considerable diminishing occurred during the
night, both forces endeavoring in the darkness
to crawl In upon the other.
This morning 1t was discovered that thu enc
my had placed logs on top of their breast orks,
leaving little space for them to shoot through
and much diminishing their risks from the un-
erring aim of our sharp shooters.
The casualties among our artillery thus far
was very small The loss of the enemy, as far
as can be ascertained, is considerable.
Yesterday afternoon, after the storming psrly
had retired, and when the rebels had heen
thickly crowded together to repel the assault,
Captain Taylor opened on them with shell with |
terrible effect. His practice was superb, Great
log the greatest CONSERVATION 10 their ranke, |
and causing them to take refuge in their en-
trenchments.
The gunboat assault was terrific, exceeding
even the Fort Henry bombardment. 1t lasted
about an hour and half. The enemy has
fronting on the river two batteries, the lower
one OF nine and the upper four guns, besides
ten-inch columbiad.
The wooden gunboats Taylor aud Conestoga
we're engaged in the fight.
Com. Foote prenounces the engagement the
hottest he ever witnessed.
Seven OF the nine guns in the lower tier OF
the enemy's battery had been silenced, and ev-
erything was apparently progressing ievorably,
when the rudder-ohain Of the Carondolet was
severed,
The Pittsburg was damaged in her wheel 80
as to be unable TO stem the current, and the pi
dollhouse of the Sc. Louis was knocke ed away,
killing the pilot and slightly wounding several,
among them Commodore Foote. The feet then
we're obliged to retire.
One OF our shells struck Immediately under
one Of the enemy's guns, throwing the gun and
bodies OF the gunners high in the air. A great
number of dead and wounded could be seen car.
ried up the hill.
Com. Foote'S wound is slight. The st Louis
was struck ffty-seven times, the Louisville
Ihirty.fve, the Pittsburg twenty-one, and the
Csrondolet twenty-six.
LATER.
A gentleman who left Fort Donelson yester.
day afternoon at 3 O'Clock, and reached here
this noon, says the fight had been going on all
nd - L. A.