Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-17


ST. Lours. FEB. ls.-Di.pssches received a,
Headquarters say:
All the gunboats we're pretty esTectaally disa-
blei EXCEPT one
Com Foote was wounded twice. but not IA
tally
The upper redoubt was taken BY our troops
II commands Fort Donelson, and Gen Gran, eel.
egraphs that be would be able 10 capture that
fort TO day, (Sunday.)
A special 20 the Democrat, dated in rear Fort
Donelson, Friday afternoon, ssys:
Last pight was very severe on Cur troops. rain
having set in which turned 10 snow. Its freezing
to day and old citizens say they rarely have such
cold weather m this latitude
The more see Of the fort the more convinced
am it cant be reduced without terrible
battle.
It's rear seems almos, impregnable.
The outer works and baStions OF the fort are
located on ridges from $50 TO 300 feet high. Gov
cred with dense timber and underground
Upon similar range Of bills outside these,
our army is drawn up in line of battle. com
pletely encirclng the enemy, from Cumberland
south of the fort t0 the back water OF stream
which TANKS the fort on the North.
Gen. Ogiesby, who has the extreme right, last
night pushed forward his brigade to the Cumbsr-
land, aud has opened battery commanding the
rver.which vii. eflectualy prevent the arrival of
any more achievements. In fact. 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 APP
preached under cover of darkness, but they were
gallRntly repulsed 10y the 10Th Illinois.
Considerable skirmishing occsrred during the
night both forces endeayoring in the darkness TO
crawl in upon the other.
This morning il was discovered that the enemy
had placed logs on top of their breastworks.
leaving little space FOR them to shoot through,
F and much diminishing their risks from the uner-
T ring aim of our sharlsh0oters.
Casualties among our artillery thus far very
small.
Yesterday afternoon after the sforming party
had retired, and when the rebels had been thickly
crowded together to repcl the assault, Capt. Tay-
Tor opened on them with shell with terrible effect
His practice superb. creating the greatest
CONSERVATION in their ranks and causing them 10
take refuge in their entertainments.
! The gunboat assault WAS terrific exceeding
even the Fort Henry bombardment 1t lasted
about an hour and n half.
The enemy has fronting on the river two bat
teries. the lower one OF nine and the upper OF
| four guns, besides a ten inch columblad.
The Wooden gmnboats, Tylor and Connestoga,
engaged in the fight
Commodore Foote pronounees 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 everything
WAS apparently progressing favorabiy when the
rudder chain of the Carondelet was severed.
The Pttsburg damaged in the wheel so rs
to be- unable 10 stem the current and the pilot
house of the St Louis WIS knocked away killing
the pilot and slightly wounding several Others,
among them Com. Foote. The fleet then was
| obliged 10 retire.
One of our shells struck Immediately under
one of the enemy's guns throwing the gun and
the bodies OF the gunners high in the air
Great numbers of dead and wounded could be
seen carried up the HILL. rIf so. -
Com. Foote'S wound l. slight.
! The ST Louis was struck fifty seven tines
the Louisville thirty FIVE, the Pttsburg twenty
one and Caroudelet thrty-six-
ST. LOUIS, Feb. l6.--Cairo special to Demo
crat says:
Capt Wise, of the steamer Mnnehaha reports
that the enemy made sortie from the fort at II
! O'Clock Yesterday morning. drove our forces back
three quarters OF mile, and captured schwartz
battery.
At / o'clock our troops rallied, re captured tho
battery drove the rebels before them, and plant
ell our flag on their outer Notifications.
The steamer from Evansville brings repor
that four of our Coonels were killed yesferda,
afternoon among them Col. John Logan, of Hi
nois.
The names Of the Others were not ascertained