Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-02-20

l%Phe ripper fort was taken at four @o'eloek,
and the onion flag is now floating over it
Our troops behaved with great gallantry
! The gunboats St. Louis, Louisville and
Pittsburg were disabled.
The Minnehaha met the mortar beats at
Paducah, going up.
[ A special despatch to- the Chicago Tribune,
dated Cumberland river, near Fort Donelson,
18th, says -
fbe firing commenced again at daybreak
and continued at intervals all day long. Up
to four o'clock no movement or assault by the
land forces had been made Night before last
an attempt was made by the rebels to take
Taylor's battery of light artillery, but they
were repulsed by two regiments and driven
back beyond their intreuchments. Our loss in
wounded is considerable, but not more than
three or four are dangerously wounded.
Six gunboats arrived yesterday, and COM
menced an attack on the fort at two O'Clock in
the che afternoon. The firing was very rapid
and severe, and lasted one hour and twenty
minutes, when our gunboats fell back. The
four iron clad boats went within three hundred
yards of the fort. All the rebel river guns,
except six, were either dismounted or silenced.
The first shot fred from the gunboat Louis
vile dismomted the rebels one hundred and
! twenty y-eight FOUNDER. The Louisville received
| ffty-seven shot, two of which took effect, one
striking the starboard side of her deck, and
passing through the entire length of the boat,
killing three men aud breaking her tiller rope
short distance from the pilot house. The
rope was then managed by some of the hands,
when she'll from the Tyler, which lay some
distance astern, burst over the Louisville,
scattering the men at the tiller rope, and SO
much disabled her steering tackle that the
boat was compelled to drag astern.
A shot struck the Pttsburg in the bows
aud stove an immense hole in her, which
caused her to drop out of the action. The
leak, however, has been stopped.
A shot struck the pilot house of the St
Louis, passing through it between the pilots
legs, without injuring him. All the boats were
more or less injured, but none but the Louis
vile seriously.
There were FIVE killed and two wounded on
the Louisville.
The gunboats will not be in condition to
renew the attack before tomorrow morning
In consequence of the height of the bluffs on
which the rebel Notifications are built our
shots cannot have as much effect on them as
those at Fort Henry. 1t will therefore require
a much longer time to reduce the fort.
The rebels have raised the black flag. 1t
can be seen flying from the bank short dis
tance above here.
... ST. LOUIS, February 16, 1862.
Dispatches received at headquarters say
that all the gunboats are pretty efectnally
disabled except one Commodore Foote was /
wounded twice, but not fatally.
The upper redoubt was taken by our troops.
This commands Fort Doneson, and General
Graat tslegraphS that he aOouLd be able TO cap
ture Lhnt fort today (.Sanday)
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE.
CAIRO, Monday, February, IT, 1862
Hon. GIDEON WELLS, Secretary Of the Navy:
The Carondelet has just arrived from Fort
Donelson, and brings information of the cap.
ture of that fort by the land forces yesterday
morning, with Is 900 prisoners.
Johnston and Buckner were taken prison
erS. The loss is heavy on both sides Floyd
escaped with 5000 men during the night.
go up with the gunboats, and as soon as
possible will proceed up to Clarksville.
Eight mortar boats are on the way, with
which | hope to attack ClarksvilIe
My foot is painful but the wound is not
dangerous.
The army has behaved gloriously
I shall be able to take but two iron-clad
gunboats with me, as the Others are disa
bIed
The trophies are immense.
The particulars will soon be given.
A. II. FOOTE, Flag Officer.
CAIRO, Monday, Feb. II, 1862.
To Major General Mcclellan:
The Union flag floats over Fort Donelson
The Carondelet, Capt. Walker, brings the gIo-
rious intelligence. ...-.. ..
The fort surrendered at o'clock yesterday
Sunday morning. Generals Johnston ca
Sydney and Buckner and fifteen thousand
prisoners and large amount OF material of
war are the trophies of victory. Loss heavy
on both sides. .r-.
Floyd, the thief, stole away during the night |
previons. with five thousand men, aud is de-
nonnced by the Rebels as a traitor. | am
happy to inform you that Flag Officer Foote,
though suffering from the wounds in his foot,
with the noble characteristic OF our Navy, not
withstanding his disability, will take up mme-
diately two gunboats, and with the eight NOR
tar-boats which he will overtake will make an
immediate attack on ClarksyiIle, if the state of
the weather will permit We are now firing
a national salute from Fort Cairo, Gen CRAFTS
late post in honor Of the glorious achievement.
r GEORGE w. CULLUM, --..#
Brig-Gen Volunteers .. S. A.,
and Chief of Staff of Engineers.
The MATER ABOUT GEN. MCCLELLAN AND