Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-02-19
GREAT UNION VICTORIES

The great victory of she war has been
accomplished, and the national flag Was
placed on Sunday morning by our Vletori-
Gus troops over Fort Donelson. The Fort
surrendered at nine o'clock on Sunday
morning to the land forces under General
L. S Grant, the gunboats not taxing part
in the final assault. The loss OF life on
both sides was severe, necessarily SO upon
ours in taking by assault position so
strongly fortified Whilst this must be re-
gretted, it is also to be glored IN as estab-
fishing beyond all future csvli the bravery
and steadincss of our soldiers. 10 take .
fortified position by assault is work to try
the nerve of veterans. and when accom-
plished by volunteers, in the face OF re-
sistance alike able and desperate, IT speaks
well for the spirit of both officers and men
The force within the Fort is stated at from
twenty to thirty thousand men Commodore
Foote, in his official despatch, states that
we have taken ifteen thousand prisoners,
and that the rebel Floyd and FIVE thousand
men escaped from the Fort during the night
previous to the assault Among the nota-
ble prisoners taken are MAJOR General u
bert Sidney Johnston and Gen. BuckBer.
The loss Of Gen. Johnston is q serious one
to the rebels Though less popular than
Beauregard, competent judges plHced him
far ahead of that General in military knowl-
edge and skill His presence in Fort Don
elson shows that he regarded the holding
Of that point as the most important work
to which he could devote himself Gen.
Buekner was the leading spirit in endcaY-
oring to precipitate the State of Kentucky
into the Secession whirlpool. Gen. Floyd
was in the Fort, but, true to The base in
stincts of the man, deserted his companions.
and, with his whole brigade stole away in
the night tits an appropriate punishment
that his fellow rebels denounce him a. a
traitor and 4 coward. Some Of the de-
spatches mention Gen Pillow IS present,
but if so be deserted with Floyd Besides
the Fort and prisoners we have captured
an immense amount Of military stores, IN
cluding three thousand horses.
The assault on the lower end of the
works was led by Gen. Smith in person,
and he was first inside the fort. The pris-
oners are being sent to Cairo. Our loss is
stated at three hundred killed and six
hundred wounded. We lose large per
centage of officers The rebel loss is less
as they fought behind entrenchments.-
The final assault and the first entrance in
to the fort was made at the point Of the
bayonet.
The rebels lose 48 field pieces, II heavy
guns, 1000 stand ofarGas, besides large
quantity Of commissary stores.
Three Illinois Lieut.. Coionels were killed,
and three Co!onels wounded. Tbs Illinois
regiments were principally engaged.
Com. Foote, with the iron courage ana
pertinacity Of purpose which characterzes
the man, is already prepared to push for
ward the advantages gained at Fort Doncl-
son. Though suffering from a wound lie
has before this moved up the Cumberland
towards Clarhsville with the iron gunboats
and sight Of the famous mortar feet Per
haps when we next hear from hm he viii
be at Nashville.
Ws have some additional Interesting dc
tails OF the retreat OF tuc rebeis fron Bow
ling Green. With the cxcestion Of folr
brig4 les-about twelve thousand mcu-tt
is believed that the whole of the forces re
Gently at Bowling Green had been concen
trated at Fort Doneisou. The major part
Of Gen Sidney JohnSton's army is thus
annihilated, and the COMMANDMENTS Chief
prisoner. 1t is supposed that what is
left of the rebel force will concentrate at
ClarksYille, and there make their final at
tempt to obStruct our progress to Nashville.
On our side the preparations for au over
whelming movement into Tennessee are
obvious All the troops in the camps af
instruction are ordered forward The Di-
visions Of Gems. McCook and Thomas, un-
able to reach East Tennessee, through the
Cumberland Gap, on account of the roads,
have already been sent up the Cumberland
river. We have already eighty thousand
men on the Cumberland, aud from these
camps forty thousand additional troops will
go forward Gen. Buell. will probably
command the centre column, whilst Gen.
Grant advances on the west side of the
Cumberland IF the rebels hault at Clarks-
vile they will have repetition of Fort
Donelson. They will be surrounded BY
land and bombarded from the river. In
all probability within the next ten DAYS
the Stars and Stripes will float from the
Capitol at Nashville.
We annex such authentic intelligence as
has come to hand
THE ROANOKE VICTORY.