Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-17

completely surrounded, ana can complete the
job at our leisure.
A formidable attempt was made last night
to capture battery by the enemy, who ap.
preached under cover Of darkness, but they
were calamity repulsed by the twentieth Hi
nois regiment. Considerable skirmishing oc-
Cured during the night, both forces sn.
deavOring, in the darkness, TO crawl in
upon the other. This morning it was
discovered that the enemy had placed logs on
the tops of their breastwOrks, leaving space
between them to shoot through, and much
diminishing their risks from the unerring aim
of our sharpshooters. The casualties among
our artillery thus far are very small. The
loss of the enemy, as far as can be ascertain
ed, is considerable.
Yesterday afternoon, after the storming
party had retired, and when the rebels had
been thickly crowded together to repel the as
sault, Capt Tyler opened on them with shell
with terrible effect. His practice was superb,
creating the greatest CONSERVATION in their
ranks, and causing them to take refuge in their
eEtrenchmenH
The gunboat assault was terrific, exceeding
even the fort Henry bombardment. 1t lasted
about an hour and q half, The enemy has
fronting on the river two batteries, the lower
one OF nine and the upper Of four guns, beside
a tennch columbiad. The wooden gunboata
Com. Foote pronounced the engagementthe hot
test 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 favOrably, when the rudder chain
OF the CarOndOlet was severed, the Pittsburgh
was damaged in wheel so as to be unable to
stem the current, and the pilot house of the
ST. Louis was knocked away, killing the
pilot and slightly wounding Com. Foote.
The fleet was then obliged to 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. Commodore Foote's
wound is slight. The st. Louis was struck
81 times, the Louisville 35, the Pittsburg Il.
and the CarondeIet 26.
ST LOUIS, Feb. l6.-The Cairo special to
the Democrat says, Capt. Wise of the steam
er Minnehaha reports that the enemy made a
sortie from the fort at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, and drove our forces back three
quarters of mile, and captured Schwartz bat
terry. AT one o'clock our troops rallied re-
captured the battery, drove the rebels before
them and planted our flag on their outer for
titiCations.
The steamer from Evansville brings a re-
port that tour of our colonies were killed yes.
terday afternoon, among them Col. John Lo.
gan of Illinois. The names Of the others are
not ascertained.
Generals S. B. Hamilton and Steele left this
evening for the Cumberland river. One or
more regiments OF troops now leave here daily
for the same destination.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL The following dis
patch was this morning received at the navy
department, from flag officer Foote -
US. FLAGSHIP ST. LOUIS, Fort Donelson,
via faducah February 10, 1862.
To the Hon. Gideon WeAes, Secretary of tie
Nay II made an attack on fort Donelson,
yesterday, at o'clock p M, with four iron
clad gnnboats and two wooden ones, and after
one hour and quarter of severe fighting, in
the latter part of the day, within less than four
hundred yards of the fort, the wheel OF t Is
vessel and the tiller of the Louisville were she
away, rendering the two boats unmanageable.
Tn then dritted down the river. The two
remaining boats were also greatly damaged
| between wind and water. This vessel alone
received fifty nine shots, and the Others about
| half that number each, There were fifty four
| killed and wounded in this attack, which we
have reason 10 suppose would i'll fifteen
minutes more could the action have been
|
of the fort bearing upon us, as the enemy was
| running from his batteries when the two gun
boats helplessly drifted down the river from
disabled steering apparatus, as the relieving
| tackles could not steer the vessels in the strong
| current. The fleeing enemy returned to the
| river battery guns from which they had been
driven, and again holly poured fire upon US.
| The enemy must have brought over twenty
| guns to bear upon our boats from the water
battery, and the main fort on the llil while
we could only return the fire with twelve boat
| guns from the four boats. One rifed gun
| aboard the CarOndelet burst during the action.
| The officers and men in this holly contested
| but unequal fight, behaved with the greatest
| gallantry and determination, all deporing
the accident which rendered two of our
| gunboats suddenly helpless in the narrow riv-
er and swift current. On consultation with
| Gen. Grant and my own officers, as my ser.
| vire here, until we can repair damages by
briLs .ng up a competent force from Cairo to
attack the fort are much less required than
they are at Cairo, shall proceed TO that place.
| have sent the Tyler to the Tennessee river
| to render the railroad bridge impossible
(Signed) a. II. FoorE, Flag Off ;er.