The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-02-18
Further from Fort Donnelson.
st. Louis, Feb. l6.


A special to the Democrat, dated near
Fort Donnelson, Friday, says last night
was very severe on our troops, rain hav-
ing set in which turned the snow to freez-
ing to-day, and old citizens say they rare
" have such cold weather in this latitude.
The more see Of the fort the more con-
WINGED am it can't be reduced withouta
terrible battle It's rear seems almost i'm
pregnable. The outer works and bastions
Of the fort are located on ridges $50 to
$50 #. high, covered with dense timber and
underground. Upon similar range of
hills, outside of these, our army is drawn
UP in line-of-battle, completely encircling
the enemy from the Cumberland, south
Of tho fort, to the backwater of stream
which TANKS the fort on the north
General Oglesby, who has the extreme
right, last night, Immediately pushed
forward his brigade to the Cumberland
and has planted q battery commanding
the river which will effectually prevent
the arrival Of any more reinforcements.
In fact we have them completely sur
rounded, and can complete the job at
our leisure.
A formidable attempt was made last
night to take Taylor's battery by the
enemy, who approached under cover Of
darkness, but they were gallantly re.
pulsed by the Goth Ills. Considerable
skirmishing occurred during the night
both forces endeavoring in the darkness
to crawl in upon the other. This morn.
ing it was discovered that the enemy
had placed logs on top Of their breast.
works, leaving little space for them tc
shoot through, and much diminishing
their risks from the unerring aim of oul
sharp shooters. The casualties among
our artillery thus far we're very small
The loss OF the enemy, as far as can b,
ascertained, is considerable. Yester'
day afternoon after the storming party
! had retired, and when the rebels hat
been thickly crowded together to repe
the assault, Capt. Taylor opened Oh
them with shell with terrible effect
Fl + his practice was superb, creating tn,
greatest CONSERVATION in their ranks an,
causing them to take refuge in their en-
trenchments.
The gun boat assault was terrific, ex
ceeding even the Fort Henry lombard
mcnt. 1t lasted about an hour and
half. The enemy has fronting on til
river two batteries, the lower one of
and the upper Of 4 guns, besides tel
inch Columbiad. The wooden GU
] boats Tyler and Conestoga we're not en-
J gagged in the fight. Com. Foote pro
, nounces the engagement the hottest h
ever witnessed. Seven of their gun
. in the lower tier Of the enemy's batter
! had been silenced, and everything wa
. apparently progressing favorably whe
the rudder chain Of the Carondolet we
i severed. The Pittsburg was damage
It in the wheel SO as to be unable to ste,
II the current, anu Inc Pilot House v,
d knocked away, killing the Pilot an
slightly wounding several others, anon
them Foote. The feet then we're oil
9 liged to retire. One of our shells strpc
= Immediately under one of the enemy
, guns, throwing the gun and bodies
!. the gunners high in the air; gre,
e number Of the killed and wounded coul
d be seen carried up the hill. Com. Foot
9 wound is light. The St. Louis v,
If struck fifty-seyen times, the Louisvil
. thirty-fve, the Pittsburg twenty-one, ar
the carondolet twenty six.