The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-02-27

night, AS can be imagined, with an
enemy i'm front continually annoyinp
and annoyed, but little sleep was in,
dulged in. The only demonstration of
importance on the part of the rebels.
was formidable attempt on the right
wing to obtain Taylor's Battery. The
Twentieth Indiana, lying in the woods
below it, however, after brisk skir.
mish in the midnight darkness, sent
the intruders back to their Notifications
again. .sol0s0 s..oga~,r9 sdT Es
rnsio aed.o Fsiddy.ii ..i-,ii 8fsfa -
The weather of Friday was in strik-
ing contrast to that of the morning pre-
vious. The ground was covered with
snow to the depth of couple of inches;
and a breeze that would have done
honor to the Arctic regions, swept
across the desoIate ridge upon which
our army was lying. The inhabitants
of the country roundabout averred that
they had rarely experienced SO severe
a day. Still was our force on the outer
edge of the enemy's works, that wander
where one might, he was sure to find
rising up before him. The entrance to
these works was still to be gained the
location even of the door was still to
be found. E0t ~ fHiY ga3Md gre
must admit, that riding along our
lines on Friday again, and witnessing
the formidable field works of the ene-
my, (between FIVE and six miles in ex-
tent,) which reared themselves every
where to the front of MS, / feared that
the task of reducing them would be at
the best matter of considerable time.
But, cold and hungry, and with gar
ments stiff with frost, the soldiers were
still hopeful and firm. / did not find
single discouraged man, or one, if he
were SO, who would admit it. The uni
versal sentiment was as bluff Colonel
Oglcsby expressed it, We came here
to take that fort, and zoe soiH take IL"
and it is this selfsame spirit of dogged
determination, and steady, long endur-
ing courage peculiar to the Anglo
Saxon of the North, that at last out
wore the perhaps more impetuous
bravery of the opposing force.
Nothing of especial note transpired
along the lines on Friday. The sharp
shooters, Notwithstanding the cold, en-
sconsced themselves, in their old posi-
tons on the hillsides, and were as great
n terror as ever to the gunners of the
batteries above them. Cavender, Tay-
lor, Woods (of McAlister's battcry,l
Dresser and Swariz would occasionally
exchange valentine, as they were
playfully called, but there were no such
bloody affairs as had characterized the
operations the day previous. The bat
teries too, had got the range OF one an
others positions so accurately, that /
imagine both parties had preferred in
absence of any positive orders to the
contrary, to linger beside the camp fire
Just out of range of the others guns,
than to indulge in idle badinage.
Arrival of Reinforcements-the gun
boat attack. ..-
The long expected gunboat fleet, to-
gether with the reinforcemehts, had,
however, come to hand, and it was ex-
pected that the latter could be brought
up, so as TO join with the other forces
in general assault in the rear, while
the gunboats attacked in front. The
distance from the river TO the left of our
right wing was, however, so great that
but few regiments arrived here before
dark. Gen. Grants Judgment, there
fore, much against his will, led him to
adjourn the assault until he had all his
available force in proper position. '.i3
The bombardnent of the gunboat
feet begun about half past two, and
continued two hours. Four of the
iron-clad and two of the wooden par
ticipated in the fight, which was of
fearful nature. Expecting the assault
on the rear of the fort, was not pres
ent to witness the naval attack, and
shall not attempt therefore, to give any
detailed account of it. 1t is, however,
described by the officers engaged in it,
as altogether exceeding in fierceness
the bOmbardment of Fort Henry At
all events the effect upon the boats was
much more severe, and subsequent in
vestigation have led me to believe that
the injury inflicted on therebels was not
so great either as the fortifcation.
This latter is, probably, owing to the
fact that the twelve guns OF the tort
commanding the river were at con-
siderable elevation, and it therefore
was much more difficult for the naval
gunners to get their exact range, or
once obtained to keep it, while the
boats were steadily advancing.
The rebel officers commanding the |
river batteries, also assure me that the |
practice of our gunners in the excite
ment of the bombardment was much
to that displayed in the recon
noisance = when matters were con-
ducted with more deliberation. But
be this as it may, it was galIantly con-
Quoted, and gallanily fought, and
earned for Flag officer Foote and his
gallant corps Of officers additional lau-
rcls. 1t was not until four of his boats,
under the terrific force of the enemy's
shots, were fairly at the mercy of the |
current, that the signal for retirement
was given, and that it was reluctantly
ordered, and still more reluctantly
obeyed, who can doubt? In the way
of test of the resisting powers of the
iron-elad boats, the affair was, however,
a great triumph. Although under a
perfect shower of iron pellets, from the
I2S pound to the rified 32