Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-18


10 the brokers than the banks
The Fait Of Fort DOnelson..The Back
Bone OF the Rebellion broken.
The news of the capture of Fort Donelson,
which was received yesterday morning. electri-
bed our entire population with the combined
sensations Of joy and relief But with this re
joicing the brilliant and decisive victory
achieved by the galantry bravery and endurance
of our troops who engaged in the conflict,
were feelings OF grief and sympathy for those
who had fallen and we're wounded in the terrible
contest. All honor to the memory Of those who
have sacrificed their lives in the struggle main
tain the Constitution and the Union
The Union victory at Fort Donelson is com
plete. decisive aud overwhelming. Ii breaks the
backbone of the rebellion and its effort must be 10
demoralize the rebel armies. There may be yet
some hard fought battles, for the leaders OF the
rebellion desperate. but nothing but com
pIete capitua,on Of the rebel forces will prevent
the triumph OF our arms wherever resistance is
offered or blow can be struck at organized re
belli0n. The successive defeats al Somerset, at
Fort Henry. at Roanoke and the overwhelming
disaster at Fort Donelson must satisfy the people
of the Southern States who have made the issue
of armed rebellion as the remedy for their i'm
aginary or real wrongs that It is not only
hopeless but ruinous, and those who have opposed
secession, but whose voice has been stuffed by the
majority, will be free to express and vindcate
their devotion to the old Union ard Constitution
,.b has
nation unexampled blessings, prosperity and pro
gress.
We can vet hardly realize the gigantic and
terrible struggle which has divided the nation,
nor is there parallel for il in the worlds history
Not vet ten months have passed since the fall of
Sumter, and million of men, all of one nation,
having common heritage in the patriotic achieve
ments OF the ancestry who founded it and com
mon interest in maintaining the institutions which
their wisdom and virtue established. and which
were the admiration of all who valued political
and religious freedom. voluntarily left their
peaceful nvocations and girded on the armor of
the warrior to meet in hostile and deadly strife
IL is difficult for to believe that a nation whose
prosperity and progress has been based upou
peace. could be so suddei ly transformed
The victory at Fort Doneson is complete
Three Of the most prominent rebel Generals, fif
teen thousand men. with all their arms and equip
age. are its trophies. So overwhelming a tri-
umph was unexpected. A desperate struggle
was anticipated. for the position regarded by
the Confederates strategic point of the ut
most importance, and one which they must main
tain To prevent further aud greater disasters Its
fall opens the way to Nashville and Memphis,
and. by destroying the means of communication,
breaks the rebellion in twain aud weakens them
at every point. The rebel armies at Manassas
and Columbus must fall back, and it will proba
bly, be the policy of its leaders to concentrate
their lines of defense and. as defeat forever de
stroys them. they will fight with the energy in
spired by desperate cause. Such movements
may be defeated. however. by the rapid advance
Of our armies. The war may thus be prolonged,
but we can not but regard the contest at Fort
Donelson the eliminating point of the rebel
on and the success as stripping 1t Of is hereto
fote formidable proportions.
The victory will everywhere be hailed rs a
Union triumph The gallant General who
achieved il has no more love Tor aboli,iOnism
than secessionism. nor has the gallant army
which he commanded To the North western
States belong the honor of the first decisive Union
victory. They have furnished the men, the en-
ergy and the zeal which have thus far given char
acier and success Ia our arms. and with re
stored Union they viii give shape to the future
a. ia.
Republic
In the telegraph columns and other portions OF
the paper will be found all the facts and incidents
OF the battle We have been able to gather