Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-02-20
HEAVY LOSS ON BOTH SIDES.

HEAVY LOSS ON BOTH SIDES.
Fort Donelson surrendered to the fede al
troops under Gen Grant OH Sunday at nine
o'clock The attack, which commenced Thurs
day morning, was continued till this time with
the most determined bravery, and most de-
terminedly opposed. But the capture of the
upper redoubt by our forces on Saturday gave
us the command of the other rebel works, and
the enemy had no course left but to surrender. |
Two rebel generals, Buckner and Johnson, are
captured, with fifteen thousand prisoners, and
an immense amount of military stores. The
arch traitor, Floyd, managed to escape Satur
day night with five thousand men, and he has
thus once more escaped the hangman. The
rebels in the fort denounce him as a black !
hearted traitor and coward, which has long been
his character among loyal men. tits tie great
est and most hardly contested victory of the
war and our success is complete.
HOW TIE FORT WAS TAKEN.
A special dispatch to the Chicago Times says
| Fort DouelSon surrendered at daylight Sunday
morning, Internationally. We have Generals
Buckner, Johnston and Bushwood also 5000
prisoners and 5000 horses. Generals Pillow
and Floyd, with their Brigade, ran away on
steamers, without letting Buckner know of
their intentions. Gen Smith led the charge on
the lower end Of the works, and was first inside
the Notifications. The Fort Henry runaways
were bagged here. The prisoners are loading
on the steamers for Cairo. Our loss is heavy,
probably four hundred killed and 800 wounded.
We lost large percentage of officers, among
them Lieut.. Colonies Erwin, Goth Illinois,
White of the 3lst and Smith of the 18TH
Colonies John A. Logan, Sawyer and Ransom
were wounded. Major Post of the Sh Illinois
with 200 privates are prisoners and have gone
to Nashville, having been taken the night be-
fore the surrender. The enemys loss is heavy,
but not so large as ours, as they fought behind
entertainments. We should have taken them
by storming Saturday, if our ammunition had
not given out in the night. Netherlands di-
vision, composed of Ogesbys, Waace's, and
McArthur's brigades, suffered terribly. They
were composed of the Sth, 9th, 1lth, 18th,
Goth, 29th, Both, 3lst, 10th, 10Th and 59th H.
uois regiments. Gen. Lew Wallace, with the
l lth Indiana and Sth Missouri and some Ohio
regiments, participated Taylor's, Wizards,
McAlsters, Sc wurtz's and Decesse's ba =
tcries, were in the fight from the commence.
mcnt. The enemy turned our right for half an
hour, but our lost ground more than re-
gained. Lanmann's brigade of Smiths division,
was first in the lower end of the enemy's work.
which was done by charge bayoncts. As nine
: tenths of the rebels were pited against our
/ right our farces on the right were ready all
| Saturday night to recommence the attack. On
: Sunday morning they were met on their APP
approach by white flag, Buckner having sent
} early in the morning, tt dispatch to Gen. Grant
: surreuderng The works extend some five
miles on the outside The rebels lose As field
+ field pieces, / heavy guns, and 10000 stand of
arms, besides large quantity of commissary
stores. The rebel troops are completely de
, morallZed, and have no confidence in their
! leaders, as they charge Pillow and Floyd with
Gesertiug them. Our troops from the moment
5 of the investment of the fort on Wednesday,
$ lay on their arms night and day. half the time
e without provision, all the time without tents,
and portion Of the time in heavy storm of
rain and snow.
, THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The rebels are known to have 10000 troops,
4, $4,000 of whom are prisoners Five thousand
, escaped and the balance are reported killed
and wounded, and otherwise disabled. Our
loss is not stated, but the slaughter of our ranks
. is mentioned as terribly severe.
. The casualties on the gunboats are as follows
= On the St. Louis, three killed and two wound
ed, incu ing Lieut.. Kendall ON the Louisville,
five sailors killed, four slightly and two severe.
. y wounded, the latter having both arms shot
off on the Carondolet, four killed, six badly
= and two Sevcrly wounded, including the pilot ;
= on the Pittsburgh, two wounded.
All the wounded on both sides. at Fort
Donelson. will be brought TO ST. Louis and
,, placed in the hospitals A dozen or moro sur
geons, with corps of hospital nurses, left
! Monday afternoon for the battlefield to assist
= in their transportation.
a private message to the sanitary commits
sion from Cairo, received at Chicago, Monday
> evening, says there are 800 hundred federal
l. troops killed, 600 wounded and 100 missing at
Fort Donelson. A large number of our
wounded have been sent to the hospital at Pa
c ducah and Cairo.
+ OFFICIAL FROM COMMANDER FooTE
The following official dispatch was received
AZ Washington Monday afternoon:
! CAIRO, February, l7lh
It To HoN. GIDEON WELIES The Caronde-
d let, just arrived from Fort Donclson, brings in
II formation of the capture of that fort by our
n land forces, yesterday morning, with $4,000
G prisoners, including G, ncrals Buckner and
o Floyed escaped with 5000 men during the the
N night. go up with the gunboats as soon as
e possible and shall proceed to Clarksvlle with S
r. mortar boats ON the way, with which hope to
e attack Clarks,ille. My foot is painful but not
e dangerous. The army has behaved gloriously
(, shall b. able to take hut two iron clad gun.
5 boats, as the others are disabled The trophies
l. are immense, aud particulars will soon he Civ.
IT en-, a. ii. FoorE, Flag Officer.
ANOTHER OFFICIAL DISPATCH.
N CAIRO February 18th.
r To Major General Mcclellan The Union
,r flag floats over Fort Donelson The Carondo
Il, let, Capt Walker, brings the glorious intelli.
l. gence. The fort was surrendered at o'elocl,
% Sunday morning. Generals A. Sidney Johns
ID ton and Buckner, 10000 prisoners and larg,
y amount of material of war are the trophies o
Ne the victory. Loss heavy on both sides. Floyd
n the thief, stole away during the night previous
ID with five thousand men, aud is denounced b,
t. the rebels as a traitor. am happy to inform
r you that flag officer Foote, though suffering will
l. his foot, with the noble Characteristic of oul
in navy, notwithstanding his disability will tax,
n up Immediately two gunboas and with tn,
S, eight mortar boats which he will oyei take, vii