Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-19
RUMORED CAPTURE OF PRICE i
The Report COntradiCted.
MORE RUMORS FROM SAVAEHAF
THE LEGAL TENDER BILL!
NOTIFICATIONS BIZ COMMITTEE
Last Nights Repert.
FROM FORT DONRLsON.


The Republicans Fort Donelson correspon.
dent gives the following account of the
fighting on Saturday:
Saturday yesterday morning just at day
light heavy sortie was made by the garrison
from the left portion of their works. This
attack was made upon the extreme right
wing of the Union army, where it was the
weakest.
Part OF Gen. McOlsrnand's division, under
Col. 0glesby, consisting of his brigade, also
Schwarizs and McOalister's batteries, was
stationed there. The point of attack was
upon ridge leading into the right redoubt,
and was situated just above the main fort
During the night the enemy could be heard
busily at work, bat what st was impossible
to tell, as thiekets and woods encompassed
the URion troops on every side, rendering
the view in any direction almost impossible.
At daylight large body Of tne enemy sud
denly appeared on the extreme right wing of
Col. Oglesby's command and opened terri
bic fire with cannon from their redoubts,
playing at the same time upon our forces
from guns placed in position on the night
previous.
The camps of the 29th and slst Illinois
was most exposed, and the whole brigade
was at once formed into line as follows:-
The 18th illinois held the extreme right, the
sth Illinois next, the Both Illinois next, then
the 18th Illinois, supporting the right of
Capt. Schwartzs battery, the 3lst defending
the artillery on the left.
From the firing of the first gun until nine
o'clock the battle ragged unremittingly, and
With faorful locu hofb bfdad
Again and again our troops drove the en-
emy back, but they were often Reinforced,
while our troops had, owing to The. extended
lines of the army and also to their position
on the extreme right, to fight unassisied,-
More gallant fighting never took place than
that OF the Union troops while exposed to the
terrible firing of triple their number. They
stood their ground until in some regiments
every officer was killed or wounded. At
last, but reluctantly, regiment by regiment
they slowly fell back, leaving Schwartz Bat
terry and three of McAlisters guns in the reb-
els hands. Retiring few hundred yards,
they again made a stand, ana Gen. Smith ar-
rived with re-iniorcements and at once drove
the enemy again into their works. In the
FIRST of the battle was also Gen. Wallaee's
Brigade, the 18th, lIth, I7th and 4sth, also
Col. McArthur's Brigade, all of which troous
suffered severely. Opposed to them were
$4,000 rebels, supported by guns placed care
fully in position. Gen. Grant having com
msnd of a Division drove the enemy back
with their re-infoi cemeDts, and having gained
the last ground at once ordered an advance
By Gen. Smith on the left. Charging under
q hot FIRE up the steep hill on which was the
outer redoubt, oar troops gained the high
breastworks, and with hardly pause went
over them, planting the stars and stripes over
the walls under a most calling FIRE. They
formed and charged and drove the rebels
back until they fell into new position be-
hind some batteries When evening came
the Union troops hal been victorious at every
point having gained back the ground lost 10
the morning and got within part Of the enc
my's works. Our troops held their position
during the night repelling the repeated as
saults.
The scene within the captured fort after
the surrender showed how terribly the rebel
garrison had suffered. Everywhere were ly-
ing fragments of shells and round shot half
buried in the earth. Tents were torn to
pieces, gun carriages broken and blood scat
tered around. In the left redoubt where the
assault had taken place, the dead bodies lay
thiekly and abuI dant. EVidence Of the stern
resistance and gallant attack was visible. On
the extreme right, half mile distant, where
the desperate sortie was made BY the garri-
son, similar scenes were visible. The gal
lantry Of the Union troops has been well and
severely tested, and they have proved more
than equal to the task before them.
AS the feet approached the fort this morn
ing, salute was fred and loud cheers went
up when the American flags were visible.
No officer In the army hal any idea of
Fort Donelson's defenses until they had been
gained and examined.
Several regiments when out Of ammunition
rushed forward, and although exposed to the
full fire of the rebel artillery, gallantly drove
their foes back with the bsyonst and cap
tured their guns.
The following are the names Of some Of
the rebel officers captured: Col. Gsult Col.
Voorhies, Col. Forest Col. Brown, and Col.
Abernsthy.