Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-17
TIE SIEGE or FORT DONELSON,
Two Days of Hard Fighting
THE FORT NOT YET TAKEN.
0unboats All Disabled.
The Fighting to be Continued on Sunday.

CAIRO, February l6 P. M-Commodore
Foote reached here at IL o'clock last night.
op board the gunboat ConsStogd He stormed
Fort DoDelson Friday P. NJ, with the gun.
boats 81. Louis, Louisville, Ptts5,rg, Cdron-
dslet, TyIor and ConeStogG. After fighting
a little over an hour he withdrew. Fifty.
four men were killed and wounded on the
gunhoals, Pilots Riley and Hinton OF the
81 Louis being among the latter Commo.
dore Foote, while standing on the pilot.
house of the 81. Louis, his flagship, was
slightly wounded. The 81. Louis was hit
sixty-one times. Two Of oar gunboats were
disabled The Tylor add Conestoga remained
out of range of the enemy's guns. The line
of battle was as follows:
The 81. Louis on the right next the Louis.
ViILe, then the PttSburg and Crondstst ON
the left The enemy's firing was very accu
rate. They had three batteries-one near
the water, one so feet above this, aud third
80 feet above the second. The upper one
mounted four l8,pounders. This was held
in reserve until our boats got within four
hundred yards of the fort. Our fire was di-
rected principally at the water battery, One
OF the enemy's guns burst and q number
were dismounted. The enemy could be seen
carrying their dead out OF the treuches.
All the Runboats were left up the Cumber-
land except the ConestOgG and she left there
yesterday morning. A rihed gun on the
Cdrondeiet burst, killing six men. The rud-
der of the Pittsburg was shot away. The
mortar boats left here yesterday morning
A gentleman who left Fert Donelson yes
tSrday afternoon at three o'clock, and
reached here this noon, says the fight had
been going on all day yesterday. The right
wing of the enemy's Notifications has been
taken, and the Stars and Stripes were float
ing over it. The forces were breast to breast,
and the fighting was to be renewed.
CAIRO, February l6.-The steamer MinRs-
hdha arrived here from Fort Donelson.
having left the fort at fve o'clock last even.
ing, bringing a military mail and dispatches.
and l50 wounded to the hospital at PAducah.
The fight commenced on Thursday, and
on Friday and Saturday the contest was
desperate. The Illinois Eighteenth suffered
severely, and the Iowa Seventh sustained
considerable loss.
Swsrtz's Battery, which was taken by the
enemy, was recaptured by our men. Two
Coonels were wounded and two killed.
The loss is heavy on both Sides
The upper fort was taken at four o'clock,
and the Union flag is now floating over it,.
Our troops behaved with great galautry
The gunboats 81. L0uiS, Louisville and
Pihs6urg were disabled.
The MinnshGhG met with the mortar boats
at Paducah going up.
ST. LOUIS, February I6-Dispatches re-
ceiVed at headquarters say that all the gun
boats were pretty effectually disabled except
one. Com. Foote was wounded twice, but
not fatally.
The upper redoubtwss taken by our troops;
II commands Fort Donelson, and Gen. Grant
telegrsphs he would be able to capture that
fort to- day, (Sundsy.)
Gen. Halleck also received dispatches from
Gen. Curtis, stating that Prices rear guard
was overtaken in the pursuit from Spring
field, and after brief resistance, the rebels
fled, leaving the road strewed with wagons
and baggage.
Gen. Curtis reports having taken more
prisoners than he knew what to do with. 1t
never rains but it pours.
ST. LOUIS Feb. l6.-A Cairo special to the
DfmoerGt says that Capt Wise, of the steamer
MinHshGkd, reports that the enemy made a
sortie from the fort at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, and drove our forces back three
quarters Of mile, and captured Swartzs
Battery.
At one o'clock our troops rallied recap
tured the battery, and drove the rebels be.
fore them, and planted our flag on their
outer Notifications.
A steamer from Evansville brings report
that four of our Oolonels were killed yester.
day afternoon, among them Colonel John A.
Logan Of Illinois. The names of the others
are not ascertained.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. l6.-A special to the
Democrat dated sin rear of Fort Donelson,
Friday P. NJ" says:
Last night was very severe on our troops,
rain having set in, which turned to snow.
It is freezing to-day, and old citizens say
they rarely have such cold weather in this
latitude