Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-27
THE GREAT BATTLE.

a correspondent oi luc os' Aou's no-
publican, writing from Fort Donelsen,
gives the following clear, and graphic de-
scription of the recent great battle on the
last day, which was Saturday:
yesterday marnins, just at daylight, a
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 I'm
der Col nglesby, consisting of his bigade
which was stationed there; also, Schwartz's
and McAllister's batteries, The point
was upon ricge leading into the right re-
doubt, and was situated just above the
main fort.
During the night the enemy could be
heard busiy at work, but what at it is
impossible to tell, as thicket and woods
encompassed the Union troops on every
side, rendering the view in almost every
direction next to impossible. AT daylight
a large body of the enemy suddenly APP
peared on the extreme right wing Of Col.
Ogles by's command, and opened a terrible
fire from cannon from their redo ubts,
playing at the same time on our forces
from guns placed in position on the night
previous.
The camp of the Goth and Slst was
most exposed, and the whole brigade was
at once formed into line as follows
The 18th Illinois held the extreme
right
The 9Th, Illinois next.
The 18th Illinois next
Then the goth Illinois, supporting the
right of Capt. Schwartz's battery, and the
3lst defending the artillery on the left.
From the firing of the first gun until 9
o'clock the battle ragged unremitting and
with fearful loss on both sides. Again
and again our taoops drove the enemy
back, but they were reinforced, while our
troops had, owing to the extended lines of
the army and also their position on the
, extreme right, to fight unassisted, More
gallant fighting never took place than that
of the Union troops. Exposed to the ter.
rible firing of triple of their numbers, they
! stood their ground until in some regiments
every officer ,cas killed or ,oounded
At last and reluctantly, regiment by
regiment, they slowly fell back, leaving
y Scbwartz's batteries and three Of Meal
L listers guns in rebel hands. Retiring &
few hundred yards, they all made stand
is and Gen. Smith arrived with reinforce
= ments,and at once drove the enemy into
their works.
In the first of the battle was also Col
W. H. L. Wallace's brigade, the 18th
20th, 18th and 4Sth; also Col. Near
thurs brigade, all of which troops suffered
: severely. Opposed to them were $4,000
Il rebels, supported by guns placed carefully
- in position.
=, Gen. Grant, having command of the di
4 vision, drove the enemy back with rein
~ forcements, and gained the lost ground, a
It once ordered an advance by Gen. Smitl
~ on the left, charging under hot fire u
" the steep hill on which was the outer re
-. doubt, our troops gained the high breast
- works, and, with hardly pause, went c
- yer them, planting the Stars and Stripe
- orer the DaIIS. Upper a most calling fire
-, % they formed, charged, and drove the reb
~ els back, until they fell into new positio
- behind some batteries.
When evening came, the Union troop
r. had been victorious at every point, havin
y gained back the ground lost in the morn
~ Ing, and got within one part of the enc
u. !" my's works, Our troops held their pos
~, 10 ton during the night, repelling the repea
- ed assaults.
-. The scene within the captured for
AZ after the surrender, showed how terribl
~, the rebel garrison had suffered. Ever
y where were lying fragments OF shells an
~ round shot, half buried in the EARTH
Tents were torn to pieces, guncarriagt
A broken, and blood scattered around.
the LETT redoubt, where the assault had Il
Ia ken place, the dead bodies lay thickl.
Mt, and abundant evidence of steam resistant
a and gallant attack was visible. On Il
ca extreme right, half mile distant, whel
ha the desperate sortie was made by the ga
rrs rfsons, similar scenes were visible.
at The galantry of the Union troops hi
oh ceen we'll and severely tested, ana tn
40 have proved more than equal to the ia
-. before them.
' 'ho As the fleet approached the fort tn
an morning, salute was fired, and thr
ion cheers went up where America fla
the were visible
in No officers in the army had an idea
art, Fort DonelSon'S detences, until they h
IN been gained and examined.
,no Several regiments, when out of ANN
';,a milton, rushed forward, and although e
the posed to the full fire of the rebel artlller
to gallantly drove their foes back with the
Dot bayonets, and captured their guns"
lem
I'VE "A letter describing the disaster
tie gun boat Essex, off Fort Henry, VIII