The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-02-28
The Iowa second i'm the Fight.
n

to write you brief account Of the lat
fight at Fort Donelson. Our regiment
Second Iowa, with the balance Of on
force, amounting to about $4,000, dis
embarked five miles below Fort Dcnelson
on the morning Of the 18th inst. Oul
regiment formed in line and commenced
march - over hill and dale - which
were covered with snow. A tramp of Eve
miles brought us up to Wallace's forces,
which had arrived from Fort Henry the
day before. We built fires at the foot Of
long sloping hill some three quarters OF
mile from the enemies breast works the
constant booming of the gunboats reached
our ears. The boys when they get rested,
ascend the hill for the purpose Of getting
view of the Notifications. Distance, at
least sufficient distance to be out of the
range of the enemies guns, would have
Silent enchantment to the view" for the
mement they exposed their heads to view
their ears were greeted with the whistline
of bullets. In the evening company A,
under command of Lieut.. j. L. Davis,
are taken ont to skirmish. Suitable points
are selected by the men, and whenever a
head appears emerging above the works,
our boys blaze away. When twilight
comes on We return to our camp. Our
company left their blankets behind on the
boat. Some stretch themselves down on
the cold, wet ground, while others sit up
by their fires all night. Our supper con-
sisted Of one half a hard cracker drenched
down with cold water. A light snow fell
during the night. The hours wear slowly
away till morning. The morning of the
18th comes and good deal of conjecture
is made by the boys as to what the day
will bring forth. The forenoon is whiled
away by the boys- in rambling through
the woods hunting fresh pork.
Two o'clock. p. M, we received orders
to "fall in line, and, when formed,
Col. Lauman, Acting Brig. General, in-
formed us that Sour time had come. -
We marched down through the woods by
the left flank into an open field in full
view Of the breast works and their batter
les frowning down upon us. We form
in line Of battle, the left wing supporting
the colors and advance under command of
Col. futile. When it had advanced
about one hundred yards the right wing,
commanded by Lieut.. Col. Baker, were
ordered forward to its support ''double
quick" We reach steep hill and hasten
up, facing a scorching fire. The dead
and wounded are strewed on each side Of
US. The color bearer was killed, and
three supporters wounded in succession.
When We reached the top Of the hill our
hea rts beat with JOY to see our flag wave.
ing over the breast works. Our men go
inside, and drive back two regiments (the
Kentucky I'd and Tenn. Tigers and pursue
them about four hundred yards. A heavy
shower Of grape and canister from the
enemy's battery is poured into our ranks.
Our men fall wounded and dead thick
and fast around us. Our brave and cool
headed Colonel cheers his boys on. They
stand up to the work bravely without
fiinching. A cry is raised, stake that
battery + No sooner said than. our BOYS
advance under The NEST calling Are Of the
enemy. For two hours We held our posi-
ton, and then fell back to give way for
our battery. which had just arrived. Our
battery silenced one gun Of the enemy.
The hills are covered with our men firing
upon the enemy from almost every point
The fight is kept up till about dusk, when
there is cessation Of hostilities.
/ The I'd, 7th and 14th Iowa regiment,
held the position that We had gained al
night, Towards morning we heard wha
we supposed TO be cannon carriage, ant
concluded that by daylight the enem,
would pitch into III from their inbreas
works. At daylight . flag Of truce ap
: pears, claiming the privilege Of collect
ing their dead And wounded /; also writ
ten proposition to Gen. Grant. Boil
sldes set to work Immediately looking u,
} their wounded and dead. Gen. Smitl
arrived aud gave them thirty minutes i
make up their mind to an unconditiona
surrender. About o'clock the ola,
: tid'ngs ran throughout our army that til
> rebels had made an uncond itional .ur