The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-02-27
THE F0If DovIISON BATTLE. |
sTlExxRNr or An EYE. WITNESS


wood. ibis 0e0 D0en I0V0ll00 to allow the
play Of artillery, but, a. was subsequently,
found. seriously interfsred with the move
ments Of the troops. In front Of tho fort. 1T
. distance Of half mile or thersabouts, were
our lines Of entrenchments, snd beyond, still
further, the lines OF the enemy.
Our troops mum bsrad about eighteen thou
.and. and were under the co mmand Of Gen.
erals Floyd, Pillow, Bucknsr, and BHshrod
R. johnson. Most Of tho regiments were
from Tennessee and Mississippi, but Virginia.
Alabama, Tsxas, and Arkansas, also con-
tributed their quota, and swellod the dimen.
sions Of the army to the size have named
Active hostilities commenced as early ~
Tuesday morning, but were confined to the
outposs and picksts. A battalion Of Missis.
dppi cavalry, under command of Colonel
Forrest, that day encountered q strong Skin
mishing party Of Fsderals, but finally sue
ceeded in rcpulsing them with consider BILE
loss At night, the fires Of the Federal camps
were plainly visible, and At dusk long lines
Of troops could BE- discerned moving into
position.
On wednesday morning our artillery
opened fire upon tho enemy. and beth armies
prepared for serious work, but nothing In the
shape Of infantry encounters interrupted tho
cannonading, which continued during tho
day.
Thursday witnessed repetition Of the
events OF Wednesday. There was some
lighting between the infantry and sharp.
shooters Of both armies that we're engaged
in picking OF those who exposed themselves
to this species Of certain death. The gun
boats ON thls day came up the river anc
opened vigorous ire on Fort DOnelson; bu.
after = severe exchanging OF sho.s f.r se eral
hours, fell back disabled.
Friday the cAnnonndln4 was more terrible
than a. any time during tho week. Again
The gunboats renew wed their attack, and again
they were compelled 70 retire, TINS lime
thoroughly aors dn combat. The infantry also
engaged, and the blaze Of M usketry was visi.
BILE along our entire lines. During the light
u desp. rate charge was made by two Illinois
regiments upon tho Second kentucky anu
TsAth Tennessee, but they were met almost
hand to hand, and sent back bowling TO their
entrsnohments, leaving rrightfuI propo1,
tion OF their number dead and mangled upeu
the fold. The day closed without any prac-
teal advantage to either party. " 9 held our
own and tho enemy maintained their pc.
Aition. The loss was less than one hundt ed
on our side, principally from she'll. and that
of the Feberais severe.
Saturday was the Rubicon Of Fort Donel-
son. The enemy had received strong rein.
foroem ents during the week, and now they
n numbered, according TO their own sstim ates,
n1ty thousand men. Snow lay ON the ground
to the depth Of three inches, and a cold
binding siest poured necessarily In the
n ces OF our soldiers. Still, with all these
odds, they faltsred not. Early In tho day
the order came from headquarters to make
| a vigorous attack on the right flank Of the
Federal army. which. ty.nvs thousand
| strong, was posted on the opposite hills, IN
| der command Of Gen. Grant. Not more
| than ten thousand Of our mon engaged in
| this m ovement, but such was the impetu.
| osity Of their advance that the enemy fed in
confusion from their entrenchmeats.
| Charge after charge was made by our rsgi-
nsnts and the ground was covered with the
slain. Three hundred prisoners, includiD &
| sever al officers belongi ing to an Illinois regi-
mont, four batteries, and thirty-five hun
dred stand OF arms, were captured. Tho
| former are now In q Confeder ate prison -
| The two latter may have been rstaken, but
| this fact 10 not yet known. Everywhere, in
| the earlier part Of the day, our nag was vic
| torioue.
/
| right had been turned, and that the day
| wo Md be lo.t but for some decisive effort
| concentrated his troops In the afternoon on
our right, and making asuddsn plunge, after
| q long and desperate struggle redeemed his
| mornings loss BY capturing portion OF oul
| entrench ments. Tho dead lay piled up In
heaps, their gore trickling in red line.
along the snow In every direction. Sui
| our troops fought on, contesting inch
| by inch the ground they were compelled t.
| vasate. At niEhtfall the firing ceased, and
| At twelve O'Clock Pillow telegraphed 70 Nash
vile: "Tne day is ours; we have rsPulsed
| tho enemy with great loss to them and with
| considerable loss to ourselves. We want 70.
| Inducements" keinforcemenu were not
for thcoming, however, and Sunday morn
| ing found the Federal army strengthen
| ed by thirty thousand fresh men, encom
passing the place and com pletely surroand-
| Ing our forces The hight was renewed 1t i've
O'Clock, A. M; but II being useless to con
tend against such odds. tho fort and arm y
capituiated to the enemy on their own terms.
| Floyd, Pillow and Buckner, fought like
heroes. They were everywhere, animatiDg
| their mon, constantly under f1rs, and encour-
| sgipg them by their example and presence -
| As tho regiments moved on to the charge.
| Floyd would rise in his stirrups and shout
.Bs steady, boys. and aim low-fsar not, the
| day will be ours"
The total mum Dor Of our killed and wounde
| 10 estimated At from twenty 0ve hundred to
| three thousand. That OF the Esdsrals q,
| from four to six thousand.
We had four nel6 batteries and several re-.
gimsnts Of cavalry, all Of which have doubt.
| less fallen into the hands OF the enemy The
former were com mandsd by Captains Porter
| Graves, Jackson Of Virginia, and -.
| To distinguish friend from foe, our mer
had white band tied around the arm. and
side Of the Confederate nag . banner o
| blue with = white globe in the centre.
| As rapidly a. possible the wounded were
removed 70 the town OF Dover, above al
/ nd Nan kv 1fA t~
Nashville. The care bestowed upon tn en-
| was excellent, there being An abundance O,
| both physiclAns and refreshments.
The enemy are rspressn ted 70 have fough
| nobly, far better than tho Northern soldiers
have ever fought before; but most, II not all
| Of them, were from the West, sturdy farmers
and bAckwoodsmsn, and. Ike ourselves, as
| customed to the nss Of arms. The safety OF
command, Is boy ond doubt. Bucknsr Is Also
| supposed TO have escaped, as q dispatc ia
| said to have been received by his wife In At
ianta, Ga, within ne past fonr DAYS. stating
| was not in tho Eight
| Had rsinforcsments been sent forward, %
| that eight or ton thousand frseh mon could
| have stood the brunt Of the battle on Satur
| Fort Donslson would not have fallen; bat
| the lack Of this efYsc tive strength enabled the
I eusmy to completely hem our little army In
| and extend their lines In crescent shape from
| river bank 70 river bank around Ne.
The news OF the surrender reached Nash
| Vile, Tenn, BY telegraph, on Sunday morn.
Ing about church time, while many OF the
| eitizeus were on their way 70 their accus.
toned places OF worship. instantly, Of
course. every other consideration gave place
to the thought Of personal safety. Every
| means Of transportation at hand Was en-.
ployed 10 remove furniture and vAluabiss
| the depets were thronged With men, womsI
! Aad children. anxious TO leave the city; Uair
afssr train WAS pat In motiop; 0ovsrnmer
| stores were thrown open 20 all who chose e