New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-26
GEN. McCLERNANDs CONGRATULATORY
ORDER.
FIELD ORDER, No. AS.

FIELD ORDER, NO. 145.
FoHr DosELsoS, Feb. II, ls63. 5
OYrIcERs AND MEN OF TBE FIRST DIVISION or
THE ADVANCE Forces: Yon have continually lei
the way IN the Valley Of the Lower Mississippi, the
Tennessee and the Cumbe lard. You nave carried
The fac of the Union further South than any Other
land forces marching from the interior toward the
seaboard.
Being the first division to enter Fort Henry, you
also pursued the enemy for miles, capturing from
bin, in his fight, ak field pieces, many OF bis
standards ard flags, a number OF PRISONERS, aud
great quantity OF military stores.
Following The enemy to this place, you were the
frat to encounter him ontside Of his iutreEchmente
and to drive Lin within them.
Pursuing your advantage, the next day, being OF
the right you advanced upon his llLes in the face Of
Lis works and batteries, aud for the time silenced
them.
Tie next dsv. ssirmishing all along his LEFT, you
darinRly charged upon his rodoutts, under deadly
fire OF grape and canister, and were only prevented
from taking them BY natural ,taces and the aceu
mpIated nInsses which hurried forward TO defend
them.
The next day YOU extended your right in tie isce
Of the y-erected batteries quite to the Camoer-
land thus inveeting his works for nearly two niles
The next day, alter standing under arms FOR two
days and nights, amid driving storms OF snow ard
rain, and pnched by hunger, the enemy advanced 10
force 10 open the way to hi, escape.
By his own coniessi0n formed IN a column OF I n
successive regiments, lie concentrated his attack
upon single point. Yol repulsed bin repeatedly
from o clock TO II =. IN. often driving back his
formidable odds.
Thus, after three DAYS fighting, when your smnl-
milton was exhausted you Tell back until IL came up,
and reformed u second time in his face.
Supported by fresh troops, under the lead Of IA
brave nnd aba officer the enemy was again driven
back, and, by combined advance from all sides,
was finally defeated. His unconditional surrende
The next day consummated tho victory.
Undiverted by any attack for near four hours from
any other part of our lines the enemy wac left u
Concentrate hs attack with superior numbers upon
yours Thus, while you were engaged for longer
time than any other Of our iorces you subjected
TO much greater loss.
The battlefield testi6es TO your vaor and constan
cy. Even the magnanimity Of tho enemy accords to
you an unsurpassed heroism, and an enviable and
brilliant share in the hardest fought battle and most
decisive victory ever iou. hi aad won On the Ameri
can continent.
Your trophies speak for Themselves. They consist
OF many thousands # prisoners OF war, forty pieces
Of cannon, and extensive mslzires OF all kinds oi
ordnance. quarter and coma i>sary stores.
The death. snel OF the rebellion is sounded. An
army has been annibiAted ard the way 20 Nashville
and Memphis il oIeaed. This monentous fact should
~ 1t will, encourage you TO leleeyeTe in the path Vi
duty and of glory. Ii must alleviate your distress
ior your brave comrades who have fallen or been
wounded. Ii will mitigate the grief Of beroavo1
wives and mourning parents and kiu0red IL will be
your claim TO place IN the afecuonot your country
men and upon bls,oned PAGE in history.
BY order II Brig G.l J. A. NcCLERNAND Commanding
A SonwARrI Captain and Ac,ils CHIEF .! sAi