Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-20
THE RATTLE AT FORT DONEL-
CON

Camn on the Field near Fort D0nelson, [
Thursday, Feb, 1912 Ia
Fort Doneson is invested by our troops
Onr lines are formed from right TO left and
from north TO south, nearly surrounding the
fort A heavy cannonading and skirmish-
inc have been going on since seven thirty this
morning, but owing TO the extent OF our line
Of action. but little eau be learned of the
result 4 hear however that the Captain of
Go. /. yth Illinois regiment has been killed.
&c, McClernards division is operating on
the right wing and Gen Smith on the LETT.
We have had but one gun boat 70 play
upon the Fort until within the last half hour,
since when, the other gun boats have been
firing on the Fort.
The force estimated 10 be within the breast
works. from the best information, is about
10000. No reiuiorcements can arrive as all
communication is cut off, .....
II is now thought that their left redoubt
has fallen INTO our hands. All the officers
are acting with great valor, exhibiting fear
lessness highly creditable TO our Western
army.
Gen Grant and staff have been riding
along the lines all the morning, regardless of
the grapeshot that is being showered IN every
direction.
Feb. IS, P. M.--The eannonading and
skirmishing has continued briskly all day,
but mas lately discontinued.
A considerable number have been wounded
on both sides. The 25th Indiana, which
rushed boldly up to the entertainments, had
during the day, forty of their men wounded,
all slightly. The 9TH Illinois and 9TH Iowa,
who have been close to the enemys fire, have
lost some men. Among the killed is Captain
Wendell OF Co. /, 7th Illinois, and Col. Nor
rison of the 49th Illinois is wounded.
Berges' sharp shooters have done good
service. They keep several of the enemy's
guns idle by picking off the cannoners as
fast as they appeared at the guns. a
Captain Brink with company of cavalry
went around to the left bank Of the river this
afternoon and reports that the gun boat Ca
rondelet received ten inch bali through her
casemate which wounded eight men, bur did
not injure the boat materially. Capt Walker
of the Carondelet says he has dismounted
three of the rebels river guns The other
gun boats had not arrived up TO SIX P m.
REPORTS FROM ST. LOUIS.
st. Louis. Friday, Feb.j14.
Il
ent says the fight at Fort Donnelson began
at 9 A. NJ. yesterday, and during the day the
rebels were driven out of the fort three times
aed forced back again by Gen. Grant.
The gunboat Carondelet had been struck
but twice up to noon yesterday.
A battery of FIVE pieces, opposite the river,
opened on her during her approach to the
fort. The steamer Alps has arrived here
with the wounded from the Carondelet.-
Some of them are seriously hurt by splinters.
The Alps met Com. Foote thirty miles be-
low Donelson with gunboats Louisville, Can
estoga, Tyler, st. Louis, and Pittsburgh, and
towed the two latter to within twenty-five
miles OF the fort where she left them at three
o'clock this morning.
. Special dispatches TO the Rupublican, dated
Fort Donelson, last night, say that up 10 bat
/ time our loss vas about twenty killed add
two hundred and fifty wounded. The right
wing of our army rested within sixty yards
OF one of the rebel redoub 5, the enemy hav-
ing been driven one mile
Twenty rebels had been killed in skirmish-
es. Com G. Berges Sharpshooters, Capt.
Cutter, got within rs yards of rebel battery
and completely silenced it during the entire
afternoon, by killing every man who attempt
ed to work the guns.
A desperate advance was made on one OF
the redoubts by the 10th and 49th Illinois,
under Col. Morrison, of the latter regiment.
They made two gallant charges, getting close
to the enemy's breastworks, but were obliged
TO retire in both instances under heavy crsss
fire of artillery and infantry. Both reg lmsnts
suffered considerably.
Col Morrison was severely wounded while
very near the ramparts. There were great
quantities of brush piled before the breast
works, which it was impossible to penetrate.
Capt. Brohan, of the 49th Illinois was killed
The loss of both regiments is about 100 killed
and wounded.
Il A heavy rain set in tonight, which will try
the men severely, they having no tats, and
in many cases, owing to their position, not
being able to build fires
d Col. Oglesby says: ave came here to
take that fort, and we don't intend to leave
until we do it."
st. Louis, Feb 10.
The following is a Especial dispatch to the
Missouri Democrat.
Cairo, Sunday, P. NJ, Feb. 16.
Commodore Foote reached here at twelve
o'clock last night, on board the gun boat
Conestaga.
He stormed Fort Donelson Friday after
. noon with the gun boats st Louis, Louisville,
Pittsburgh, Carondelet, Tyler and Conestoga,
and after fighting little smore than an hour,
he withdrew.
FIfty-four were killed and wounded on our
gnn boats, PiIots Riley and Hinton of the St
Louis, being among the latter.
Commodore Foote, while standing on the
pilot house of the st Louis, his flag ship, was
slightly wounded.
The st Louis was hit sixty-one times.
Two gun kboats were disable, the Tyler and
Conestoga, and remained out Of range Of the
enemy's guns, The line of battle was as
follows
The st Louis on the right, next the Louis
vile, then the Pittsburgh and the Carondelet
on the left.
The enemy's firing was very accurate.
They had three batteries, one near the wa
ter, one fifty feet above this, and the third