Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-20
GENERAL SMITHS AssArLr.


the morning had rendered to decrease In no
measure his pugnacity. When he received
his long desired orders for an assault of the
enemy's works, his eyes glistened with fire
which, could it have been seen by his
maligners, would have left them in no doubt
as to his private feelings in regard to the
present contest. All the arrangements were
complete by three o'clock, and his column
was put in motion soon after. The force
under his command was as follows:
Col. Cook Brigade-Seventh Illinois, Fif-
tieth do, Twelfth Iowa, Thirteenth Missouri,
Fifty second Indiana.
Col. Lauman's Brigade-Second Iowa,
Seventh Iowa, Fourteenth Iowa, Twenty
fifth Indiana, Fifty. sixth Indiana.
Under cover of Captain Stones Missouri
battery, this force began the assault. TWAS
formidable undertaking, which, under a
less brave and skillful commander than Gen.
Smith, might have proved a disastrous fail
ure
The hills at this point are among the most
precipiteus of those upon which the enemy
were posted. Selecting the Second and
Seventh Iowa, and the Fifty-second Indi-
ana for the storminR party, General Smith
detected the main portion of his division to
the right, and having succeeded in engaging
the attention of the enemy at this point
himself headed the storming party and ad .
Vanced upon the works from his extreme
left. II was q most magnificent sight. I'm.
appalled, by the perfect storm of bullets
which rained about him, the General on
horseback, and with his hat on the point of
bis sword, preceded his troops, and inspired
them with JuroTe there was no withstand
ing.
Steadily, with unbroken line, the gallant
Hawkeyes and Indianians advanced. The
enemy's grape and canister came blowing
through their ranks, but not shot was fred
in return. Closing up the ranks as one after
another of the brave fellows dropped to the
earth, and animated by the fearless example
of their undaunted leader, they pressed
steadily on. The works gained, one tremen.
dous volley was poured into the astonshed
enemy, and, with fixed bayonets, charge
was made into their ranks which there was
no withstanding They fed in confusion
over the hills, and at last we had penetrated
the rebel Sebastopol, and the mislortunes of
the morning were retrieved. Captain Stones
Battery, which, in the mean time, had been
doing tremendous execution in the rebel
ranks, was promptly advanced to the posi-
ton gained, and instantly, supported by the
remainder of bis division, the point was
secured against any force the enemy could
bring to bear against it.
GEN. LEW. wALLACE's ATTACK ON THE RIGHT
In the mean time, Gen. Lew. Wallace had
completed his preparations for an attack on
the enemy occupying the position he had
wTested from us in the morning, some two
miles and half to the right. Just as his
column was being put in motion, messen-
ger arrived with the joyful tidings that
Smith was inside Of the intrenchments
With a cheer that resounded far and near,
the irresistible Eighth Missouri ard Eleventh
Indiana, which occupied the front, advanced
on the double-quick into the encounter they
had 80 long been seeking. These two regi-
ments, from their superiority in drill and
fighting capacities have been considered a
crack corps" and most nobly did they up.
hold to the letter their enViable reputation
They did not tarry long to bother with
powder and ball, but with shout, of itself
terrific enough to appall their foes, gave them
the cold steel with will which will long be
remembered. Shell and round shot, grape
and canister were hurled at them in vain
Still onward they pressed, and regiment after
regiment fed before them. Valiautly sup
ported by the First Nebraska, Thirteenth
Missouri, and other regiments of Colonel
ThayeI's and Crafts brigades, steady ad.
vance, was made, until by dusk the
ground which had been so hotly contested
in the morning was ours again, and once
more the rebels were forced to seek the pro-
tecting shadow of the earthworks.
The effect Of these successes upon the army
was electrical-six hours before, with gun
boats disabled, and the enemy in possession
of portion of our gound, the position of
affairs was gloomy, indeed. But now all was
changed. Eated with victory, and the
knowledge that at last they had obtained a
foothold in the enemy's fertilization, and
savage at the thought of the privations they
had encountered, and at being SO long baked
in the possession of their prey, officers and
men alike clamored foran immediate assault
that night.
General Grant, however, mindful Of the
risks attending such an operation, even with
troops exhibitingsu such veteran characteristics
as those under bis command had displayed,
wisely postponed the final coup de main till
the coming of the morrow's light.
What the morrow brought forth, and how
the rebels, worn out and dispirited by the
protracted beleagueTment, concluded to give
up their stronghold and lay down their arms,
is already well known. The more detailed
particulars of the surrender of Fort Donelson
and its Gordon of field. works, the departing
mail allows me no time to speak of.