, 1862-02-12
THE WAR TN KENTUCKY.
Reported Evacuation Of Bowling
Green.
PREPARATIONS TO ATTACK FORT
D0NELSQN.
GEN. PILLOW tn COMMAND.
Our Gunboats go to Alabama.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribnne.1
FORT Henry, Tenn, February Q. 1852, |
RI farm In 11%31 +

yfa. CAIEo, the llth
A force Of the End Illinois cavalry under
Major Mudd, made reconnaissance to-day in
the direction Of Fort Donelson- An advance
guard Of some forty men, encountered a
superior number Of the rebel cavalry about
seven miles on the main road to Dover. Capt.
Brink, ordnance officer, who accompanied
the command, with Carson, were in the ad
vance, and discovered the enemy and gave
notice to our cavalry who were feeding some
distance in The rear. The rebels advanced
on our small force and gave them battle
at cross road. Some 80 more OF our cavalry
coming up to tile assistance Of our struggling
little band, the enemy turned and took to
flight with loss Of killed and % prisoners,
among whom was the captain Of the rebel
band. our loss WAS l man wounded and
horse killed.
Gen. Grant and staff to-day, also made re-
connoissance to within miles OF Fort Donel-
son, anda complete knowledge Of the roads
was obtained.
The accommodating transport steamer II. H.
Brown, in charge Of Capt. Logan, aid to Gen
Grant, with Col. Higgins and Col. 4. II. Mark
land, the military Mail Agent accompanying
the army, made another trip to-day to the
railroad bridge across the river at Danyille,
where i large quantity Of army stores, wagg-
ops, hides, and numerous other articles Of
value were obtained.
From ali appearances in every direction
from the Fort, the rebel retreat assumed !
complete panic and stampede. At Danyi1Ic
the quarters Of the troops gave evidence that
they fled willie in the act Of preparing either
dinner or supper. The cooking utensils con-
tanned tic allowance Of their nlorscl. Beds
and cabin furniture we're strewn about in reek-
less confusion, and terror and lis1nay seem to
have filed the breasts Of the occupants
An unfinished letter from soldier to lis
sister, was found, dated the 9Th, {the day o'
| The battle) which stated that the It'll regiment
left there the night previous for the fort,
| leaving every room for the conclusion that
the actual force at this place on the day Of the
| capture Of this Fort was not less than
12,GQ0.
Col. Aarl1land, by order Of Gen. Grant, took
possession Of eleven bags mail matter ut Dan.
vile and closed the Office yesterday.
Gen. Grant and staff visited Danyi1le and
/ took possession Of large amount Of property
| Of the same character as that takcn to-day,
besides the ferry steamer j. II. Martin, which
was brought down to this point
The bridge is d magnificent structure o.
about 1900 feet in length, besides about 4oc
feet Of trest1e work The piers Of the spans,
some nine in number, are built Of granite, and
| in the strongest manner, The trestlc work
has been partially destroyed to prevent its
being used by the rebels.
Keiuforccments are arriving very rapidly.
| The l41h Iowa, the 18th Missouri, a battalion
! Of Birge's slarpsbooters, the 45d and 17th
Illinois regiments, all arrived during last night
and to-day.
| The gunboats which went up the river afte1
| the capture Of the fort hare cot yet been
| heard from.