The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-02-22
WAR NEWS.
The Fight at Fort Done lsOn.
ATTACK OF THE GUN BOATS.

FoOte, al . clock p. NJ, on the lIth. The
fort was bombardcd by the boats (four iron
clad and two wooden oncs,) The hght lasting
an hour and quarter. Part Of the engage
ment the boats We're fought within four hun
bred yards Of III" works, which rose IN three
tiers, the secod fifty feet above the first and
the third city feet above the second.
The boats were injured in their steering
apparatus by the en-, my's fire, and becoming
unlnanag ea bic driftcd down the rapid stream
inst as the rebels were beginning 20 run from
their batteries.
The fort brought over twenty guns TO bear
upon the boats, while the gun boats could
return the fIe with but eleven. Com. Foote
was wounded in the foot during the engage
mcnt.
The Capture ef Fort Donelson.
The forces were ahuut equal in numbers,
but the rebels bad all the advantages of posi-
tioD, being well fortified on two immense
hills, with their fort near the river on u lower
piece of ground. From the foot If their
entertainments rifle pits and abattls extending
mp the river behind the town Of Dover.
The fertilization on the land side, back
from the river, were at least four miles IN
length Their water battery, in the centre
Of the Qualifications where it came down to
the river, mounted nine heavy guns.
The Southerncrs were sure of success in
any other canse, and against less brave troops
they could easily have held the position
against hundred thousand men.
The business Of getting the different bri-
gades in position for attaching the new arriv-
ais to the different brigadcs took mp the
greater portion OF Friday night.
AT daylight on Saturday, the enemy opened
on the Eighteenth Illinois Regiment, whom
Colonel Oglesby's brigade (the first brigade
of the first dlvision) of seven regiments OF
infantry. two batteries OF artillery, and two
regiments Of cavalry wero soon engaged
They were soon followed by WalIace's and
McArhur's brigades-the latter acting under
Gen. McClern,nd.
AS the position of the troops had been
changed during the night. and Gen. Grant
had been called away to the gunboats, the
movements of all the troops, except those
attached to Gen. McCernand' $ division, were
made without any other direction than that
contained in the general orders issued during
the day.
AT Il suggestion from General McCkrnand,
General WALLACE sent up fonr regiments To
support his division, who were nearly ont Of
ammunition from the commencement till near
ten O'Clock.
The lighting was terrific.
The troops ON tho right were disposed as
follows:
THE RIGHT WING.
General McArthur's brigade composed the
Ninth, Twelfth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth, and
Forty first Illinois regiments.
Next, General Oglcsby's bri gade, consist
ing of the Fifth, Thirteenth, Twenty NINTH
Thirtieth Thirty-tirst Illinois regiments, and
Schwartz and Dccessrrs butteric..
Next, w. IL. l.. Wallacc's (acting as Brig.
GEM brigade, consisting of the Eleventh,
Twentieth, Forty -iiith, and Forty-eighth Hi
nuis regiments.
These three brigades composed General
McClernand's division, and bore the bruut Of
the battle.
1t was found that the enemy was concen-
trating his main force to turn our right. in
which they succeeded. owing to our forces
running out of ammunition, and in the con-
fusion Of getting up rcintorcemcnts. and we
retreated about half mile.
As soon as the division, which had stood
the ground manfully for three hours, retired,
the enemy occupied the field, when General
Grant ordered General &. +. Smith to move
forward his division and storm the cnemy's
works on our left. This order was obryed
with great alacrity, and soon the cheers OF our
daring soldiers were heard and the old flag
displayed from within he cncmy's cntrench-
ments.
General Grant then sent word to General
McClernand that General Smith was within
the entertainments, and ordering his forces to
move forward and renew tho attack ON the
right.
One of General Wallace's brigadcs, the
Eleventh Indiana, Eighth Missouri, and some
Ohio regiments, was rapidly thrown into posi-.
ton. and Company A, of the Chicago Light
Artillery, was planted in the road. AS the
rebels, supposed we were in retreat, came
yelling out Of their works into the road, tho
Chicago boys poured hail storm of grape
and canister into their ranks, Strengthening
dozens of them.
simultaneously with this the infantry com.
mcnced firing at WILL and the rebels went
pell-mcl back into their works.
Our men then advanced and took posses
sion of the ground they had lost, and hill
besides.
Fresh troops who had not been in the
action were then thrown forward, and as the
shades Of night drew on, were in a strong
position to participate in simultaneous
attack to be made on Sunday morning.
The briga,les ofGenerals Oglesby, Wallace,
and Macarthur did the hardest fighting, and
have suffered terribly. They would undoubt-
eddy have held their position but for the
ammunition wagons being some distance off,
and the hills prevented their being moved
closer.
Some of our best officers and men have
gone to their long home. Hardly a man went
over the field after the Battle but discovered
the body OF some comrade who had fallen.
We lost three lieutenant colonies, and at
least one quarter of all the other officers
were either killed or wounded.
TIE SURRENDER
During Saturday night, a contraction of all
our lines was made for simultaneous assault
from every point, and orders were given by
Gen. Grant to take the enemy at the point of
the bayonet.
Every man was at his post-thc Fifty
seventh Illinois occupying the extreme light,
at daylight on Sunday, ready to advance /;
but when the full light Of day broke forth
white flags were seen displayed in many
places on the encmy's works.
An officer, at a convenient point was in
formed that they had stacked their arms and
surrcnded in the morning, the following cor
respondence having passed between the COM
manders:
HEADQUARTERS, FoRT DoNELsoN, I
February l6, 1862.
Sir In consequence of all the circum-
stances governing the present situation of
affairs at this station, | propose to the CON-
handing officer Of the Federal forces tive
appointment of commissioners to arrange
this place, under my command.
In that view suggest an armistice until 70
O'Clock to-day.
am, very respectfully. your obedient ser.
ant, S B. BucKNER,