, 1862-03-15
Latest Atlantic News.
CAPTURE OF FORT DoNELsoN.
FIFTEEN THOUSAND REBEL PRISONERS
A General Advance--SecessiOn Weakening.

take the following summary OF news;
Fort Donelson, point that commands the en-
trance to Tennessee has fallen before the Union
forces, and the way is now open to Nashville and
New Orleans. From the San Francisco Bulletin
we take the following connected account OF the
great battle and brilliant victory:
The fight began on Thursday, the 18th, and
was continued throughout the day, with no de-
cisive results. That evening the rebels made
sortie from their Notifications upon Ii. Taylors
battery Of light artillery. Our men experienced
considerable loss but they saved their battery,
and drove the enemy back within their entrench-
ments, and when n. .ght set in what there was of
victory was on our side. ttr
At day-break of Friday the firing from the
gun-bOatS was renewed, the enemy from the fort
and from the water batteries brskly responding,
but the time for the land forces to move had not
come. At IL A. NJ. six more of our gunboais, ar
rived, and at y they joined their music to the
grand refrain. They continued their firing an
hour and half by which time, being all more
or less damaged, they retired. The four il -clad
gunboats had gone during the day hin
three hundred yards OF tie fort, doubtless the
sake of paying their respects to the bate IS by
the waters edge, as the height of,the bluff made
greater distance necessary for those that
aimed their shot at the fort. ~
On Saturday, the black flag was plainly dis
cernabe on the fort. The rebels would give no
quarters then, nor ask any,-they would "die in
the last ditch but they would never surrender
that is what the black flag means, and hot work
was the days inevitable programme; for reso-
lutte as were the rebels the fall If the fort Ie
solved upon. The gunbOatS appear to have re-
sumed their operations early, and at noon the
land forces were at liberty to fall to- They
-, a.. ,;,.bt
wing-the northwest side of the fort-and car
RED them. 1t must have been a terrible fight
tor the bluff is hgh the forest thick, and felled
trees obsrueted The approach of the assailants
The l7th and 18th IllaoS regiments were sadly
cut up, but apparently the courage Of The dying
escaped into ard animated their surviving COM
rades. The gallant Iowa 7th who were with
Lynn when he fell at Springfield, fought bravely
and suffered much loss. Saturday closed and tie
work was not ended though beautifully advanced.
On Sunday morning the good work was COM
pleted. Generals Johnston and Buckner and
1000 rebel soldiers we've made prisoners, and
The stars and stripes foated over the stronghold.
to protect which Bowling Green had been evacu-
ated Fort Henry after sh ri brisk fight sur
rendered and all the force in Western Tennessee
had been rallied.
As we have taken $4,000 prisoners and the
! gun luitl, TIONu, true 10 his lilStnC(H Stule
away with 5000 on Saturday night before the
| fight was over, The enemy had at least 10000.
A despatch to Gen. Mcclellan from Gen. Halleck,
says that our investing force 10000, be-
side the fleet Of gunboats under Commodore
Foote. We had the advantage in numbers, they
in position. We have no statistics of the losses.
Ours naturally, we being The ASSISTANTS, should be
greater than theirs, though after the display Oi
the black flag, which it is fair to presume Floyd
stole and saved for future use, the greater Their
loss the greater their credit for the affair in his
tory The importance to them of ofhOldmg the pO.
stion was vital Their defeat is the heaviest
blow yet struck at the insurection. -
The Postmaster General has issued an order
directing the exclusion of the Oregon Democrat
from t. mails
In the U. S. Senate, Mr.. CARLYLE has presen ed
a petition, numerously signed by citizens of BoS-
ton, asking Congress to leave the negro question
alone and attend to the business of the country.
Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher has assumed
the command of the Irish Brigade at Washing
ton. Great enthusiasm prevailed on the occa-
sion.
The House Committee of Finance have stricken
out the appropriation for the California Overland
mail service, const quent on complaints of neffi-
cheney.
Rumors are current to the effect that Secretary
Stanton is to assume The active management OF
the army, leaving Mcclellan in command of the
Potomac Division
The BALTIMORE Clipper publishes an extra,
stating that Roanoke Island was captured after
three days lighting. Two rebel gunbeats were
captured; the rest were sunk or scattered. The
people of Norfolk and Portsmouth we're panic
stricken Over 5000 rebels were captured.
Edenton and Herlford. in North Carolina, have
both been captured by Federal troops
Gen. Price evacuated Springfield, Mo, on the
night of the 18th inst lie is in full retreat south
ward, and our army in hot pursuit. There is
hardly possibility Of his escape
The rebels have evacuated Bowling Green,
Kentucky, and that place is now occupied by a
division of Union troops
No definite action had been taken in the case
of Stark. The chances are against his admission
As the Federal forces advance into Tennessee
they are welcomed by thousands and tens of thou
sands OF Union men who hail them as deliverers.
European advices state that the Emperor Ma.
poeon has announced his intention to demand tn
raising of the blockade of the Southern nDrts.
If England refuses to join in the demand he will
take the initiative alone.
The Secretary of War has appointed Medorun
Crawford, of Oregon, to conduct the overland EN-
gralion this year.
A special Washington dispatch to the New
York papers states that letters from the Liberal
party in Englaud-Bright, Golden, the Duke Of
Argyle, and otherS-say that unless something be
done speedily the Southern Confederacy will be
recognized.
General Lander, with 5000 Union troops. has
occupied Romney, Va. The enemy, although
equally Numerous relreated across the river to-
ward Winchester, burning fse bridges behind
them.
The gunboat expedition on the Tennessee river
was greeted everywhere with the utmost enthusi-
asm Prominent men came to the boats and SAID
that shonld the Union ermy enter Tennessee 90
900 men would cluster around it,
Washington dispatch states that bill organ
izing the rebel States into Territorial Govern
mentS will shortly lie reported by the Territorial
Committee OF the two Houses.
The Confederate STATES are making desperate
efforts 10 secure recognition by the English and
French Governments. The Inducements they
hold out is free trade for fifty years. and freedom
to all negroes born after the date of the signing
of the treaty.
The Kansas Legislature, by a vote of 60 to I.
have passed resolution requesting the President
to appoint Lane Major General and give him
command OF the Southern expedition.
Tennessee is to be Invaded at three different
points simultaneously. Gen Carter goes through
Cumberland Gap; Gen. Shoepf by way of the
central route, and Gen. Thomas, with two brig