The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-18

Logan, of Illinois, was one of them. The
names of the others have not been learned.
A DISPATCH FROM THE RATTLE GROUND.
tBy telegrap = rom Cairo TO the Mo- Democrat
In the Field, Rear of Fort DoneI son, !
Friday afternoon, Feb. IA, 1862 {
Everything along the lines today has
been very quiet, nothing of importance
having traaspired outside of the attack of
the gunboats. Thursday night was most
severe one for our soldiers. A heavy rain
set in about dark, which at about 10 O'clock
changed to snow, continuing all night,
covering the ground to the depth of couple
of iuches. The situation of our troops,
without huts, and il many eases without
having recovered their blankets aud over
coats, thrown away in the excitement of
the moment, expecting to meet an enemy,
can well be imagined. 1t has been freezing
all day. Old citizens say that they rarely
have such cold weather in this latitude.
The more | see of the fort, the more fully
convinced am | that it can only be reduced
after most terrible battle. Its rear seems
almost iDpregnable The outer works and
bastions of the fort are located on high
ridges, varying from $50 to $50 feet in
height. These ridges are covered with
dense timber and underground. Upon
similar range of hills outside of these, our
army is drawn up in line of battle, COM
pletely eneircling the enemy from the
Cumberland, south of the fort, to the back
water of a stream which TANKS the fort on
the North.
Gen. Oglesby, who has the extreme right,
last night pushed forward his brigade up to
the Cumberland, and has planted a battery
commanding the river, which will efectu-
ally prevent the arrival of any more re-en-
forcements, in fact we have them complete
ly surrounded, and can complete the Job at
our leisure. 1t is probable that one or two
days may be consumed in preparations.
A formidable attempt was made last
night to take Taylor's battery by the enemy,
who approached under cover of the dark
ness They were calamity repused, how
ever, by the Twentieth Illinois. Considera-
BILE skirmishing took place during the entire
night, both forces endeavoring, in the dark
ness, to crawl in upon the other.
This morning It was discovered that the
enemy had placed logs on the tops of their
-breastworks, leaving little space for them
to sbU9I ttITERgh, and much diminishing
their risk from the unerring shots of our
sharpshoOters. The force coming by way
of the river have mostly come up. They
have been mostly located on the left, the
forces previously there having been concen-
trated on the right
Gen Lew. Wallace, with the eighth Mis-
souri, and Eleventh Indiana arrived this
afternoon.
The casualties among the artillery, on
our side, are thus far very small. Taylor's
Battery has had one man killed aud two or
three wounded. Company b, of the Mis-
souri, battalion, has had one man, John
Bumphort severely wounded, his left arm
being torn off by she'll. One of Meal
listers guns had one of its wheels taken off.
The loss of the enemy, so far as can be as
certained, is considerable. Yesterday af-
ternoon, after the stormng party had retired,
and when the rebels had been thcklv
crowded together to rcpel the assault, Capt.
Taylor opened upon them with shell with
terrible effect. His practice was superb,
creating the greatest CONSERVATION in their
ranks, and causing them to take refuge in
their entertainments in double quick time.
The time for the grand assaelt upon the
enemy's works is not Think, decided upona
1t might have taken place this afternoon,
perhaps, if our forces had been in position
Friday night.
| came around here this evening to ascer-
tain particulars of the gunboat assault. 1t
was q terrific affair, exceeding even the
Fort Henry bombardment. 1t lasted about
an hour and a half
The enemy has, fronting upon the river,
two batteries, the lower one of nine and
the upper Of four gums, besides IO-inch
columbiad, throwing shot of 1913 pounds in
weight.
Four of the iron clad boats, viz: the st.
Louis, Louisville, Carondelet and Pittsburg,
and the wooden boats Tyler aud Conestoga,
were engaged in the fight.
The St. Louis was the flagship, and led
the attack, going up on the right bank
Flag Officer Foot pronoances the engage
ment which ensued the hottest he ever wit
messed. Seven of the nine guns in the
lower tier of the euemy's battery had been
silenced, and everything was apparently
progressing favorabIy, when the rudder
chains of the Carondeet were cut away
The Pittsbnrg was damaged in the wheel
SO as to be unable to stem the current, and
the pilot house of the flag ship was knock
ed away, killing the pilot and wounding
slightly several others who were stationed
there, the flag officer among the number
The feet was then obliged to retire.
The effect of the gunbOat fire upon the
enemy must have been most disastrous
One shell struck Immediately under one OF
their guns, throwing gun, handspikes and
bodies of gunners high iuBo the air. Great
numbers of dead and wounded could be
distinctly seen carried up the hill