Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-03-20
Armn Correspondence,
From the Goth Regiment.
OK BOARD THE MAGrLL STEAMER,

FIT. DoNELsoN, Monday, Feb. IL.
DEAR PARENTs:-I am well. Ft. Donelson
is ours. The rebels have surrendered, and we
occupy the Ft. The white flag went mp at
s o'clock on yesterday morning. Skirmisbing
commenced on Tuesday last and contin ued d
Wednesday and Thursday till 3 p. NJ, when the
engagement commenced by or gun boats OPEN
ing fire on the Fort.
| have commenced several letters, but did not
have time to finish them, so will now give you
a short diary:
Tuesday we left Cincinnati for Paducah-ar-
rived there on Thursday evening, and start i'm
imediately for Ft. Donelson, and at p. NJ.
on Friday heard heavy cannonading when We
were twelve miles from the scene of actIon-at
O'Clock come within mile of our floating bat
teries, four in number, and two gun boats
threw shells into the enemy. They we're pour
ing it in;o us-shells falling thick around u.s.
One went into one of our batteries, destroying
its rudder. At P. M. firing ceased and our
boats fell back. We slept that night, with our
arms, on the boat. The next morning. at 5 P.
NJ, left for the extreme right of right wing, and
at s o'clock heavy firing again commenced. by
Artillery, Gun Boats, and l. fantry, and pass
ing around from the extreme right. about 10
miles, pass several batteries OF Flying Artillery;
some planted, others On the way 10 new posi-
tions, at 9 o'clock arrive at our place, the fir
ing then is in good earnest, charge after charge
of infantry, and peal after peal of Artillery
Artillery passing us as fast as horses could run,
Infantry on the double-quick, and tie wounded
soldiers coming off the field, some shot in the
neck, side, limbs, and in every conceivable
place, some walking. some on litters, some in
ambulances. Some few saying We were beaten,
others, and one in particular, who had an eye
shot out and an arm shot off. his head tied up.
,l1 IL:
them. got good one and do not deny it boys,
pitch in." We then unslung knapsacks and
changed positions, where the grape whistled
over our heads in great profusion We were
then ordered to fx-bayonets-car cartridge boxes
brought TO the point and with cap boxes unbut-
toned-when our Colonel asked if any were
not able to go, 20 step out of ranks. Not a man
fincked. We then took our position on the ex-
treme right of right wing of reserve and if men
fell back We were to make a charge of bayonets.
We moved two or three times when we expect
ed to be the next moment in the clash of arms.
At = o'clock heavy guns cease firing; but still
charge upon charge ofinfantry. $50 yards apart,
on our right wing-l214 firing ceases. At A
P. NJ. firing of fantry on our left wing, when
Gen. Smith took the redoubt, at the point of the
bayonet, running up on the top of the breast
works, before he fired gun, though The rebels
e.
Tney were the I'd Iowa boys. At AZ firing
changes 10 the right a few rods in front
of us, when we move up through shells
flying over us intended for the reserve. o'clock
firing ceases and then went Oh guard for the
night.
We kepteverything in readiness so that in 80
seconds we could have everything in its place,
guns on our arms. DC. On Saturday evening a
Colonel came over and cried, Smith has taken
the further redoubt. All night were firing OF
pickets, sometimes dozen shots in q minute
Both sides were at work building breastworks
all night, were chopping and falling trees,
pounding, getting things fixed as well as poss-
BILE. Un Sunday morning at S1a o'clock, cry
of white flag on the Fort''-lhe rebels having
surrendered. Cheer after cheer went from Reg I
to Reg't, from Brigade TO Brigade, and from hill
to hill. AT ii we receive orders to go on guard
of the prisoners TO Cairo.
! then went to one of the hospitals. 1t was a
horrible sight TO see the dead and wounded-22
were dead here. At ll1s we went 10 the boat,
crossing the lower redoubt, the scene of the
hardest fighting. Here lay dead soldiers, most
ly rebels, some killed three days ago. dead hor-
ses. clothes, blankets all. over blood, swords
broken guns, disinounted cannon, balls, shells,
canister, equipage, DC, strewn every place,
trees cut off and splintered up With cannon balls
rebels coming in under flag oftruce, Regts pa
radipg, guards posted, and then the Star Span
gled banner waving over all. Then went TO the
boat, where we have 1000 prisoners, after dark
our band played Red, White and Blue.
A great fire to be seen up the river, supposed
to be the burning of Clarksville, as two Of our
boats run up the river on Sunday with furnaces,
ready to throw hot shot.
Buckper is our prisoner. Floyd has escaped
with his whole Brigade, some Of them say he
was killed by his own men, for endeavoring 10
escape, but l think we will meet him again.
Pillow also escaped during the night. johnson
is our prisoner. We have, think taken not
less and perhaps more than 10000 stand of arms.
Our loss is great, perhaps 800, think not more.
The I'd Iowa lost in killed and wounded not
less than 200. 76 were killed apd more will
die. The rebel loss must be enormous; they say
they buried over 500; and the fields are yet
strewn over with the dead. This is Monday at
IL o'clock and wagons and ambulances going
10 and from with the dead. Twas q dear vie
tory but glorious one. Our men fought like
soldiers. But the whole Southern Confederacy
cannot drive us out Of this. As to the fortifi-
cations they were certainly immense extending
for ten miles along the river, with guns varying
from to l42 Founders and not less than GU
of them. Steep hills covered with branches.
cut down through each other, SO it is almost i'm
possible to climb over them. As we pass down
The river the works are certainly immense.
Their arms are of different kinds, varying from
revolving rifles, seven shooters, to flint locks.
Their best thcy threw into the river, as this