Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-28
The Fight at Fort Donelson.


we have already published, but the details q
the fight as given by correspondents who
were on the ground, contain much of interest
which is not given in our telegraphic reports
We therefore make up, from various sources,
the following account of the battle, emitting
from them the reflections upon certain officers,
and speculations as 70 what might have been
accomplished had this or that thing been done.
The victory itself shows the bravery Of both
officers and men, and to them all the highest
praise should be awarded.
The correspondent of the n. Y. World
gives lively picture Of the whole transaction.
from which we make the following extracts :
PILLOW AND BucKNER TO THE RrscuR
AMER me IAN Of Fort Henry the leaders of the south
cru rebellion with alarm that the cult Of their be-.
lenees nag 9een broken m most tcndcr and important
point All the resources Of desperate and fiery naurrec-
Won were summoned TO repair the gap made by our
iotcos' ana stem possible the advancing Of the
Armies Of the North. The which had evacuated
Fort Henry were marched across TO Fort Donelson.
ftesh troops were poured down the Cumberland from
Carksyllle and Nashville. Every nerve was strained to
make protrac,od stand on the Cumberland Night aud
day the d-enses pushed The whole Of the vast
army concentrated within the walls Of the fort was en-
poyed in Telling timber, throwngup earthworks mount.
ing guns Steamboats, were plying 10 and fro witb ample
stores ot ammunition and supplies, and in a few days,
had the rebels not been opportuncy disturbed they
must have added TO position naturally strong all that
engineering science and forced labor could accumulate to
render the place impregnable.
ruGHMAN RBrORrBD A TRAITOR
All OF the stmuants TO the minds OF the infatuated
men who had cast their fortunes with the instruction
assiduousy applied Hundreds Of for the
defeat az Fort Henry invented. Gen. Tghman, il
was asserted, had proved ueaohorous. He had been
bought by northern gold. lie had given the fort into
the hands Of the Liucolnites neediessly Pillow had
been sent for. who had instituted reform in everything
1ilghman had allowed the gunboats TO frghten hun
Pillow did not consider then rush la MS way. or
these reports totally untrue; the facts we're
Tghman was deserted by his infantry and would have
followed them in their flight had he not been stopped by
the gunners in the fort Besides this Buckner was sent
for with ieinforcements Then came Floyd also, with
his Virgiul Brigade The men were told that Fort
Henry had been but bait aud that the Yankee army
would be swallowed az D1ncson, and Fort Henry relax
en- The cavalry and pickes and prisoners informed the
outside world that they had enough resist all
tacks that the tories afraid TO advance, and that
the whole force Of Tennessee troops would be
tfated on the Cumberland.
WEDNESDAY,, 18th.
! Tho record naturally commences with the movement
from the Tennessee river Early the morning Of the
18th the troops left Fort Henry with days rations
in their hayersacks without tents or wagons except
such necessary to taks along surplus Of
missary stores aud ammunition, aud ambulances for the
sick
mishers Of the southern portion Of forces in
sight Of the eucmy's tents stretching between the hill
upon which the fort is situated and the next Dover
ridge.
The advanced pickets were discovered on the hill fac
ing their tents, when the Eighth Illinois drove them Of
in gallant style. Three Of their wounded fell into our
hands, several more we're carried of. Two three
rapid ynlleys fired at them A. thev led but with
little effect than drop some Of their horses
Pour OF men were wounded in the skirmish Word
was passed back to General Grant mat the enemy and
his camp had been sighted. General Grant
dered up the VI the column Dressers battery
posted emntnce overlooking the tents, and few
shells sent into the camp. There general and pro-
miscuuus scattering Of the from the ca'ups into the
erthwurks in the right and left General Grant medi-
atey ordered the division Of General Smith into line Of
battle back of the main elevation. column Of men
pushed upon the left Of the fort Scouts returned
saying that the bIeast"oks could be discovered ON the
extreme LEFT An hour or two was then spent in recon-
noterng along the various hills surrounding the enemy
position.
The first skifmish being over, ard the enemy having
fallen back within his iutrenchmens, the order Civ
en- 20 move along the whole line so as To surround the
place. Gen McClernand the right kept pushing on
by the Dover road Col Ogesbys brigade taking posi-
ton ON the hill 70 the south Of the enemy and overlook
ing the town Of Dover Gen smith took the field aud
extended his line TO the hill overlooking the creek 90 the
north Of the fort Every few minutes the sharp crack Of
rife told US that our skmishers were driving the reb
Ell pokets Not cannon had as yet greeted our arrival
Along this irregular line Of hills posted in
I'm enclosing the enemy IN rln oil stefan enemy a.
the least calculation as strong as ourselves during the
night Gen McC,ernand sent word q Cen Grant to cos
- up gap ON his LEFT Gen Smith however had taker
, the precaution before the order reached him.
A. darkness set in the men lighted their camp fire.
the slope Of the hills, and pckets posted at
q distance from the lines The ate what remained II
their havcrsscks with relish. Many Of them had she'
themselves Of blanket overcoat, knapsack and hayeT
l. sack In the afternoon mile back expecting To get
t into action. Thousands OF hCm unable to
t. either that night But the air balmy, the tcmpea
e ture mild The men were weary with the continue
marching and countermar ching Notwithstanding tn
report Of occasional shot from the enemy's rheme
they sank TO rest the carpet u fallen leaves some
8 loved ones home aud others dean Of the
Of cannon the carnage, aud triumph Of the the
- quivering with the excitement Of battle, Will
~ their senses were wrapped in sweet oblivion
NioHf sonIIs or THE ENEMY.
p morning the enemy made soriie on the extreme rgh
= The purpose one Of three things to cut their wa
~ out as generally supposed, 6y the camp - CON
~ municate with their friends up the ver, some suggest
e. ed but probably create alarm panic, confusion
to aud flight among our own men. This policy has ofe
r. proved very effective Fortunately their object
entirely successful Confusion there was for awhile
- plenty of il. Most Of the regiments composed
&c men who had before been under fire. and the
he scrnaon produced by the firing Of yoey in the dark
ness, with the whistle Of balls hardly be described
IT, An eyewitness says there was some Preopaie runnn
- among the regiments. That they did not ire into eac
other the darkness and say each other by hundreds
=, piece Of extraordinary good luck.
ir THURsDAY-THE ATTACK COMMENCED.
4 The long established form Of opening the fight by
# of sharp shooters and artillery observed
10 For two hours nothing to be heard but the lou
US thuds of cannon with relief OF sharp crack Of rife
u.s. with occasional report of musket, which in the d
en- lance could hardly be distinguished from field piece
er We stood watching Major Cayeuder Of the Missouri frs
~, sighting his 2OpoundeT Parrot guns. Two thre
shots had been sent whizzing through the tree
when splash came shot right in front Of the piece
hc and bang went response Bang went another frOi
adj the sister piece under the intrepid captain A SCI
% 0nd received from the fort, passing the hill
exploding just in the third exploding right Oy'
IL head, and the combat kept up with spirit Passin
lg up Drcssers battery found him pouring she
ge from his large howzers in splendid style. The enem
had slight advantage in position, and had the rang
with accuracy. The shell falling fast around N
~ battery doing however, but little injury few minute
after Jeff round shot passed right the gun,
carried away the shoulder and part Of the breast Of
nd lery Bernhard Of richardson's battery, killing hi
M almost instantly. The captain shifted his position thr'
times during the morning. often the enemy got
er range with too much accuracy Captain Dresser had
" wheel knocked TO pieces but replaced by spare
&C. ATTEMPT ON TAYLOR's BATTERY.
we On the extreme right schwartz and Taylor we're bazir
al away fcarlessy. The ground between them and u
entertainments nearly cleared OF trees, and hi
RAJ could observe by the smoke the position Of each 9th
ed with accuracy The enemy had some rhed pieces,
th appeared from the huttcTng rush with which Of
,as procoes passed The firing from the bait
~ ties in MeClemand's division continuous. bril-
> interchange OF shots taking place, when
Oh rode over 70 the occasion. and arrived in time
icy learn that an attempt had been made by the enemy
bic capture IAyor's battery which had been CALAMITY
pulsed The rebels had gained close upon the batter
and only neessant shower Of canister saved the ba
as terry fom capture the infantry not being formed In
lad sdon TO support them efectualy Our loss in the
lie, fct slight; that Of the enemy considerable.
his The 20th Illinois up in time to dre the
,,r into their position.
~" THE KRPuIsB ON THR LRPr.