Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-03-05
Battle at Fort Donelson.

A correspondent of the Lynchburg Republican
gives the following short bat graphic account Of
the battle Of Fort Donelson. 1t is by far the best
account we have seen: s1
"You have, ere this, heard Of the bloodiest con-
test ever witnessed on this continent-the fight at
Fort Donelson. It commenced on the 12th but did
not rage hercely until the 18th. On the morning
OF the 18th the enemy opened fire on the Fort with
their gunboats and attacked US on our right by
land In the course of two hours, the fight became
general ard terrific They made gallant charges on
our right and left, we being in rifle pits. They
came again and again. Early in the evening they
drew OH their men, rallied them, and made another
desperate effort, but were Iepused with heavy loss
about night On the morning of the 14th they
again attacked us, and were again repulsei about
IL o'clock. In the meantime, their gunboats were
doing all they could to reduce the Fort without sue
cess. They were disappointed, and sadly SO, for
their boats were disabled. About night they again
made desperate effort with their boats and by
land but were literally torn to pieces At this stage
OF the game, we got the news of transports coming
up the river, fifteen in number. They landed 49,
600, We had about ID, 900.
Our generals determined to 60 out of the entrench
ments and drive them away. sacrifice the life of
aU in their armies in the attempt So early on the
morning of the 10th, we left our rife pits and at
tackled the enemy in his strong position, and after
seven hours Of the most terrific fighting, put them
to fight We took at our charge 200 prisoners
must not fail to call particular attention to Col
Wharton, who commended the lst Brigade (Floyd's)
He charged the enemy in their position and lost A
men out of 600 in doing So Col. Forests Cavalry,
OF Tennessee took battery. 1t was nobly done.
was an eye witness! What sight it was to see
the I'd Kentucky Regiment charge orfr the breast
acorks after the Lincolnltes was Ill ten feet of
them when the order was gwen by General Floyd
n hat n ciu + Nk,p,r oh acaI
the Yankees about two miles Inersr saw the like!
But our soldiers had now been fighting for four
days They were exhausted they could pursue
them no farther, and were compelled to go to
our breastworks again. In the course of some
hours the enemy having received the IL, 600 rein.
torcements above mentioned, attacked US on our
| right, and such an attack as they made, reckon
was scarcely ever before known. They came up and
took portion Of the breastworks on the right and
held them-took one battery, but were Immediately
1spulsed and driven beyond the reach of Buck and
BaH., But on the extreme right they fought 50
very desperately that at one time / thought We
would rot repulse them. We got out of ammun
tion on the right, and then it was was apprehen
sive of the result But our boys took fire aoithout
any ammunition, eagerly awaiting their nearer ap-
proach that they might "stick EN-" as they call
it! But they didn't give them chance The Yam
KEGS fell back, and it not long before plenty Of
ammunition was at hand, and now they peppered
| them.
But we were too much exhausted. Ne fought
four days. and were up four nights, and under such
circumstances man might fall asleep whilst firing
gun! and our Generals (Pillow, Buckner and
Johnston,) knew that surrender was almost in
eritabls
Gen. Floyd said he wouldn't surrender, and took
his original DIVISION Col. Wharton, and Col. Nc
Causland, and started for Nashville fear that one
Of his regiments, the goth Mississippi, was TAKEN
rode over the battle field. There were over 1000
Yankees left dead. To give correct list of the
number killed. ought to say 50OO
rode over the field on which the battle, outside
the breastworks was fought, and really, would
have supposed there were 5000 killed there; but
Gems. Pillow and Floyd supposed there were 1000
killed outside the breastworks. Our loss must be
fully 600, but have not ascertained accurately
what it is. We have a great many wounded 1t
seems strange, but every Yankee l saw on the bat
tie field was shot through the head. 1t was re-
| markable!
Gems Pillows, Buckners and Johnston's COM
mands were taken, and probably one regiment of
Gen. Floyds was also taken. Gen. Pillow himself
escaped"