Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-28
GEN. MccLERNAND's ORDER OF THE DAY
HEApQuAnrERs FIRST DIVISION. I

Fort Donelson, Feb. is, 1862.
Officers and men Of the First Division Of the
Advance Forces:
You have continually led the way 10 the valley
of the Lower Mississippi, the Tennessee and
the Cumberland. You have carried the flag of
he Union farther South than any other land
forces marching from the interior toward the sea-
board
Being the first division to enter Fort Henry,
You also pursued the enemy for miles capturing
from him in his fight six field pieces, many Of
his standards and flags, a humber Of pris-
oners, and great quantity of military stores.
Following the enemy to this place. yuu were
the first TO encounter him outside of his ELL
trenohments and to drive him within them.
Pursuing your advantage. the next day, being
on the right you advanced upon his lines, in the
face Of his works and batteries, aud for the time
slpncei them.
The next day skrmishing all along his left,
you daringly charged upon his redonbts under
deadly fire of grape aud canister, and were
only prevented from taking them by natural
obstacles and the accumulated masses which
weie hurried forward TO defend them
The next day you extended your right in the
face Of newly erected batteries quite to the Cum
berland, thus investing his works for nearly two
miles.
The next day, after standing under arms for
two days and nights, amid driving storms of
sunw aud rain, and pinched by hunger, the enemy
advanced in force to open the way to his escape.
BY his own confession, formed in a column Of
ten successive regiments, he concentrated his
attack upon single point. Yon repulsed him re-
pentpdy from seven o'clock TO eleven O'Clock
A. Nj, often driving back his formidable odds.
Thus after three days fighting, when your
ammunition was exhausted, you fell back until
il came up and re formed u second line in his
face
Supported by fresh troops, under the lead Of
brave and able officer, the enemy was again
driven back, and, by combined advance from
all sides, was finally defeated. Ills unconditon-
Al surrender the next day contaminated the
victory,
| undiyerted by any other attack for near four
hours from any other part or our lines, the
enemy was left to concentrate his attack with
superior numbers upon yours, Thus while you
were engaged for longer time than any other
of our forces, you were subjected to much great
er loss.
The battle field testihes to your valor and
cOnstancy. Even the mugnauimity Of the
enemy accords to you an unsurpassed heroism,
and an enviable and brilliant share in the
hardest fought battle and most decisive victory
ever fought and won on the American Cont
nent
Your trophies speak for themselves they
consist of many thousand prisoners, forty pieces
of cannon, and extensive magazines of all kinds
of ordnance quartermnster's and commssary
stores
The death knel Of rebellion is sounded, an
army has been Hnnihilated, and the way TO Nash
vile aud Memphis il opened. II must alleviate
your distress, for brave comrades who have fallen
or been wounded 1t will mitigate the grief Of
bereayed wives and mourning parents and kin
dred. 1t will be your claim 10 place in the
affections of your countrymen, and upon a
blnzoned page of history.
By order OF
Hrig. Gen. MoCLERSAED, Commanding
a. SCHWARTZ Capt. and Act, Chief OF staff