New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-03
.uL AlhGE or FORT D0NEi>ON.
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tN.IN,kR STAFF.
ESGlNnKR STAFF.
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Fosr o3ssl.es seb. =, la'Z
~. ~, oassiois rr.ae by The enemy for the
f.r p Of this portion re very offensive. con-
t,lee aud accuTst. survey "f 'ts works and vicinity
s,oad rea ,rire n0ie means sn2 tine than CO.. now
l.. commanded.
Tir water batteries, upper end lower, which "ew
Intended 90 sub-erve the p-inary ohec ~ the post
lion n, control OF the rive uayig ion~-were we'll
located Tor the purpose. Al Tie lower gno priucipA
one were mounted nine pie.e,-eight 32-pound guns
and i0-inch c5luinbiad :. t1e upper, sne IN OF
tho exterior form and tnnen.ions OF Onch column
bad, hut bored as 32-pounder and rIned; also two
.32-poundeT cagronades
the Hillside Ia the lower one, strong trageres are
l.f between the guts 20 secure them against "A en-
finding ire. The elevation above the ~ateT-sav
81 feet al the tioe OF the gunbooi atacA-gaye them
a fine command Of the river, and made tne task of
attacking them in front an eiduous one. HE range
of the guns in arc was, however cutie limited
trh. repo /. accompanied by dlasr.m Of The wo!5.
small portion Of the e OF Which heis oG'rd i; dsoee
.E oauson OF she d.ssIsm the |, sso,s -, -
extremity upon cieea, ihpss"D1e o. aO0o'N' VI
nom The iverI
These defen.es consisted in the main Of wha, Layr
come 10 be called rifle ps-hoov ditcbes the earth
from wh is thrown 20 the POINT ahorcing shelief
from the fire Of the attack. -. I'LL
The strength OF the probe Of tins work, which
had evidently been very hasly executed, varied at
tlono The front Of this exterior fine The trees bsd
been +, lied, and The brsb cut snd bent over, breast
high iaakug wide o00tfts, very dihcuiC 10 PASS
/ ,h,on0h The lines run along ridge, cut through
~ seVeral ravines running toward The river. Toe
hin sides rice By abrcpt ascents 10 heiSm OF per-
haps - o. ~ feet.
Oar army approached the place with very little
knowledge OF It's Topography. Our inst line OF bat
lle was orm,d on the I2h inst, in rome open fields
opnosi,e the enemy's center. On The l3,h, we wese
established on line OF hgnts in general paral
with tno eneuy's onIworks, and extending distance
Of over miles.
Vmious elevations and spurs Of the bills Afforded
po,itions for orr artillery, from which ve annoyed
IA. enemy. bnt which were not OF such commanding
oharacier as enable us 20 achieve decisive results.
Tue ranges were long, andthe thick woods pfe'eh1eh
clear sight. o.,
Duiing the next two DAYS our lines were gradually
extended 10 the right aud left. Our skirnh'hers
thrown out in IRON, keeping mp IN active hhu' an
Wo aimee learn, elective ire ON ihe sheni! { ou'-
On the 18th er,llent charge was nsde against the
enemy on outright, ana was probably ouly prevented
lom being guccessiui ~ tue ini' Q, tue |o'ohei
Leading IL, who Wa severely wonnoed.
lo 10 he 18Th, orr operations bod been chiefly
tbo-e OF vesttlen, bat We haf not gained po.iton
from which our aftiilefy could be adyanl ageousiy
T.. al q, uin,t the main lot.
On the 18Th, the enemy seeming 10 grow uncom-
Portable undc the constructing process cane cut OF
his inirenchments aod attacked our right with great
force and detcimiuhtou, achieving com derabl- sue
cess in tle forenoon. ihls hc.iyo movement neces-
stated active aliation On tho LETT wing al attack
was urleltG on The Ou,wOgss, aud the rcht Wac re-
enforced aud ordered 10 retake the ground Lost IL the
morning.
How we'll both orders were executed need NOT
bore be stated. On the righ orr ionrr posilion was
taken ard passed, ard or the lef soceessIGl "s-
tuu. gave u, possession of poslto1 wihin ne en-
eny ues. and opsnel De way 20 SUI better ore,
wlic. uiguifdi a,ope yrgNeDsod Us i.om o>euriint
with or ri,d ari,l,y, witch would reaaiY nave
,cY.u..i.tei rie ,pDry's !a'n works.
T'i. r.rnl. from flc rrra -o nnrily won ~ 'ns
fo'fn. u pto' ably siii moro QUE .os shs en-
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