The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-02-28
The Battle at Fort Donelson.
[From the Memphis Appeal, of the 2On.)

menl, acting alu 10 Coi. Forrest, escaped
with Gems. Floyd and Pillow on the 10th
instant to Nashville, and arrived in Mem.
phis night before last. We obtain from
him the following statement of facts.
The first symptoms Of fighting com.
nenced on Wednesday the 18th instant,
when diminishing was kept up between
our pickets and those Of our enemy near
" all day long. The same occurred on
Thu day lie 18th inst The gunboats in
then sanwhile appeared below the Fort
ON tsse Cumberland, about two miles dis
taut throwing few shells with the view
OF making reconnaissance. Our guns
responded to them in several well aimed
shots.
Friday, the 14th, about noon, the enc,
my commenced vigorous assault on our
right wing, with heavy force, and were
driven back by only five hundred of our
men who fought desperately from the ri
tle-pits and intrenclments. The fight
lasted over two hours, our loss not being
more than six or eight killed, and as ma
ny wounded. A letter exhibited to us by
Captain Lyon, which was found upon the
dead body Of one of the Illinois soldiers,
the following day, thus alludes to it: "On
Friday, the Sd Federal brigade made an
unsuccessful attack about II o'clock on
the enemy's right and were repulsed with
a loss of sixty or seventy men," The let
ter is signed /. II. Griffith, and stated
further that the battle would be renewed
the following day.
In this days contest Col. Forests bat
talon Of cavalry made several brilliant
charges, and deported themselves brave
ly.
Simultaneous with the land attack, the
gun-boats six in number) approached
within three hundred yards Of the fort
opened fire. Four of them with the flag
boat, appeared abreast in front and the
others Immediately behind. The fort re.
piled briskly, and our informant says,
there was one incessant roar of artillery
between the opposing guns for full two
hours. A shot from one hundred and
twenty-eight pound gun struck one of the
boats and nearly capsized her, turning her
up at an angle with the water of forty
five degrees. This boat Immediately fell
back, and is alleged to have been sunk.
Two others were oadly disabled, being
shot through ard through from one side
to another.
The most useful and effective portion
of the forts armament were one hun
dred and twenty-eight FOUNDER, a sixty
four pound smooth-bore, aud a thirty two
FOUNDER, riaed. All of which were han
died well by our artillerymen.
lhslg gtt ceased at three o'clock. with.
loss Of only three men wounded in the
fort.
The last days battle occurred on Satur-
day the 5th instant, and not Sunday, as
Is usually supposed. The whole Contede-
rate force at Fort Donelson on that day
was $4,000 men-tAe eDemy's was esti
matedBt $4,000.
The fght.commenccd at G o'clock, A,
NJ. by an attack on our side-upon the
enemy right wing. A part of General
Clark brigade OF Mississppans, under
Cen Pillow, composed Of some of the
best fighting material in the South, led
the assault, and steadily advancing drove
back the enemy's broken columns for
more than amiio, carrying terrible slaugh
ter and destruction into his ranks.
This movement, executed by about
5000 men, successfully turned the enemy's
right flank, at least 10000 strong, and
they were routed and driven back in con-
fusion. Our forces were recalled from the
pursuit OF the foe about noon.
-Four full batteries were taken by our
men, among which were two celebrated
rihed steel guns, of heavy caliber, and
long range, which had up to the time of
their capture inflicted more damage up
Oh the Confederates than all the other
artillery together.
Up to noon Of this day Saturday. af-
ter the first repulse, we were certain Of
victory, and the cavalry received orders
to 60 to the field and gather up the
wounded, the arms, knapsacls, etc, that
had been left behind in the rout and
fight Of the enemy.
The enemv, in the meanwhile, sent 4
flag Of truce asking permission to gather
their dead which was granted. At the
time they were performing this duty, the
Federal troops periidiously opened fire
from the point TO which they had boen
pursued, and being largely reinforced,
rapidly recovered the ground from which
they we're driven few hours previous.
As they advanced, an order was given
for our men to fall back to their breast
WORKS, rifle pits and redans, which they
did with dispatch. Col. Heads Tennes.
see regiment, which was left during
portion of the fight to do the duty of
three regiments, were at one time driven
from their intronchments by the over
whelming numbers Of tho enemy, but
being reinforced by Col. Roger Hanson's
I'd Kentucky, gallantly regainod their
position, repulsing the enemy with great
slaughter. This engagement lasted about
an hour, and the foe again retired dis.
comftted and defeated, with heavy loss.
The days battle which was in all nine
hours long, virtually closed at five clock
p. NJ.
Capt Frank Manney's Tennessee and
Capt. Green's Kentucky batteries are
said to have done great execution during
the day. The gunboats being disabled
did not participate in the last days figh,.
Our loss during the four days in killed
and wounded was not over l600-in pris.
oners none. The enemy's was estimated
at from $500 to 1000, somo say 5000. We
captured 270 prisoners, and could have
taken more, but the men were so eager
for the fray, that few were disposed TO do
anything else than fight.
Late Saturday night the intelligence
was received that the enemy had received
large reinforcemonts, and would renew
the attack tho next day in numbers fyo
to one. A council Of war was immediately
held by Gems. Pillow, Buoknerand Floyd,
and it was determined that they should
surrender, as our troopswere wearied and
worn out for want Of sleep and rest, and
the labors Of the four previous days.
According, Sunday morning the 10th
inst, al 5 o'clock A. NJ, Gen Pillow and
staff crossed the river and proceeded up
20