The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-03-06
From Fort Don.I.om =.
FORT DoNGLsoS, Tenn., }
Feb. 20, 1862

FORT DoEGLsoN, Tenn.,
Feb. 20, 1862. I
Dear Parents -
l have so much to tell you, of our dongs fol
the last ten days, thal am at a loss where to
begin. Fist Of all, perhaps should make some
excuse for not writing, before. Could ,ou have
seen u after fighting four days spendir 6 sleep
less nights in snow and rain and constantly
under fire Of the enemy's guns you would h We
eeved us from any such duty.
| hope you have received the short note ]
penciied Oh Sabbath morning-for l have de-
pended on that AS q means 0! IelieN ing y'u from
any fears y1u might entertain. for our welfare ;
and As we hal no baggage ill yesterday, ana
of course no convehieuceS Tor writing, have not
} done SO.
You cannot imagine our surprise on Saba h
tmorniug, TO hear that Fort Dnnelson was sur
i rendered and not until we marched inside the
outer f,rifcAlions, and raw the white flag and
here and there the Stars aud Stripes could we
believe it.
Your last letter (of he l5ih). has this min
, minute. arrived, and cheers me very much tc
know hat you were confident Of our success.
While you were writing we we've fighting a.
hard as soldiers ever did.
The FIRST Division Of our forces, left Fort
' Henry on Tuesday evening (1lth) camping four
niles out. Spreading blankets around our guns
, We soon fall ASLEEP AS the moon is full and
The air still, we eijny good sleep. waking in
the morning in good spirits and fighting trim.
We again take up the line Of march, and a; noon
: ae in sight Of The rebel breasiworks at Fort
Donelson.
Our column moves steadily forward in line OF
battle-mee'ing no opposition Save a small force
uf cavalry, which is soon disps,sed by couple
OF canister shots FRI m battery on our right
At dusk we are within mile OF the Cumher-
: land above the rebels, and still within Eight
If their fort Gcati lie. With the aid of glasses
= e can distinguish their A e and men hurry ing
along their earthworks / co"ld not believe
: hat two opposing armies o. such large numbers
cou Id remain So clos together during the niGhli
We, such is he case. The night ia spent as be
fore around our guns. with blankets to cnveI
} us. At daybreak, The rebels open fire on us
by II rAed battery Oh our right. Another t"r
ward IL ovement brings The enemy within range
If our guns, and We open on them, fling hal
duzen rounds each. As We are in posi- ior
from which We cannot the eject OF onr shots
we move TO The right aD"ut half q m.le-whei
we have a full view of the rebel works which
extend from the ,iyer banks below. TO the same
At.
dia'cy open fire On them at different points anC
Yet but an occasional answer.
About noon Tie I7lh, 455h, and Al h Illinois
regiments maGea charge Oh one Of the redoub's
but after an hours hand fighting are forced tt
retire. Then Notifications trees frllrd ont
ward the branches silarpened. and dirt thrown
up at The butts. On con versing with some o
6 The men who were within ts eniy yards Of th'
work, find tina; it cannot BE- taken without glcs
= loss of life. About fifty we've killed III thu
. charge.
BY continued firing till night we are short o
4 ammunition, and a messenger is sent to For
Henry for more. Dlawing our guns back un
a der cuver of The hlll and putting NJ II ps';l'n
! we lay our weary bodies down to lest. Tn'
g night is anyihii but pleasant one. for it rain
r and sHows-and is cold enough to ma, oh, ant
cup oi hot roffte is a sou'cs of much c"rlfDr
80 the boys OH turning out in The NOR ing fron
their sleepIess beds The reb.Is throw few
round shot at us; an ~ we have 10 ammuui
ZION We move the battery DOWN into he 'avine
The day is quite pleasant and the ammunition
having arrived, we fill oar chests again. Moth
ing of importance occurs during The day, saw
the arrival OF II dozen boalOads OF troops. ant
: about an hours heavy cannonading betwee
: the gun boats and the main fort. About tou
y o',l,ck a half d, zen shells from the rebel gun
burst around us that was fired at our trouF
: passing along the brow of the hill, towards III
= light of our column Nome " US were hurt ; bu
" he sudden appearance of those messenger, cra
- ateG quite stampede among the baggage wsg
; nns, comtlabai cooks, aud the like. At dmsl
u We took our old position on the hill, supported
by the Nth lii. Sharpsh"oters are CONSTANT !,
! firing at each other, and picket skilmshes Al
II HI hourly occurrence; but We have become =
/ accustomed TO such, hat we sleep sound All,
:, warm all night. white blanket If 81 ow, sbnu
II Two inches shick having been added to our GOV
II ermg during the nIS.t Our captain come
: around at dayoreak, calling turn out, all,
: ere the snow il shaken from our blankets
It rebel six pound shot. comes in:o midst
y Instantly killing one Of the l7,h, which is foI
= lowed by three OF four more--oue she'll " hic
l. bursts in u e centre OF group around the 81.
e sadly wounding another Of the 18th whose Gle
II terrified Us. assure you.
F" We iMmedlatel, took our position in batter,
on the bro" of the hill, aud commenced firing 3
the rebel guns. While doing the mu,kerr
II fling commenced at the ght OF our columns
/ also occasional csnnOnadng.
We continue firing with our battery unit
noon. when the right wing OF our column i
turned, aud tails back mile or moe, closeI
toll d by rebel cavalry. Our infantry hay
, had a hard ba1iIe-msay Of them being obgel
to Ieliie for want of AMMUNITION. The boodshrC
:, has been fearful, which of course would be h.
result OF u constant roar of mueke,ry and can
non from daylight till noon. We retire a shor
= distance whei, we make another stand and form
in line of battle several fresh regiments com
!, ng 10 our relief also 20 A, e. L. A. The reb
Ell, are driven back and our rronps again Oh
,, the giouLd they had at the opening of the bat
g. lie.
During the whole of ihe days fighting non
+ OF our boys were hurt, save a Couple of hrsl
/. wounds NARROW escapes were yer, frequeut
One OF our boys While lying on the ground, ha
u a rfed cannon shot pass under his chin Tw
1 Of .ur guns were struck though nor disable,
+ for firing. The % liuey'' was struck by a rife
t shot, which broke the tire aud loosen.d tn
: woodwork little. The newspapers give mHc
J. better account of the morning barte than cal