Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-01
Rattle a. For, Donelson.

a correspondent Of the Lynchburg Rspabtiedn
gives the following short bit graphic account Of
the battle Of Fort Donelson It Is by far. the best
account we have seen: -. .--.s Z. =
"You.have. ere this. heard Of the bloodicst con.
test ever witnessed on this continent-ths 6ght At
Fort Donelson. 1t commenced on the 18th. but did
not rage tiereely until the 18th On the morning
Of the 18th the enemy opened Gre on the Fort with
their guuboats and attacked US on our right by
land, In thu course Of two hours the eight became
general ard terrific They made gallant charges on
our right and left We being in our ride pits. They
came again and again. Early in the evening they
drew OH their men, rallied them, and made another
desperate effort but Iepulsed with heavy loss
about night On the morning of the 18th they
again attacked US, and were again repulsed about
u 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 l5,-
600. We had about ID 900.
Our generals determined to 60 out Of the entrench-
ments and drive them away, or sacrifice the life oil
all In their armies in the attempt So, early on the
morning Of the 10Th, we left our rifle 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 LIST Brigade (Floyd's.)
he charged the enemy in their position, and lost a.
men out OF 500 in doing so. Col Forests Cavalry,
of Tennessee, took one battery. 1t molly done.
| was-an eye witneSsl What sight it was to see
the I'd Kentucky Regiment charge orer the breast
1oorks after the Lnconitesl | was in ten feet Of
them when the order gwen by General Floyd
to charge! What grand sight! Then we chased
the Yankees about two miles neuer sau the like!
But our soldiers had now been fighting for four
daysl They were exhausted; they could pursue
them no farther and we compelled to 60 to
our breastworks again. In the course of some
hours, the enemy having received the Il, 900 rein
forcements 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 brcastworks on the right and
held then-took one battery but were Immediately
repuLssd and driven beyond the reach of Buck and
BtM But on the extreme right they fought so
very desperately that at one time thought We
would rot repuse them. We got out of ammuni-
tion on the right and then it was was apprehen.
Sve of the result. But our boys took fire Uthout
any ammunition, eagerly awaiting their nearer ap-
proach that they might "stick EN-, as they call
it! But they didn't give them a chance. The Yam
KEGS fell back, and 1t not long before plenty OF
ammunition was at hand, and now they pePPsred
them
But We were too much exhausted We fought
four days, and were up four nights, and under such
circumstances might fall asleep whilst firing
a gun and our Generals pillow, Buckner and
| Johnston,) knew that surrender was ALMOST in
| ccita6is r-.-
Gen. Floyd said he wouldn't surrender, and took
his original Division, Col. Wharton, and Col. Nc
Causland, and started for Nashville fear that
of his regiments, the goth Mississippi, was taken.
| rode over the battle field. There were over 1000
Yankees l.ft dead. To give correct list of the
number killed, ought to say 5000.
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 900, but | have not ascertained accurately
what it Is. We have great many wounded. 1t
seems strange, but every Yankee | saw 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"