New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-22
81, ERE CONTEST on Tnp LEFT.

The doubt on this eubleci was soon removed 10y
The transmission Of several shells from tie fort. M
corning US tlNt the Rebels were still determined
upon hurliug defiance in our teeth. At the zane
time, it was declared that the enemy intended 20
make n sorie against our left wing and turn IT If
possible.
Gon. Smith, with bic Division. composed 81 lndi-
sna, Iowa ard Iihois regiments, immediately
marched up TO the breIetworks, end engaged the
enemy the most sIiGied manner.
Tie Iowa ID was The first regiment, to il. honor
lie ii said, that scaled the brcas,works. They per-
formed this hazardous end brilliant movement in
masery style and after the manner Of the veterans
who immortalized themselves in the wars Of Napo-
leon.
They never hessted, they never faltefed but
with firm step md ashlng eye, they passed without
firing gun into The Rebel works. Ia Il few seconds
Other regiments followed them, and terrible strife
ensued between the conending parties. The Seces-
sionsts seemed resolved to Dive the Unonists back
and the latter equally determined hot TO surrender
the advantage they had obtained.
For at least two hours the rat,ling Of musketry
was INCREASINGLY Heard. and the armed mafses
swayed to and fro; fortune appearing to favor now
'i' hiut anu hoN dipthtt.
/ Ever and anon u loud cheer went up for the Union,
and this was caught ny at distance, and echoed by
our soldiers, and oyously reechoed by the surround
my hills Many brave warrior heard that Il, rious
shout az bis senses reeed in death, and his spirit
welt forth emhalmed with the assurance that lie
lad not fallen in vain.
| A large Rebel gun every few seconds woud pour
lis iron bail upon our struggling heroes; but gener-
ally the firing TOO high TO do much harm. Our
courageous trooIr planted the Stars and Stripes
within the intieuchmente. and as the good old flag
waved its folds there "a dcafenng shout went up 10
heaven that gave the defenders of the Union strength
10 battle anew in the cause whose glory shall never
set
southern regiment after regiment went TO the as-
siriauoo Of the Rebels, who burning retrieve
their failing fortunes but troops basteucd for.
ward aud threw themselves into tie stronghold of tie
enemy and baltled tue hosts of Richard the Lion.
Hearted bailed once in the home Of the Saracens.
If We only lad battery there" The Uniou-ts
often said. 1--WE fear the Rebels will oyerpower us
wiki numbers and repulse uS ON the very threshold
Of victory
Those were snxiois moments and many IA heart
prayer offered up for the success Of the cause OF
liberty and right for tue sustainmeut Of the Consi.-
tuition and the Laws.
/ Your corresl oBdent watched the progress Of tie
battle from a bill Immediately adjoining tie breast-
WORKS, snd heard painfully anxious questions from
lie troops who stood around. Are the Stars aud
Stripes still ihercl' care tie Rebels rvtrcating
DO our boys stand their grouLdl' 81 Have We
whipped item YETI" was heard at almott every
breath.
Soon loud report was heard, and the woods re-
'efherted with Union cry of joy, for the rec.
oguzed il as tie thunder Of Union gun, and te-
ieyed 1t would do much TO control the battle.
Again aid again tie gun sounded and the national
banner waved, aud tie Rebels were driven from
TIER redoubr.
E.gAt j., gments were cent into the fertilization,
aid several pieces Of artillery placed there. and
wien lett tie held "A, dusk the Sars and Stripes
were sill dehan,ly flying Above tho Rebel breast
works.
The Union regiments have received orders to hold
their potion during the night. and renew the
strife in the morning; and doubtless they will Dc
co. IL reported THE evening that NIL effort would
be made Oh our part obtain the other Rebel iort-
cations during The night; but ] am now On the
banks Of the Cumberland. ak seven miles from the
great struggle Of yesterday afternoon, must needs
Wal, for the morning 10 determine tie issue OF
events.
Oar soldiers in high spirits, and seem as conf
dent Of victory IA If the, just abou, to plant
the S,ars and Stripes upon the strongest earlhwork
Of Fort DOnefol.
4 TIE REEL COMMANDERS.
Gideon j. Pillow and the mighty s'ealer Floyd
are doubtless the Con manders Of tie fort, and IT II
ead they both addressed their Rebel dupes evening
before lasi uTOn the importance Of holding the foi,
aud tie ruin in which il lo,s would Involve tie sa-
cred cause of Slaverydearer to every Southern
heat than the dictates Of conscience the loitlest
promp,pgs Of the soul.
REBEL DEsERTIR's STATEMENT.
A rumner-boy who had been imIre,eed into the
Rebel seryce, and who escaped ss night, snys there
me 30. 900 Of the enemy in the fort aud thst their
prov rions and ammunition would not last thlu
TWO days from that time. He states, also, iha, the
foe hsd suffered great io'ses; that the dad and
wounded were lying in LEAPS within The fortidca-
tons and hat the euenys lose up 10 Friday evening
mur Lave been at least . COO. lie believes the gun
toats alone killed aud wounded 500 during Friday =
action aud knows that the boa;s are terror 10 tie
southern traitors since tho capture Of Fort li,nry
Concerning our ioss yesterday there il much
variety VI opinion and there nre many grossly eNng-
gcraied sta eueuts. Nothing lie oxscincts eau be
reached; but 400 or 800 allied md wounded Won d
doublleis be Il liberal estimate; while tie kcbels
NUT have suffered much more severely. Az u-unl
our officers exio-ed Themselves recklcss >, aud suf.
iercd in large proportion.
] Lieut-Co Smith. Of the Ash Illinois; Lieut-Col
/ WMIlr IL IL. Ilri III lie / LIN