, 1862-02-18
the Fl. DoltEl SON VICTORY.
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Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1
BATTLE-F1ED NEAR FoKr DoSE1sos, !

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.1
Brr1EF1ELD NEAR FoRr DosE1sos,
February 1G, 1862. {
I most bloody battle Tas fought yesterday
on tie right wing Of our force, in the rear of
the enemy's Works. in which the first and sec-
ond b1igades Of Gen. McClcrnand's s Division
were engaged The fight commenced at day
light, By the enemy firing some grape into the
31st and 2oth Illinois regiments, which were
eneamped near the extreme right.
The LIST brigade, Col. R. ], oglesby COM
nanding, Was Immediately drawn up in line
after the following order: the 18th Illinois,
Col Lawler, On the extreme right; 8th I'LL
nois, Lieut.. Col. Rhodes commanding, next :;
30th Illinois, Lieut.. Col Dennis commanding,
followed by the 2st1, Col. Reardon, which sup
ported the right Of Stewards battery light ar
ti1le7y, with the 31st, Col. John 4 Logan, on
the extreme left, and supporting the left Of
Stewards battery; all Illinois regiments.
The second brigade, Col. ". d. L. .Wal1ace
commanding, consisted of the 11th, Lieut..
Col. Ransom commanding; Goth, Col. C. Car
roll Marsh; 45th, Col. Smith, and 4Sth, Col.
Hainey, all Illinois regiments, with MeAllis-
tcr's and Tay1or's batteries, aud four siege
guns.
The attacking force of the enemy was about
1a,000 men.
The position Of the ground was such that
not more than one Of aar rgimcnts could
operate at the same time, while the rebels
could bring nearly their whole force to bear
ag1inst us.
Tho Are{ %n ha aJ-
the 18Th, which fought With q desperate cour-
age until their ammunition became exhausted,
when they were forced to retire, With loss
Of officers and men, and were replaced by the
Sth regiment, which fought with like bravery,
but they too we're driven back after disburs,
ing their ammunition, and iu turn Was re.
placed by the 18th, which also fell back in
turn. Meanwhile the ether regiments were
lending such feeble aid as their positions would
| admit.
Lew Wallace WAS then ordered to reinforce
AIcC1ernand, and lie sent two brigades of his
| division from the center.
| The 31st regiment, Col Logan, fought like
| veterans who had never had any other occu
| patton, and struggled defending swartz's bat
terry under the most CALLING fire of the enemy
until every horse at the battery WIS killed
with the officers who had charge Of the guns
! as well as Lieut.. Col White, Capt Risby
| Cactirg Major, and seven Captains and q NUN
ber of Lieutenants Of the 3lst had been killed
with Col. Logan woundcd7 and being near1,
surrounded By the rebels, Capt Edwin 8
A1cCook, who vas left in command, drew tht
regiment Tor what remained Of it, of the field
I but not until their last round was expended
and they had commenced to drive the rebel:
before them.
The I'd brigade now came up and took tht
place Of the retired one, and fought desper
atcly, loosing great number in Killed ant
| wounded, when with tue assistance Of por
ton Of Wallace's division (the 10th and 59tl
Ohio,) with Tay1or's battery, which WAS sta
toned On hill near By, as the rebels came NJ
they opened fire upon them and drove po1
I. tiun oftlcm back into t!:elr enttenc.1mcpts
while large portion still occupied the groun
they hnd gained
The object Of the rebels was evidently t.
cut their way through our troops.
In the afternoon Gen. Grant saw that some
thing should be done to restore the spirits o
our disheartened troops, and ordered Genera
Smith to make an assault on the west wing Q
thu encmy's works. Gen. Smith, as quick a
horse flesh could bear him, rode along III
| lines and ordered his men to prepare for
charge which caused shouts Of joy to rim
along his lines. Without moments unnec
essary delay Col. Laun,an's brigade, the 2
and It'll Iowa, and the 11th and 18th Indiana
charged up to the enemy's redouh
driving the rebels before them at the point 9
the bayonet like frightened sheep, and gainin
possession Of their outer works.
Gen. Smith behaved like one inspired 70
nothing less than continual victories. Fl
could be seen riding along the lines with hi
hat swinging on the top Of his sword, ami
the thlckest Of the fight, encouraging his mel
and cheering them on to victory, regardless Q
the deadly missiles flying around him.
| INo1E.-For balance Of tile above spccia
dispatches, aud other late news, sec 4th page.
| fEnccis1 Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune