The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-24
StOrming of Fort DOneIsOn.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL
u. Sc GRANT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN TIE FIELD, =
FoRT DoNELsoN, Feb. 16. 1862.


| Gen. @. W. Cultstm, Chief Of The Stat, De
Partnsent Of the Missouri:
GENERAL-I am pleased to announce tC
| you the unconditional surrender this morn
I ing of Fort Donelson, with twelve to fifteer
| thousand prisoners, at least forty pieces
of artillery and large amount of stores
horses, mules and other public property
left Fort Henry on the 18th instant with
force of about 5000 men, divided into
two divisions, under the commands of Gen.
erals McClernard and Smith. Six regiments
were sent around by water the day before
conveyed by gunboat, or rather started
one day later than one of the gunboats, and
with instructions not to pass it.
The troops made the march IN good or
der, the head of the column arriving with
ia two miles of the Fort at q o'clock M.
At this point the enemy's pickets were met
and driven in.
The Notifications Of the enemy were from
this point gradually approached and sur.
rounded with occasional skirmishing on
the line. The following day, owing TO the
non-arrival of the gunboats and reinforce
ments sent by water, no attack was made,
but the investment was extended on the
tanks of the enemy and drawn closer 10
his works, with ski FINISHING all day. The
evening of the 18th the gunboats and REIN
forcements arrived. On the I4th gallant
attack was made by Flag Officer Foot upon
the enemy's works with his feet The en-
gagement lasted probably one hour and q
half, and bid fair to result favorably to the
cause of the Union, when two unIucky
shots disabled two of the armored boats so
that they were carried back by the current.
The remaining two were very much disa-
bled also, having received a number of
heavy shots about the pilot-houses and
other parts of the vessels. After these mis-
haps I concluded to make the investment of
Fort Donelson as perfect as possible and
partially fortify and await repairs to the
gunboats. This plan was frustrated, how
ever, by the enemy making a most vigor-
GUS attack upon our right wing, command
ed by Gen. j. A. McClernard, with q por-
ton of the force under Gen. L. Wallace
The enemy were repealed after a closely
contested battle of several hours in which
our loss was heavy. The officers, and par
ticularly field officers, suffered out of pro-
portion. l have not the means yet of de-
termining our loss even approximately, but
it cannot fall far short of 1900 killed,
wounded and missing.
OF the latter, l understand, through Gen
Buckner, about $50 were taken prisoners
I shall retain enough of the enemy to ex-
change for them as they were Immediately
shipped off and not left for recapture. About
the close of this action the ammunition in
cartridge boxes gave out, which, with the
loss of many of the field officers, produced
great confusion in the ranks. Seeing that
the enemy did not take advantage of it,
convinced me that equal confusion, and pos
sibly great decentralization, existed with
To1xS 81 1c al
dered charge upon the left, enemy's right,
with the division under O. F. Smith, which
was most brilliantly executed, and gave to
our arms full assurance of victory. The
battle lasted until dark, giving us possession
of part of the entertainments. An attack
was ordered from the other flank, after the
charge by Gen. Smith was commenced, by
the divisions under Generals McClernand
and Wallace, which, Notwithstanding the
hours of exposure to heavy fire in the fore
part of the day, was gallantly made, and the
enemy further repulsed. At the points
thus gained, night having come on, all the
troops encemped for the night, feeling that
complete victory would crown their labors
at an early hour in the morning.
This morning at very early hour note
was received from General S. B. Buckner,
under flag of truce, proposing ana armis-
tACoj &Cs n COpy Vi Lno COAEoSPOnuoAS0
which ensued is herewith accompanying.
l cannot mention individuals who especi-
ally distinguished themselves, but leave that
to division and brigade commanders, whose
reports will be forwarded as soon as re-
ceived.
To division commanders, however, GEN.
erals McClernsnd, Smith and Wallace, l
must do the justice to say that each of them
were with their commands in the midst of
danger, and were always ready to execute
all orders, no matter what the exposure to
themselves.
At the hour the attack was made on
General McClernand's command l was
absent, having received note from Flag
Officer Foote requesting me to go and see
him, he being unable to call in consequence
of wound received the day before.
My personal STAFF, Colonel J. T. u eoster,
Chief of Staff; Coi. J. Riggin, Jr., volun-
teer aid; Capt. J, A. Rawlins, A. A. Gen
eral; Captains G. B. Lagow and W. 5.
Hillyer, aids, and Lieutenant Colonel J. B.
Mcpherson, Chief Engineer-alI are deserv-