Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1862-02-27
THE CAPTURE OF FORT DoNELsoN.

THE CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON
ST. LOUIS, February 1s.-The Fort Donelson
correspondent of the Republican gives the fol-
lowing az 1unt of the fighting on the 18th inst:
yesterday Saturday morning, just at day
light, heavy sorte was made by the garrison
from the left portion of their works. This at
tack was made upon the extreme right wing of
the Union army, where it was strongest. A
part of General McCernands Division, under
Colonel Oglesby, consisting of his brigade, was
stationed there also, Schwartz's and McAllis-
ter's Batteries. The point was upon a ridge
leading into the right redoubt, and situated Just
above the main fort. During the previous night
the enemy could be heard busily at work, but it
was impossible to tell at what as the thicket
and woods encompassed the Union troops on
every side. obstructng the view in every direc-
ton.
| At daylight a large body of the enemy sud-
denly appeared on the extreme right wing of
Colonel Oglesby's comman1, and opened ter
rible fire with cannon from their redonbt play
ing at the same time upon our forces from the
guns which had been placed in position on the
night previous.
The camps of the Twenty -ninth and Thirty
hrst Illinois were most exposed. The whole
brigade was at once formed into line as follows:
The Eighteenth Illinois Regiment held the
extreme right; the Eighth Illinois came next :;
then the Thirtieth Illinois, then the Twenty
ninth illinois,, supporting the right of Captain
Schwartz's artillery, and the Thirty first Illinois
defending the artillery on the left.
From the firing of the first gun until nine
o'clock, the battle ragged unrcmittingly and with
fearful loss on both sides. Again and again our
troops drove the enemy back, but they were
often reinforced, while our troops had, owing to
the extended lines of the army, and also their
position on the extreme right, to fight unas-
sisted
More gallant fighting never took place than
that of the Union troops. Exposed to the terri
BILE firing of triple their number, they stood
their ground until in some regiments, every
officer was killed or wounded
At last, and reluctantly, regiment by regi-
ment, they slow y fell back, leaving Schwartz's
Battery and three of McAllister's guns in the
Confederates hands. Retiring few hundred
yards they all then made a stand, and General
Smith arrived with reinforcements and at once
drove the enemy again into their works.
In the first of the battle also, Colonel w. II.
Twentieth, Seventeenth and Forty -eighth regi-
ments, participated also Colonel McArthur's
Brgade-all of which troops suffered severely.
Opposed to these were twelve thousand C,nfed-
crates, supported by guns that had been caro-
fully placed in proper position.
| General Grant having, in command of the
division, driven the enemy back with reinforce
ments and gained the lost ground, at once order
ed an advance by General Smith on the left
Charging under hot freup the steep hill on
which was located the outer redoubt, our troops
gained the high breastworks, and with hardly a
pause went over them planting the Stars and
Stipes over the walls under a most CALLING fire
They then formed, charged and4drove the
enemy back until he fell into a new position
When evening came, the Union troops lac
been victorious at every point having gained
back the ground lost in the morning, and col
within one part of the enemy's works
i Our troops held their position during the
night, repeIling the repeated assaults Of the
enemy
The scene within the captured fort after the
surrender showed how terribly the Confad tic
garrison had suffered. Everywhere were lying
fragments of shells and round shot, half buried
IN the earth tents were torn to pieces. gun-car-
riages broken, and blood scattered around.
In the left rcdoubt, where the assault had
taken place. the dead bodies lay thickly, and
abundant evidence of stern resistance and GAL
liant attack was visible. On the extreme tight,
where the desperate sortie was made by the gar
rison, similar scenes were visible.
The gallantry Of the Union troops has been
we'll and severely tested and they have proved
more than equal to the task before them.
As the fleet approached the fort this morning
salute was fired, and three cheers went up
when the American flag was displayed.
No officer in the army had an idea of the ex-
tent of the defences of Fort Doneson until they
had been gained and examined.
Several of our men, when out of ammunition,
rushed forward, and although exposed to the
full fire of the Confederate artillery, CALAMITY
drove their foes back with the bayonet and cap
tured their guns.
The following are the names of some of the
Confederate officers captured -
Colonel CAN'T, Colonel Voorhees,, Colonel For
rest, Colonel Brown and Colonel Abernethy.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Feb. 49,.
The News from Fort Donelson.
The fortitude of our people is again to be
tried, and the metal of which their courage is
made once more to be tested, by the last news
from Fort Done!son. We have met with heavy.
disaster there. The wretches who are invading
our country were enabled, by the facilities Of
river transportation. to bring up reinforcements
! f< tbo;r n,b;n nd bo,-o