Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-02-19
LATEST NEWS
By TELEGRAPH.
Further Particulars from Fort
boAelSen.
OUR VICTORY COMPLETES.
Rejoicing in Honor Of the
Event.
Important from Cairo.
Important Foreign News.
ARCH DUKE MAMMALIAN TO ACCEPT
THE THRONE OF MtXlCO.
Probable Escape Of the Nashville.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE REcEP-
TIoN OF COL. coRcoRAN.
The Legal Tender Bill.
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
From st. Louis.

ST. LOrIS, Feb. Is.
The R-p4blicans Fort Donelson CORES pondent
gives the following account Of the fighting on
Saturday.:
yesterday morning, just at daylight, keavy
sortis was made by the garrison. from the left
portion Of their works. This attack was made
upon tho extreme right wing of the Union army,
where 1t was weakest. Part Of Gen. McClernand' 5
division, under COL oglesby, consisting OF his kr
gade, was stationed there; also Schwarz's and
McAalister's battery. and the point was upon a
ledge leading into the redoubt aud was situated
just above the main Fort. Durn. the nigh, the
entny could be heard busiiy at work, but what a I
II was impossible " tell, thickets and woods en-
compassed the Union troops on every side, render
ing the view in sny direction almost impossible.
At daylight large body tf the enemy suddenly
appeared on the extreme light wing Of Col. Oe!es-
by's command and opened a terrible fire with can
non from their redoubts, playing at the same time
upon our forces from guns placed in position On
the night previous
The camp Of the 29th and 3lst Illinois was most
exposed, and the whole brigade was at once formed
into line rs follows: The 18th Illinois held the
extreme right, the Sth Illinois next the 30th
Illinois next, then the 29h Illinois supporting the
right Of Capt. Schwarz battery, the 3lst Illinois
defending the artillery on the left.
From the firing OF the first gun until Q o'clock
the battle r1ged uaremittingly and with fea :
full loss both sides. Again and again did
our troops drive the enemy back, but they
we're often reinforced while our troops had, OWN 2
to the extended lines OF the army and also tn cir
position on the extreme right. to fight unassis.el.
No moro gallant fighting then took place, than
that Of the Union troops, exposed, as they wer.
to the terrible fire Of treble their number They
stood their ground, until in some regiments every
officer vas killed or wounded. Al last and reluc-
tantly, regiment by regiment slowly fell back,
te.'s guns in the rebels hands. Retiring
few hundred yards, they again made
. stand, and General Smith arrived with
reinforcements and at once drove the enemy
again into their wo-ks. In the first Ct the battle
was also General Walace's brigade, the 18th i ith
18th and l4tn, also Col. McArthur'e brigade, all Of
which suffered severely. Opposed to them were
$4,000 rebels, supported by guns placed carefully
in position. General Grant having command Of q
division drove the enemy back and gained the lost
ground, at once ordered advance by General
Smith on the left Charging under lot fire up
tho steep hill on which was the out redoubt, our
troops gained the high breastworks and with hard
~ pause went over them. planting the Stars and
stripes over the walls undes most CALLING fire.
They formed and charged and dro. the rebels
bick until they fell into new position be-
hind some batteries. When evening came
the Union troops had been victorious at every
point, having gained back the ground lost in the
morning, and got within part Of the enemy 5
works.
Our troops held their position during the night,
rePeling the repeated assaults. The scene with
in the .capturet fort after the surrender showed
how terribly the rebel garrison had suffered
Everywhere were lying fragments Of shells,
and round shot were buried in the earth.
Tents were torn to pieces, gun-carriages broken
and blood scattered around in the left .redoubt,
where the assault had taken place. The dead
bodies lay thickly about. An evidence Of the firm
resistance and gallant attack was visible. On the
extreme right, mile distant, where the desp rate
sortie was made by tho garrison, similar see es
were visible. The gallan,ry of the Union troops
has been we'll and severely tested, and they have
proved more than equal to the task before tn em
As the fee. approached the For. this morning
salute was fired, and load cheers went up when
the American flags wee visible.
No efiicers Of tho army had an idea Of For, Don
elson's defences until they had been gained and
examined.
Several regiments, when ont Ct ammunition
rushed forward, and although exposed to the full
fire Of the Rebel artillery, CALAMITY drove thei,
foes back with the bayonst and captured theil
guns.
The following are the names cf some Of the
Rebel officers captured: Col. Corset, Col. Voorhies
Col. Forrest, Col. Brewn and Col. Abernethy.