Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-07
LETTER PROM FORT DONELsON


w nen l WTOtc q iS" NY
nromised 10 write again in day or
Two. but have been too busy until now,
on account Of so many Of our officers
being among the killed and wounded,
which has left the rest Of us busy nigh.
aud day attending to the different duties
that are so numerous after battle,
when everything is so unsettled.
wish to speak more particularly OF
the parL the % took in the late fight.
About | O'Clock the word came for tie
- Iowa 10 fall in, which was promptly
done. Gen. Smith came along aud adj
dressed US in few words. He said we
lad been picked ont TO storm the breast
works land gave Us particular Instructions
not to FIRE a gun until We were INSIDE
the entertainments for, said ne,
elf you do, not man OF you Will I'VE
to reach them" Col. Lauman then
addressed us, and told us to slight Ter
the honor OF Iowa, and to remember
Ri,oont." Col. futile vas addressed
nv Gen. Smith, as follows: Colonel,
TO your regiment has been assigned
sealing these breastworks-can you 90
- Col. Tuttle's response was -
aGenera!, please have me promptly sup
ported. for 10 twenty minutes | shall be
IN the encmy's camp The regiment
| was divided into two divisions. The left
| wing, consisting accompanies +, Il, =, Z
| and Il, were TO storm the works, sup
ported by the right wing, and they IN
turn supported by other regiments.
Col. futile and Major Chapman were
with the lett wing, and Lieut. Col. ia
ker and the Adjutant with the right.
We marched from the woods in column,
with the left in front, to an open Held
| on orr left, and by right flank formed
into line o! battle ard advanced on the
| fort. We soon reached the foot OF the
| hin and commenced the ascent. hen
about 900 yards from the tort, the enemy
| ouened fire on rs. TO give you some
| idea of the hill, it is nearly as steep as
the bluff at the head of Ripley street.
1t was covered with logs and tlees teiled
with the tops downward, on purpose to
defeat charge like ours. l have been
over the field since, and cannot see how
1 81 snppnpGpI
mounting the hill with two and halt
regiments pouring in murderous fire
upon us from five embankments and rifle
pits, at regular cross-iire. None,
cxcep. those that have been in similar
position, can form any idea of the pecu-
liar feeling that came over US when the
bullets were raining down upon Us like
bail, and the brave boys falling thick
and !as, on every side. With rush
and a shout we reached the works and
charged over them.
Till this time net a gun had been
fired Oh oar side; but now came oar
urn, The rebels could not stand the
cold steel, but broke ana ran in every
direction but tie sure aim OF our boys
caused many of them TO bite the dust,
and the deaths Of the poor fellows that
ell on the hill were fully avenged.
1t was Of course impossible to keep in
inc when mounting the breastworks.
and the boys scattered in every dlrec-
ion, pursuing ard shooting the rebels
We iought what was considered the
dover Of the South, yiZ-the I'd Ken
lucky, 81 Tennessee, and half a regi
nen, OF the Mississippi Tigers. the
| Tigers had seven shooting, revolving
ufies. We were soon called upon tc
tall into lire, but there was many gaI
in all OF our companies. Just at hi.
,ime, Gen. Smith came up, and wanted
to see the Colonel, but did not wait for
aim to come. lie took off his hat,
,wunc it round his head, aad said to Us
Bows, | want this regiment to GO on
Ion have done noby so far. Mount
tie other hill. VIII YOU GO" The
Joy s gave loud cheer, and with ''yes,
sell so.' charged the next hill and
remained there till the eugagemet closed.
l
laa their cams only about two weeks
Tut which 1t is unnecessary 10 namt
here, although known t. all II rs. cam,
70 tic top Of the first bill and fired al
indiscrininatc yolev at the enemy, Inc
were Tar out Of Their reach, and coulo
not be induced to % any further. Gen
, Smith gave them good damning, aud
said "Why don't You 20 to the as
sistauce OF those brave boys over yon.
der: II had another regiment like
the I'd Iowa, would take the place il
twenty minutes 4 number OF oul
, regiment were wounded by their firing
behind us when We were on the secon,
hill.
We were engaged between three an(
four hoars, bnt were surprised when W,
: leaned it, for it did not seem to II
more than half an hour. Not over hal
of the 800 that comprised the left win.
: of the regiment reached the entrench
# ments. The right wing Of the regimen
&. was about half way up the hill when W,
took the works, but were with us in
few minutes, aud did good executio,
throughout the fight.
e| see in a Chicago Tribune, Of tn,
b Goth, received here to-day, that tn,
!, whole Of Col. Lauman's brigade tool
!, the works at the point OF the bayonct
Is We acont 1t understood that more but tn
II SECOND had anything to do Nth I'll
l. Jayonet chorye-none Of tie other reg,
naenfs came uD until after zoe haul IN