Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-02-21

long and conflicting Federal accounts of
the taking of Fort Donelson, on the Cum
berland river We must, therefore,
content ourselves with publishing the
following abstract, from the Baltimore
News Sheet, of Wednesday, which con-
tain9 all of Importance from the COM
mencement of the battle to the surrender.
The latest accounts state that the tele-
graphic lines have been SO disorder.d by
storms, as to prevent the Transmission of
intelligence There are no reliable ac-
counts of the killed and wounded, or
prisoners.
''From the latest news we have re-
ceiyed in regard to the taking of Fort
I Donelson, we gather that, contrary to
/ previous statements, the battle did not
commence until Saturday morning, when
the Confederate fire opened upon the 18th
Illinois regiment; the brigades of 0gles-
4 by, Wallace and Macarthur being in
mediately afterwards brought into action
under Gen. McClernand These three
/ brigades bore the brunt of the battle,
but, finally, so heavy a force was eoncon-
trated upon the points at which McCler-
hands troops were stationed, that their
position was turned, and, getting out of
ammunition, they were forced to retreat
a distance of half mile. On their re-
tirement, after three hours hard fighting,
Grant ordered Smiths division on the
left to storm the enemy's entertainments.
This being done, McClernand was again
directed to move forward aud renew the
attack. 4 portion of this division i'm
mediately responded, and by dint Of hard
lighting, not ONLY recovered the ground
which had been lost in the morning, but
succeeded in driving the Con6edcratcs
into their entertainments. Fresh troops
were then thrown forward to assist in
holding the position that had been won,
and-as it was at that time nearly
dark-to be in readiness to participate
in the attack which was to be made sim
ultaneously along the whole line the fol-
lowing morning Sunday During the
night contraction of all the Federal
lines took place, and every preparation
was made for the assault which was to
have taken place at daylight. At the
appointed hour the m ovcment commenced;
butt was soon afterwards discovered that
white flags were floating from the Con-
federate works, and not long subsequently,
it was understood that Gen Buckner had
entered into a spondence with Gen
Grant, proposing the appointment of com
missioners to agree upon the terms Of
surrender, and suggesting an armistice
until noon of that day The reply Of
Gen. Grant was brief, but to the pur-
pose-the only terms to which he would
agree was an unconditional surrender.
General Buckner in response pro-
tested against the 'ungenerous and I'M
chivalrous terms proposed, but consent
ed to accept them. The Federal troops
speedily entered the works, and the Con
Tolerate officers gave up their swords.
Generals Floyd and Pillow, are said to
have escaped in small steamers during the
night, taking with them Floyd's Brigade
and few other persons. As to the num-
Der Of Confederates engaged in the de
fence of Fort Donelson, all that we yet
learn is that they are said to have had
within the works some %, 900 men, and
that all Of them are prisoners of wal ex-
cept those who we're killed or who sue
ceeded in ehecting their escape How
many prisoners actually fell into the hands
of General Grant is therefore at present
wholly matter Of conjecture. The
number may be fifteen thousand, but il
may yet turn out to be much less. We
Shall probably have to wait for the off
cial account Of the battle before this qucs-
ton is settled satisfactorily.
1T is supposed that the Confoderates
would make their next stand at Clarks-
vile. The defences at that point are
not, however, supposed to be as strong us
were the works at Fort Donelson The
General johnson who is one Of Che priso-
ners Of war, turns out to be Bushrod
Johnson, Brigadior General in the
Conscderate service, and not Major
General A Sidney Johnston, as preyi-
ously announced
L. 8 Wednesday next,
18th instant is the day fixed upon on
which both houses Of the Maryland Lee
gislature win 60 into an election on joint