Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-21
THE VICTORY Al FORT DoNELsol


without the Lex ,l-tcndcr provision
THE VICTORY AT FORT DONELsON.
We doubt if ever a people were in state
Of more anxious suspense than have been the
people Of Vermont, and indeed Of the whole
country, since the commencement Of the seige
Of Fort Donelsou on Wednesday last. On
Thursday came the news Of the investment OF
the fort by about 80 900 troops under Gems.
Grant and McClernand, the number Of rebels
inside Of the fort being stated at O,OOO to
$4,000 Everybody was jubilant with the
pro-pec, Of another and a speedy victory, as
it was believed that the fort could not long
hold out against such fearful odds as were be-
ing brought against il. Thursday passed,
and no news Of victory greeted the anxious
inqlircrs Friday morning, and still the fort
is in possession of the rebels Then doubts
were expressed, and fearcs were visible in
mems countenances Must we give it up, and
lose the victory we had hoped SO sure; 1t
cannot be. the next news must tell the story.
Friday noon, aud no tidngs reach us,-no
victory, no defeat, not a word is heard. Have
we been defeated, aud the reluctant wires re-
fuse 20 tell the tale or are our forces still
pressing on to victory, too busy to tell the glad
news. Fear and hope alternates in every
heart. Friday night, and still 20 news from
DoucI.ou. Springfield, Mo, is captured and
the rebel Gen Price is once more put to
fight. but the joy for our success in Missouri
Is saddened by the reflection that our gallant
sroops are still unsuccessful in the capture Of
Fort Donelson Are they to be defeated,
and the tide of glorious victories, which have
80 recently cheered our hearts, SO soon to be
turned back 1t cannot be, it must not be-
and almost instinotiyely our prayers went up
to God that he would nerve our armies with
renewed courage and crown their labors with
yet another success Saturday morning, and
the asht is still raging-a desperate, bloody
dght Our brave men are being cut down
by land and water The enemy are still in
possession Of the Fort. and still our gallant
troops press on viii they be successful
Hope is still bnoyant, but fears will rise in
spite Of the efforts to choke them down
Saturday noon aud TO tidings. Saturday az
ternoon, and through rebel sources we are
told that the rebels are yictors by land and
water. Shall We believe them Mo- we
t0H not, it canHot be. Hope still deferred.
but not yet despondng. Saturday evening,
aud partial victory is ours. The tide is being
turned and we shall yet reap the reward Of
full and complete victory Hope bounds up
ward, fears begin to yield, and we experience
the joys Of positive belief The victory sure
ly is won, dear bought, but none the less
victory. Sunday noon, and still the battle
hangs. The victory is surely ours in the end,
bu, when will the glad tidings greet our wait
ing ears Monday morning, and no victory
yet At last the tardy wires assure us that
Fort Douelson has been captured" JOY in
expressible is ready to burst from every heart,
when we are told the report is not reliable
only IA street rumor." Fears again claim the
ascendant. but hope bids them down. Mon
day noon, and the rebels admit their loss
of the Fort, and our victory complete. Shall
we believe tbem' Gladly would we do so,
but until we are sure the victory's won, there
is no time for joy. Monday night, and the FIRST
fash from the wires announces full and COM
pete victory. Never was JOY so complete as
was given in the five words For, Dopelson
surrendered yesterday forenoon % The long
suspense is over; the victory is ours one af-
ter another the strong holds of the rebellion
are being crushed before the onward march
of our victorious armies let the people re-
joice, and God be praised.
But even our JOY is not unalloyed, for the
victory, though complete, is bought by the
hearts blood of--we know not how many
but-probably hundreds of our brave and gal
liant men. The sad tale is yet to be told
May God have mercy upon the widowed and
the fatherless.
~ In all directions the roads are but
succession "cahots," which renders travelling
anything but pleasant. A few days since