Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-18

Yates prisoners aud gone % Nashville. beng
taken the night before tie surrender
he euemy's loss j. heavy. bun not 80 large -
ours, as they fought beulnd entertainments. We
should have taken them by stoFming on Saturday
II our ammunitsou had not given out in The
night
McClernand's division. 0glesbys. Waliaces
ana McArshur's brigAdes suffered terribly. They
were composed OF the sth, 9Th llth, 18Th, Eth,
29th. 30th, 3lst. 45fh. s9th and S9Ih Illinois
Gen. Lew. Wallace. with the litb IndiaDa and
eth Missouri and some Ohio troops. plrtici 7sted.
Taylor's, WIZARDS. McAlster's, Sckwartz's
and Dessers batteries we're in the fight from the
commencement
The enemy turned our right for half an hour,
bat our lost ground was more than regained.
Lantan's Brigade. of Smiths Division. was
first on the lower end of the enemy's works.
which was done by charge of bayonets and nine
tenths OF the rebels were ptted against our right
Our forces on the right we're ready all night 10
recommeRee the attack Ca SvUdAy nvning
They we're me; on their approach. Buckner hAv-
ing sent early in the morning dispatch 20 Gen.
Grant surreudering
The works os the fort extend some FIVE miles
the outside.
The rebels lost forty eight field pieces, sew
enteen heavy guns, rweaty thousand stand OF
arms, besides large quantity of eOmmissaFy
stores.
They are completely deuoralized and have no
confidence in their leaders, as they charge Pillow
and Floyd with deserving them
Our troops from the moment of the investment
of the fort on Wednesday, lay on their arms
night and day, half OF the time without tents, a
portion in heavy rain and snow.
private message this evening 60 the Sanitary
Committee from Cairo saws that 500 of our troops
were killed. 500 wounded and 100 missing at Fort
D0nels0n.
1 Il I. m.
ted the 10th SAYS:
The forces were about equal in numbers but
the rebels had al the advantage opposition being
well fortified on two immense hills with their fort
Near the river on the lower piece OF ground from
the fort their entrenehm ents rifle pits and abbates
extended mp the river behind the town of Dover
Their Notifications Oh the land side back from
the river at least four miles in length
Their water battery WAS in the center OF the for
tfcations where il came down TO the river and
mounted nine heavy guns.
The rebels we're sure OF success; in any other
cause against less brave troops they could easily
have held the position against 100 900.
The business OF getting different brigades in
position. attaching new arrivals % different com
nlards, took up the greater portion of Friday
night
On the morning of Saturday the enemy opened
on the 18th Illinois when all of Oglesby' brigade
soon engaged, which was soon followed By Wal
lace's and McArthur's brisades, the latter acting
under McClernaud.
As the position of the troops had been changed
during the night, and General Grant had been
called away during the evening To the gulboats.
the movements OF all troops except McClernand's
division acted without ANYTHING except general
orders.
AT suggestion from General McCleruand Gen
eral Wallace sent up four regiments TO support
his division, who we're nearly out of ammunition.
From the COMMENCEMENT unit ten o'clock tire
fighting was terrific.
The Troops on the right were dispersed as fol
lows: rrlr5f
McArthur's brigade--9th. 18th, 4lst. 18th and
18th Illinois; next Oglesbv's bricade-sth 18Th
29th 3Oth, 3lst Illinois, Scwartzs and Dresson' 5
batteries; next Wallace's brigade-llth. Doth.
45th and 18th. These three brgiades composed
/ Netherlands division and bore the brunt of the
battle.
1t was found the enemy were concentrating
their maiu force to turn right. which was
done bv our men getting out of ammunition and
con usOn in getting up achievements, retreating
about half mile. As soon as this division. which
had stood their ground manfully for three hours,
had retreated. the enemy occupied the field, when
Gen. Grant ordered Gen Smith to move forward
/ his division and storm the enemy S works on the
/ left. This order obeyed with great aacrity
Cheers Of the soldiery heard and the old
flag displayed from within the enemy's intreneh-
ments.
Gen. Grant sent word to McClernand and Wal
lace that Gen. Smith was within the enemy's in
trenchments, and ordered their forces to move
forward and renew the attack on the right.
Wallace Brigade. the lth Indiana, 9Th Mis-
souri,, and some Ohio regiments, were rapidly
thrown IN position, and Co A Chicago Light Ar
tillery planted in the road. As the rebels. sup
posing We were on the retreat, came crawling out
of the woods into the road, the Chicago boys
poured hail storm of grape and caEnister into
their ranks, slaughtering dozens of them
simultaneously with this the infantry com
menced firing at will and the rebels went pell
nell back into their works, our men advancing
and taking possession of the ground last occu-
pied.
Fresh troops who had not been in action were
thrown forward, and the shades OF night drew
on were in strong position ready to participate in
a simultaneous attack to be made Sunday morn
ing.
Walace's and McArthur's brigade did the
hardest fighting and suffered terribly. They
would undoubtedly have held their first position
but for failure of ammunition. Until ordered to
storm the ammunition wagons we're some dis
lance back of the hill. preventing their being
moved rapidly, sending many of our best officers
and men to long homes.
Hardly man went the field but did not
discover some comrade who had fallen during Sat
urday
A construction of all our lines made for
simultaneous assault from every point and ORDER
were given by Gen. Grant to take the enemy al
the point of the bayonet. On tile extreme rieh
at daylight an advance WAS made and when fun
light OF day broke forth white fags were hung in
manv places on the enemy's works
The following pthy correspondence has pass
ed between the commanders:
HEApou.R FoRr DoSELsoNl
February l6, 1862.
SIR: In consideration OF all the circumstance
governing the present situation Of affairs az Thu
station | propose to the commanding officer o.
the Federal forces the appointment OF commits
sioners 10 agree upon terms OF capItuIation o
forces nj this post under my command. ! sug
gest an armstice till two ?. VI. to-day.
am. respectfully. your servant.