Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-03-06


The bridge over Rock liver fell with the train killing
Cant jobs W. Morgan dashed into Nashville Monday
and captured twenty five Federas
THE BATTLES IT FORT DON ELsON '-GEN PIL-
LOWS RE PORT!
MEMPHIS, February 25 1862.
ED1TeRs APPEAL There is SO much anxiety iet
by the country much nisapp eheDsion IN the pubic
mind as TO the results Of the battles fought at Fort
DOnelson and SO much excitement among the frierds
and relatives of those SURRENDERED that deem proper
lay before the public my official report OF the several
conflicts This | am aware IS irregular and IN viola
ton of the usages of the governmn Mt, but 1el That the
extraordinary circumstances of the case justify de-
parture usage lar to publish the report, not
doubling but that the government will approve OF the
motive which induces its publication.
GID. j. PuLow, Brigadier-GeneraI
COLUMBIA. Tenn, February IS, 1852.
Capt. Clarance Derrick Assistant AdjutansGen>ra'
coed to Font Doneson take command Of that post
On the 9th inst. arrived at that place. In deIa ing
Of the forces under command at Fort Done
son. it proper state the eonGion Of that work. and
of the constituting its garrison When arrived
too weak to force heavy artillery. found
ennch cGlumbad and thly-t~o Pound rifle gun had not
been mounted Deep gloom was hanging over the COM
mand troops ereaty depressed snd deuora
zed by the attending the surrender OF Fort
Henry the retiring from that place Ny fist
attention given the necessity OF streng kenlng this
and moun the TIVE heavy guns, and to tho CON
battery. impaired to the work, all the energy which it
possible to do abOring day and night with the Whole
artieIists and those that there not well i'll
in the Of iher TO provd= for this want
placed the artillery companies under active course OF in
the of their guns detailed Capt Ross
company Of arIersts the command Of of
the river batteries. These heavy guns being mounted and
provision working them, and proper supply Of
ammunition having been procured by orders from Nash
vile, felt myself prepared the effect Of the fire ct
the heavy metal against the enepys sunboats though the
work was in need Of more heavy pieces
The armament of the batteries consisted Of eight 80
pc der hres 30 pound carronades, one 0iGch coumbi
adj and rifle gun of 32pound caber The selection of
command of the river favorable, the site
manded by the heights above below the
by continuous sc Of hills al around the work to it's
feld-work of very contracted dimensions had teen
feIwork commanded by the hills already referred to,
and lay open fire of artillery from every direction
of artillery from these heights line Of defense works
consisting Of rife pits aud abats for infantry detached
our right but continuous Oh cur e with defenses for
light artillery laid off by Maj. Gmer-Engjneer Of
Gen. A. Johnstons staff but duty with at the post
which artillery could reach battery and inner field work
epveIopng the inner work aad the town Of Dover where
were in deposit.
These works pushed with the utmost possible energy,
though nearly when Brig Gen Floyd. my officer,
reached that station. The works laid of with juds
ment and skill by Maj Gmer we'll executed, and de-
signed for the defense of the CT the work. the only
election being the length OF the ne which, however,
|
ne and the inadequacy of the force for its Defence
of embarrassment throughout the struggle which
subsequently ensued in the defense OF the position.
had placed Brig Gen. Buckner in command of the right
wing and Brig Gen johnson in command Of the left, BY
extraordinary efforts had barely the works in de-
fensbIe condition when the enemy made advance in
force around and against the entire lice of
THE BATTLE OF THE TRENCHES.
The first assault commenced by the erenys artillery
against the OF lett wing, which promptly
several hours OF firing between the ery of the
armies the enemys Infantry advanced the conflict all
from end of the line to the Other fer several hours when
at last the enemy maje vigorous assault against the right
manded By Cot Heiman, and defended by his brigade
ssng Of the 10Th Tennessee, under command Of Lieut.
Col ScC,,yCck, Col VOORHEES, Tennessee, Col Hughes
Alabama. and CO.. Heads Tennessee regiments volun-
teers, and Capt. Maueys field battery.
This suit vigorously made, and the position
vigorously defended elted i'll the repue of the
my here ard every whore around the line The result of
the days work pretty well tested the strength Of de-
ensve line and established beyond question: the ganntry
CT the entire commend all of whom 1ght well at every
portion Of the line The loss sustained by forces in
this was Dot large our men being mostly IN
der the shelter OF the rifle PITS but nevertheless, had
quite number killed end wounded but owing the
nued lighting when fooVeo was impossible to get any
official report Of tie Casualties of the day. ON the
day battery the river engaged with Of the
enemy gunboats which occHsoEed quite lively cannon
adrg or more than hou in which the gallant Captain
Dixon, OF the Fngne"r corps, was killed Instantly at the
battery This officer he'd besn dty for months at
the post and had shewd great energy and presssonai
skill; and by his gallant bearing that occasion, while
directing the operations 81 the day under my 9Ede'E hcd
justly eaned for himself high distinction His dejth was
barrassment in after operations.
On the 18th we had gu et but the SMOKE of
large number OF gunboat and steamboats, at short distance
below We also received siabe information of tie arrival
OF large number OF fresh troops, greatly increasing the
strepg the ehezys forces, alrsady said be from
10000 to 10000 strong.
THE BATTLE WITH THE GUHBoATs.
On the 18th these r9nfo advancing to
their position in the line OF investment and while this
being DONE six OF the e"euys Ton-ca+ed gunboas
seen advancing up the river five of which abreast
and line of battle AID the sixth distance the
When the Runbeas arrived within mile ana hall OF the
fort they opeHed fire the batteries Ny orders to the
Ose!s Capts Shutter aud Stankovitch who commanded
the lower battery OF eight guns and Capt Ross the upper
battery Of four guns, were to hold heir fire until the
enemys GuubOats should come within point blank range.
This they did though the ordeal of holding their fire while
the enemy shot and shell fell thick ind their position,
restraint upon their patriotic impulses But
nevertheless, batteries made till the gun
boats got within guns Our line O
batteries then opened fire. The guns of both parties
well served The enemy constantly advancing delivering
direct fire against batteries from his line of five gun
boats while the sixth boat moving the kept the
ar filled With shells, which fell thick and close all
the position OF batteries The fight continued the enemy
steadily advancing slowly the river and the shot and
shell from fifteen heavy rsd tearing parapets
and punging deep ins the earth around and our
batteries tor nearly TIVE hours and until his boats had
reached within the distance of hundred and fifty yards
our batteries. Having in such close conflict, could
distinctly tbs effects Of shot upon his iren-cased
boats. We had gwen two or thrse wei-drected shots
from heavy Of his boats when she instant
shrunk back AID dritted helpless below the line Several
shot struck another boat tearing her making
lightning, when the two fell back Then third received
several shocks making her metal ring and tmbers crack
when the whole line gave way and fell rapidly back from
fire until they PASSED of range. Thus ended the
first and close conflict of heavy guns and tAe
enemys gunboas testing their strength and the of
heavy gus resist hem. The shot from 80 pound
guns Oduced but little effect they struck snd rebound
ed, apparently doing but little damage: but am satisfied
from close observation that the tbers of the framework
did not and could not Withstand the shock from the 10 inch
columbiad or 32pound f7d guns These gunboats
renewed the attack learn from citizens living on the
SINK.