The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-03-01
THE BATTLE AT FORT DoNELsoN.
FULL PARTICULARS.

The fight at Fort Donelson, on the l 5th,
was bloody and desperate one. The right
wing of our forces was composed of the first
and second brigades, of Illinois. Gen. Nc
Clernand's division bore the brunt. The
enemy commenced the action by firing
some grape into the Goth and 3Ist Illinois,
which were encamped on the extreme right
of the first brigade. Col Oglesby, com
handing. Immediately drew mp in line in
the following order: The 18th or the ex-
IRENE right, 9th next, followed by the goth,
which supported the rigfS of Stewards bat
terry of light artillery. with the 31st on the
extreme left. All the Illinois regiments of
the second brigade, Col. Wallace command
ing, consisted of the 18th, Goth, 45th and
48th Illinois regiments, with McAllister's
am Taylor's batteries of light artillery and
four siege guns. The attacking force of
the enemy were about 10000 The posi-
ton of the ground was such that not more
than one of our regiments could operate at
the same time, while the rebels could bring
nearly their whole force to bear against US.
The first regiment to receive the rebels was
the 18th, which fought with desperate cour-
age until their ammunition was exhausted,
when they were forced to retire, with con-
! siderable loss. The officers and men were
replaced by the 9th, which fought with
like bravery, until they too were driven
back, after disbursing their ammunition,
and were in turn replaced by the 18th, which
also fell back in turn. Meanwhile. other
regiments were lending such feeble aid as
their positions would admit. Gen. Lew.
Wallace was then ordered to reinforce Me-
Clernand, and he sent two brigades of his
division from the center to the aid of the
3lst Illinois, Col. Logan, who fought like
veterans, and struggled to defend the
Schwartz battery uuder the most CALLING
fire, until all the horses of the battery, witr
the officers in charge of guns, were killed.
The Lieutenant Colonel, acting Major, and
seven Captains and a number of Lieuten
ants, were also killed; and the Colonel be-
ing nearly surrounded, Capt. McCook, who
had been left in command, drew what re-
manned of the regiment off the feld-not,
however, until their last round had been
fired, and they had commenced to drive
the rebels before them. The second brig
ade now came up, and took the place of the
retired one. They fought desperately, los
ing great number of killed and wounded;
when, with the assistance of portion of
Wallace's division, the 49th and 59th Ohio,
with Ia ylor's battery which was stationed
on hill near by, as the rebels came again
to the charge they opened fire on them, and
drove portion back into their intrench-
ments, while large portion still occupied
the ground they had gained. The object
of the rebels evidently was to cut their way
through our troops, in the afternoon. Gen.
Grant saw that something should be done
to restore confidence to our disheartened
troops, and ordered Gen. Smith to make an
as sault on the west wing of the enemy's
works. Gen. Smith rode along the line,
and ordered his men to prepare for a
charge, which caused shouts of Joy along
the whole line Immediately. Col. Lam
mans brigade-2d and 7Ih Iowa and 18th
and 25th lndiana-charged up to the enc
my's redoubt, driving the rebels before
them at the point of the bayonet, like
frightened geese. Gen. Smith behaved like
one inspired for nothing less than continual
victories. He could be seen riding along
the lines with his hat swinging on the top
of his sword, encouraging the men, regard
less of the deadly missiles flying around
him. The Colonel of the Cd Iowa was first
to mount the enemy s works, with his men
close behind him. The storming was COM
plete, and the troops had gained position
arms all night, prepared to follow up the
success IN the morning. After Gen. Smith
had gained position, Gen. Grant sent word
of his success to the right wing, and order
ed Gems. McClernand and Wallace to renew
their attack, when the 1st and Cd brigades,
which had been in the bloody affair in the
morning, with McClernand's brigade and
two brigades of Wallace's division, made a
fresh assault On the enemy, and reganed all
the ground previously lost, and pushed for
ward close to the left of the rebel forti6ca-
tons, and then lay on their arms, prepared
to act in concert with Gen. Smith on Sun
day morning. During the night contrac-
ton of lines was made for an early assault,
with bayonet, at daylight. An advance was
made, but when full light of day appeared,
white flags were seen in many places on the
enemy's works, and the Federal officers ap-
preached to a convenient spot, and were in
formed that the rebels had stacked their
arms; and they surrendered Sunday morn
ing. Buekner, commanding the rebels, sent
a dispatch to Gen. Grant requesting an
armistice till twelve o'clock, and the ap-
pointment of commissioners TO agree upon
terms of capitulation. Gen. Grant replied:
mo terms, except unconditional and i'm
mediate surrender, can be accepted. I
propose to move Immediately upon the
works" Buckner replied: 1.-The distribu-
ton of forces under my command, incident
to an unexpected change of commanders,
and the overwhelming force under YOUR