The New York herald., 1862-02-17
THE SIEGE OF FORT DONELSON

Details OF Three Days Despe-
rate Fighting.
Heavy Loss in Killed and Wounded
on Both Sides.
Terrific Fire of the Enemy on
the Union Gunboats.
MB MOTILLA DISABLED In THE CONFLICT.
COMMODORE FOOTE TWICE WOUNDED.
Gallant Conduct of the
Soldiers and Sailors.
DIpERATE COURAGE OF THE REBELS
A Union Battery Lost ana
Retaken.
The Upper Fort Of the Enemy Captured
and the Triumph Of the Union
Forces Rendered Certain.
Names Of Some Of the Heroes in
the Fight.
Sketches Of the Union Generals and
Naval Commanders.
Co.. &c.. &c.
The attack on Fort Doneleon commenced at haltpast
O'Clock Thursday morning. February Is, by the
hid forces under Generals Grant and McClenand
eoous forty thousand strong .-...
ne rebels gave battle from their intsnchments but
they driven IN after severe fighting and consdera-
BE 10 On both sides. Our troops took two Of the
snsny's battsries outside tho FORT and held them.
Only - gunboat, the carondslst, attacked the fort
Gus river 'front.'.
The lighting continued until sisia O'Clock at night.
Eight thousand troops and nvs sunboats arrived the
Same Might " reinforce The Unionists.
Second Day.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IA.
senoDoAs FooTE's OFFICIAL REPoR3 no TIE
sEcRETARy OF THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1869.
ne following despatch was this morning received at
the Navy Department from Flag Officer Foote:-
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP ST. Louls,
N1AR FoRT DoNls0N, via PADrCAH, Feb. 16, 1862.
10 Hon GIDEON wnlzs, Secretary Of the Navy
Imads sttaek Fort Donslson yesterday a. three
O'Clock P. NJ with four iron clad gunboats and two
wooden ones and after hour and quarter severe
fighting the latter part Of the day within less than
hundred yards Of the fort the wheel Of this vessel and
the tier Of the Louisville shot away rendering
river. The two remsnng boats were also greatly da
magsd between wind and water. This vessel alone re-
csvsd fifty shots, and the others about half that
number each.
There fifty four killed and wounded In this attack,
which have reason 10 suppose would, in fifteen mi.
uutes MORE could the action have been continued have
resulted in the capture Of the fort bearing upon u.s.
gunboats drsd helpessy down the river from disabled
steering apparatus, the relieving tackles could not
steer the vessels in the strong current.
whsn the fleeing enemy returned 70 the river
battery guns, from which they had been driven,
thsy again hotly poured IRE upon The enemy
must have brought twenty guns to bear upon our
boats from the water battery and the main fort upon the
hll while We only could return the nrs with twelve
boat guns from the four boats
One rnsd gun, aboard the CArondsls burst during the
action.
The ofncsrs and men In this hotly contested,
but unequal nght, behaved with the greatest
ganantry md determination, oil dsploring the
accident which rendered two Of our gunboats sud.
denly helpless in the river and swYs current.
On consultation with General Grant and my own oh.
my services here until repair damages,
by bringing up competent force from Cairo to attack
the fort much less required than they 81 Cairo
] shall proceed TO that place.
have sent the Tyler TO the Tennessee render
the railroad bridge impossible. A. II. FooTE,
Flag Ocsr commanding Naval Force Of Western Division
The following 10 . special despatch 10 the Missouri
Democat-
CAIRO, Feb. 16-P. NJ
Commodore Foote reached here At twelve O'Clock las.
night board the gunboas cones,ca He stormed Fort
Doneson Friday afternoon with the ganboa,s 81, Louis