Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-17
Fort Donelson Reported Taken.
THE REPORT NOT CONFIRMED.
DESPERATE FIGHTING THERE.


capture of fort Donelson was to-day made
public. There was great slaughter on both
sides. The rebels at one time, captured one
of Gen. Grants batteries, but it was retaken
by our troops. The old flag now floats over
the fort
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16-CGirO Sunday after.
noon.-Commander Foote reached here at
twelve O'Clock last night on board the gNnboat
Conestoga. He assaulted fort Donelson Fri
day afternoon, with the gunboats st. Louis,
Louisville, Pttsburg, Corondelet, Tyler, and
Conestoga, after fighting little over an hour,
he withdrew. Fifty tour were killed and
wounded on our gunboats, pilots Riley and
Anton of the st. Louis being among the lat
ter. Commodore Foote while standing on the
pilot house of the ST. Louis, his flagship, was
slightly wounded. The St. Louis was hit
sixty one times Two gunboats were dis
abled. The Tyler and Conestoga remained
out of range OF the enemys guns. The line
OF battle was as follows: The St. Louis on
the right. next the Louisville, then the Pitts
burg, and the Caroudelet on the left.
The enemy's firing was very accurate.
They had three batteries-one near the water,
one fifty feet above this, and third fifty feet
above the second. The upper one mounted
four Is Founders. This one was held in re-
serve until our boats got within four hundred
yards of the fort. Our fire was directed prin-
cpaly at the mortar battery. One OF the en-
emys guns burst and a number were dis
the dead out of their trenches.
The gunboats all remained at the fort, ex-
cept the Conestoga. She left there yesterday
morning. A rifled gun on the Carondelet
burst, and killed six men. The rudder Of the
Pittsburg was shot away. The mortar boats
left here yesterday morning. The above
statements Of the fight were received from a
gentleman who was aboard the ST. Louis dur.
ing the engagement.
Ldter.-A gentleman who lett fort Donelson
yeserday afternoon, at o'clock, and reached
here this noon, says the fight had been going
on all day yesterday. The right wing OF the
enemy's Notifications were taken, and the
stars and stripes were floating over them. The
forces were breast to breast, and the fight was
to be renewed.
CAIRO, Feb. 16.:-The steamer Minnehaha
has arrived here from fort Donelson, having
left the fort at o'clock last evening, bringing
the military mail and dispatches, and also $50
wounded men TO the hospital at Paducah.
The fight commenced Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday the contest was desperate. The
Illinois eighteenth suffered severely, and the
Iowa seventh sustained considerable loss
Swartzs battery, which was taken by the enc
my, was recaptured by our men. Two colon
els were wounded and two killed. The loss
was heavy on both sides.
The upper fort was taken at o'clock,
Saturday afternoon, and the Union flag is now
floating over it. Our troops behaved with
great gallantry.
The gunboats ST. Louis, Louisville, and
Plttsburg were disabled. The Minneiaha met
the mortar boat at Paducah, going up.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16.-The dispatches re-
ceived at headquarters say that all the gun.
boats were pretty effectualy disabled, except
one. Commodore Foote was wounded twice,
but not fatally. The upper redoubt taken by
our troops commands Fort Donelson, and Gen.
Grant telegraphs that he would be able to cap.
ture that. fort today Sunday.
CHICAGO, Feb. 16-A special dispatch to
the Chicago Tribune, dated Cumberland
River, near fort Doneson, Feb. 15th," says ::
1.-The firing commenced at daybreak, and con-
tinued at intervals all day long. Up to four
o'clock no movement or assault by the land
forces had been made. Night before last an
attempt was made by the rebels TO take Tay
lor's battery of light artillery, but they were
repulsed by two regiments and driven back
beyond their entertainments. Our loss in
wounded is considerable, but not more than
three or four are dangerously wounded.
Six gunboats arrived yesterday and COM
menced an attack on the fort at two o'clock in
the afternoon The firing was very rapid and
evere. and lasted one hour and twenty min
utes, when our gunboats fell back. The four
iron clad boats went within three hundred
wards of the fort. All the rebel river guns
were either dsmounted or silenced The first
shot fired from the gunboat Louisville, dis
mounted the rebel l28pounder. The Louis
willie received filty.seven shots, two OF which
took effect, one striking tile starboard side OF
her deck and passing through the entire length
of the boat, killing three men and breaking
her tiler rope a short distance from the pilot
house. The rope was then managed by some
of the hands when a shell from the Tyler,
which lay some distance astern, burst over the
Louisville scattering the men at the tiller rope
and so much disabled her steering tackle that
the boat was compelled to drop astern. A
shot struck the Pittsburg in the bow, and
stove an immense hole in her, which caused
her to drop out of the action The leak, how
ever, has been stopped. A shot struck the
pot-house of the St. Louis, passing through
it, between the pilots legs, without injuring
him. All the boats were more or less in
iured, but none but the Louisville severely.
There are five killed and two wounded on the
Louisville The gunboats will not be IN
condition to renew the attack before tomorrow
morning.
In consequence of the height of the bluffs
on which the rebel Notifications are built, our
shots cannot have as much effect on them as
on those at fort Henry. 1t will therefore re-
auire much longer time to reduce this fort.
The rebels have raised the black flag II can
be seen flying from the bank short distance
above here.