The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-02-19
THE WAR NEWS.
The Battle at Fort DOnelson.
Three Days Fighting - Capture Of The Rigi
Wing ofthe Fort Com Foote'S Report.


Wing ofthe Fon-Com Foote'S Report.
u S. Flag Ship, near Fl. Doneson.
Via Paducah, Feb l5 1862
To Gideon WeIes, Sec. OF the Navy:
/ made an attack on Fort Doneson yes.
day at o'clock p m, with iron clad gun.
boats and wooden ones, and alter one
honr and quarter severe fshiing, the
latter part OF the dav within less than four
hundred yards fthe Fort, the wheel of one
vessel and the tller OF The Louisville were
shot away, rendering the two boats unman
ageable. They then driiied down The river
The two remaining boats were also greatly
damaged between wind and water This
vessel alone received SO shots, and The 9th.
ers about half the number each There were
81 killed and wounded in this attack, which
we have reason 10 suppose would, in fifteen
minutes more, could the action have con-
tinued have resulted in the capture of the
for bearing upon Us, as the enemy was
running from his batteries when the two
gun boats helplessly drifled down the river
from disabled steering apparatus, as the
relieving tackles could not steer the vessels
in the strong current. The fleeing enemy
returned 10 the river battery guns from which
they had been driven, and again holly pour
ed fire upon us. The enemy must have
brought over 20 guns 10 bear upon ouI gun
boats from the water battery and the main
fon on the hill, while we could only return
the fire with twelve boat guns from The four
boats. One rifled guu aboard The Caronde-
let burst during The action.
The officers and men in this holly cantes.
ted but unequal fight behaved with the
greatest gaantry and determination, all de
plorng the accident which rend cred two of
our guuboats helpless in the ma ROW river
and swift cnHent. On consultation with
Gen. Grant and my own officers-as my
services here, unit! we can repair damages
by bringing up competent force from Cal
TO 10 attack the fort are much less required
thauihey are al Cairo-l shall proceed 10
that place.
have scot the Tyler TO the Tennessee
river 10 render the railroad bridge impassa-
ble II A. FOOTE
Flag Officer Commanding Naval Force
Western DlVision
II aforis US pleasure this morning to an
nounce The most important victory achieved
since The war began. 1t is true, the news
comes through rebel sources but there can
be lille doubt OF its substantial correctness
They acknowledge the following facts -
The capture by the Burnside Expedition of
Roanoke Island, with lis three thousand
defenders together with all their artillery
and munitions OF war the complete de-
siructioG o. Comm modore Lynch's feet of
rebel gunboats The rebels estimate their
loss at 300 killed and 900 wounded, while
hey report the Federal loss to be ! 900
killed This is probably incorrect as they
have no means OF knowing the extent of
our disasters
In ALL The late battles the Union armies
have triumphed By sea and land in front
and rear, in Kentucky, in Tennessee, in
Alabama, in Virginia, in South Carolina
and now in North Carolina the foes OF the
nation have been defeated Our arm les
are preparing for still inrlher movements,
too. IN almost every direction and let the
conspirators beware of The ''ideas of
March
The war news has come thick and fast
this week, so far, and just as cheering as
il is plenty Our troops, have gained vic.
.ory upon victory The Donelson capture
is affair OF considerable interest as well
as much importance TO The Union cause
In lis capture Generals Johnson Bnckner
and Bushrod and fifteen thousand prisoners
OF lesser rank were taken FLOYD and Pll
low with some FIVE thousand men made
their escape. So lays report. The loss on
our side in the Fort Donelson affair is re-
porled 10 have teen four hundred killed
and eight hundred wounded. Three OF
our ColoEels were killed.