Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-15
A GREAT BATTLE GOING ON AT
FORT DOEELSON.
The Fort Invested by $4,000
Federal Troops.

CHICAGO, Feb. 14-Capt Willard of the
Chicago Light Artillery left Fort Henry day
before yesterday at half past ten o'clock, and
reached this city to day. From him we learn
that the artillery left Fort Henry for Fort Don.
elson between three and four o'clock on the
morning OF the 18th, with six regiments OF in
fantry. Gen. Grant and staff and body guard
left at ten o'clock the same morning. The
rear guard left at two P NJ. The whole force
was 10000 men, with twenty seven pieces of
light artillery
AT O'Clock on the morning of the same
day, eleven regiments left Paducah under con.
voy of the gunboats to go up the Cumberland
River, making the whole force over $4,000
men. The gunboats expected to reach fort
Donelson at Z o'clock yesterday. 1t was de-
force yesterday afternoon.
CHICAGO, Feb. IA, Evening.-A special,
dated scamp on the field near fort Donelson,
Feb 10, u 3d." says :-"Fort Donelsons is IN
from right to left, and from north to south,
nearly surrounding the fort. A heavy can
nonading and skirmishing have been going on
since half past o'clock this morning, but ow-
ing to the extent of our line of action, but lit
tie can be learned of the result. l hear, how
ever, that the captain of Co. /, fifth Illinois
regiment, has been killed.
Gen. Netherlands division is operating on
the right wing AMI Gen. Smiths on the left.
We have had but one gunb0at to play upon
the fort until just within the last half hour,
since when the other gunboats have been
firing on the fort. The force estimated to be
within the breastworks, from the best informa-
ton, is about Is, 900. No rebel reintorcements
can arrive, as all communication is cut off.
1t is now thought that their LETT redoubt has
fallen into our hands. All the officers are
acting with great valor, exhibiting a fearless
ness highly creditable to our western army.
Gen. Grant and staff have been riding along
the lines all the morning, regardless of the
grapeshot that is being showered in every
direction.
FEB. 13, 8 p. M.-The canonading and Skin
mishing has continued bravely all day, but
has been lately discontinued. considerable
number have been wounded on both sides.
The 25th Indiana rushed boldly up to the en-.
tranchments, and had during the day forty
Of their men wounded,-all slightly The
18th Illinois and 7th Iowa, who have been close
to the enemy's fire, have lost some men.
Among the killed is Capt. Warde of Co. |,
9TH Illinois, and Col. Morrison of the 49th Il
linois is wounded.
Beyers' sharpshooters have done good SER
vice. They have kept several of the enemy 3
guns idle by picking off the cannoners as
soon as they appear at the guns. Capt Biernl
with company Of cavalry went around to the
left bank OF the river, this afternoon, and re-
ports that the gunboat Caiondoet received a
ten inch bail through her casemate which
wounded eight men but did not injure the
boat materially. Capt Walker OF The Caron,
dolet says, lie has dismOunted three of the
rebels river guns. The other gunboats had
not arrived up to T. M
| The rebels rifle shots and grape have been
| flying thick and fast about here all day. Some
six shots struck around Gen. Grant and staff,
this afternoon, while they were riding along
the lines. One bullet hit one of the horses OF
the body guard near by. The fort will be
stormed in two days if not surrendered before
| that time. Our men have driven back the en-
| envy in every instance. Gems. Pillow, Eloyd
| Johnston, and Buckner, are said to be here
| One company has been within seventy five
| yards Of the enemy's entertainments.
CAIRO, Feb. IA fight at fort Donelson
hogan at 8 A NJ. yesterday and during the day
| the rebels were driven out of the fort three
times, and forced back again by Gen. Grant
| The gunboat Carondelet had been struck but
twice up to noon. A battery of five pieces
| opened on her during herapproach to the fort
| The steamer Alps has arrived here with the
wounded of the Carondelet. Some of them
are seriously hurt by splnters. The Alps met
| Commodore Foote thirty miles below Donel
|
| Tyler, st. Louis, and Pittsburgh, and towed
| the two latter within twenty five miles OF the
| fort, where she left them at three o'clock this
| morning
| Up to last night, our loss was about 20
killed and $50 wounded. The right wing OF
our army rested within sixty yards OF one re
| bel redoubt the enemy having been driven
one mile Co. G, of Berges sharpshooters,
| Capt Gutter, got within seventy five yards of
the rebel battery, and completely silenced it,
| during the entire afternoon, by killing every
man who attempted TO work the guns.
a desperate assault was made on one of
| the redoubts, by the seventeenth and forty.
| ninth Illinois, under Col. Morrison. They
made two gallant charges, getting close to
the enemy's breastworks, but were obliged to
retire in both instances, under a heavy cross
fire of artillery and infantry. Both regiments
suffered considerably.
Col. Morrison was severely wounded while
very near the rampsrls Great quantities of
brush had been piled before the breastwork,
which it was impossible to penetrate. The
loss to both was about one hundred killed and
= wounded.
A heavy rain set in TONIGHT which will try
our men severely, they having no tents and in
many cases owing to their position not being
able to build fires. Col. Aglesby says we
came here to take that fort and we don't in