The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-25
FoRr DoNELsoN, February l6(
VIA CAIRo, February IL.

summated on Sunday morning by the
unconditional surrender Of the rebels al
Fort Donelson, Tenn, to the Federal ar
my under Gen. Grant, after desperate
struggle of over three days and nights.
The forces were about equal. but the
rebels had all the advantage of position
being well fortified on two immense hills
with their tort near the river, on low
piece of ground. From the fort, their
intrenchments, rifle pits, and abslis ex.
tended up the river, behind the town OF
Dover. Their Notifications on the land
side, back from the river, were at least
four miles in length.
Their water battery was in the center oil
their Notifications where it came down to
the river. This battery mounted nine
guns. The rebels were at least $4,000
strong, commanded by Gems. Pillow.
Buckner, Floyd, and Bushrod Johnston,
and were sure of victory; and in any
other cause, and ptted against less brave
troops than those againt whom they con
tended, could have repealed force OF
one hunded thousand men. The North
west has done the business for the rebel
lion. 1t has fought the enemy even
handed on an unprotected field, whist
he was safely protected by earthworks.
1t has fought him at disadvantage and
forced him to yield Internationally No
Bull Run affair this.
The gunboals did not do the service
they did at Fort Henry, as the enemy,
lodged on high hills. had the advantage
over them, as we had no morlars. Three
boats were disabled soon after the open
ing OF the battle one of them badly,
having nine men killed.
AS it would require some days to re
pair. Gen. Grant decided not 10 wait, bu,
to attack the enemy with his land force
alone
Continue my synopsis Of daily events
from my last:
The gunboats, four in number, opened
on the enemy at 3 o'clock on Friday P.
NJ. with considerable effect. as the rebels
were driven in large numbers to the up.
per works. Some of the shot from The
gunboats took effect on our extreme right
killing one and wounding several Of our
men. Towards night the cannonading
suddenly stopped, as three of the boats
were disabled. One was badly hurt, hay.
ing nine men killed.
The day-Friday-being bad. nothing
was done except getting different brig
AIDES in position, and attaching new ar
rivals OF troops to different commands
which took up the greater portion OF tn,
night.
A, daylight on Saturday morning The
enemy opened on the Eighteenth Illinois
Col. Lawler, when all OF Ogesby's brig
AIDE was soon engaged. This was soon
followed by Wallace's and Macarthur,
brigades taking part, the latter acting
under Nc Clernan Is command.
AS the position of the troops had beer
changed on Friday night, and Genera
Grant being sent for during the nigh
from the gun boats, the movements OF al
hoops except those attached TO McCler
nand's divisions were conducted withou
anything but general orders.
AT the suggestion Of Gen. McClernand
Gen. Lew Wallace sent up four regi
ments to support his divisions, who were
nearly out of ammunition. The regi
ments sent up were the Seventeenth anc
Twenty iflh Kentucky, and Thirty frs
Indiana, the Forty fourth Indiana being
held back as a reserve.
From the commencement Of the batll,
in the morningsuntil O'Clock, the fight
ing WAS terrific.
The troops on the right were dispose,
as follows:
First-McArlhur's Brigade. consist
ing Of the Ninth, Twelfth AMI Forty frs
Illinois, having temporarily attached tn
Seventeenth and Nineteenth Illinois
Next came Oglesby's brigade, the Eighth
Eighteenth. Twenty ninth, Thirtieth AM
Thirty- first Illinois, ana Schwartz an,
Dresser's batteries. Next Wallces brig
ade, the Eleventh, Twentieth. Forty fiji
! and Forty-eighth Illinois, and Taylor
and McAllisler's batteries.
These three brigaIes composed Ne
Clernand's Division, and bore tie brun
of the battle. The enemy concentrate
his main force on our right, TO turn il
which was done by our men getting on
of ammunition and the confusion creates
in getting up reinforcements. Tie Di
vision retreated about halt mile.
AS soon as Netherlands Division
who had stood their ground so manful,
for three hours, retrealed TO procure am
munition, the enemy occupied the field.
AT this time Gen. Grant ordered Gen
Smith to move forward his Division an
storm the cneniy's works on our left
This order was obeyed with great alacri
~. and soon the cheers of our daring sol
derry were heard and the old flag dis
played from within the enemy's enlrench
menls.
General Grant then sent word to Gen
erals McClernand and Wallace that Gen
Smith was within the enemy's entrench
men,s, and ordering their forces TO NOV
forward and renew the attack on tn
right.
One Of Gen. Walace's brigades 9TH,
Eleventh Indiana, Eighth Missouri, ant
some Ohio regiments were rapid,
thrown in position. and Company A, Chi
cage Light Artillery. Lieut.. Wood il
command. planted in the road. As III,