Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-12
From BURROWS Battery.
FoRf DoSyLsoS, TENS.,
Feb. %. 1862.

/ Feb. Z3f tcOz-
Chronicle Fiends:-Long ere this reache
you full details of the tremendI Iol;s con
fict here, that had its ending one wech
ago to-day, will have been laid before yo,lI
readers by abler pens than mine.
Contining myself merely to matters OF
fact and observation pertaining to the
time intervening since the battle, would
say that having assurances from military
authorities at Cairo and Paducah, that the
contest would in all probability continue
a week, our Battery proceeded on their
way in great elation Of spirits at the great
probability of becoming participants in
what was felt would be the crowning tri.
umph of the war. We were not unde-
ceiyed till on steaming up the Cunlber-
land, last Monday, we met and passed FIVE
STEAMBOATS,, all laden heavily with Seces-
sion prisoners, numbering, as was stated
by Steamboatmen, at least fifteen hundred
prisoners to each boat. exclusive of the
companies of guards who had them in
charge.
On arriving at Dover, the site of Fort
Donelson, the river bank presented most
animated appearance, being apparently as
thickly lined with people as the banks of
the Mahoning at a Fourth of July Fire
works. Several thousand of these were
''Secesh, ranged in two lines, and under
guard, while every hilltop was dotted with
the white tents of Union soldiery. Fully
dozen boats lay putting at the landing,
on which the Secession prisoners were be-
ing marched by hundreds. Generally
they presented shabby appearance, be-
ing miserably clad, and provided for, and
apparently of a low order of people. There
seemed to be no great uniformity in dress
save in the pants, which were of some kind
of domestic cloth, usually of a snuff color.
Some of the prisoners stated that this
clothing was all they had yet received for
their services.
A boat to which we were moored along
side, was used as hospital for the wound
ed who were still being brought in from
the field, as well as from the residences
on shore that were temporarily used as
hospitals
With number Of our men went on
shore and lent hand in carrying fully |
one hundred wounded aboard the boat
The state-rooms and cabin floor were speed !
lily filed, and even the guards and boiler !
deck. Their wounds were of all Clescrir,.
tions. Legs and arms had been shot s,,vav
from some, while others had sti,I1 more
dangerous woundsin the bowel. head and
breast, though far less frigb. .ful in appear
ance. The worst LOOKING wound / saw
was that of q rebel iSho had been shot
through both eyes. Another, a Union |
man, had the Shape of his whole counte-
nance changed by shot in the jaw, which |
had thrown it out of its place, while the |
lips, whose paralyzed muscles !
refdsed their duty, swollen almost to burst /
ing, with the added pangs of fever and |
thirst, family artieulated Doctor. :" DOC
tor" Thank God ~ l could not help
mentally calculating, while gazing upon
him with moistened eyes. that your
friends are not here to behold your suffer-
lngs, as | do now" One other had eight /
wounds, yet, strange to relate, the physi-
cian said he would certainly recover, and
nstanced the recovery of a German, who
had received ten wounds at the battle of
springfield. Two members of the 10Th
Tennessee, father and son, lay side by
'ide. They were TennesseGuns. and claim
I'd to be Union neil who had been forced
nto the service. They seemedwen pleas
ID at being in our hands, and stated that
everal Union men who had declared their
Intention not to fire against our troops,
we're tied to trees and shot, as terrible ex-
implies. !
There is so much yet to speak of that {
must not dwell longer on this portion of
ny letter. Shortly after daylight Tues
lay morning. l was up and vending my
ray to the field of strife, The earth
Torks passed on me way, showed an in
Tedible amount of labor, and were most
ormidable in their defensive nature and ,
xtent, enclosing, it is said, three thou !
and acres, and passing entirely round the :
own of Dover. The breastworks extend Z
d around the sides of the hills encircling
lover, while the more elevated portions a
'ere occupied by batteries commanding 4
very avenue of approach, firing above =
ne heads of those engaged at the breast .
'orkS, Grabbing them to occupy every +
oint without any interruption to their 4
ork. Outside, for several rods, brush r
ad been cut and filed in great quantities h
18th the points outwards, while for FIVE E
undred yards, the land had been cleared a
} expose any besieging, or storming par y
J, to the combined fire of musketry and "
annen. a
Contrary to all expectations, the hard =
- tOOh PAaCc q AuiA hdAA 4lilc Out q
de the works, in dense growth of tim h
er, on our right wing, where the Illinois +
,ginent fought so well. and suffered so a
'rribly. Here the rebels, driven to des- !,
sratiop by the mereiless shelling Of their =
rtress, had yainly attempted to break
lr lines, and open way for general
cape: They fought desperately, and
Terything that marks the spot, bears II
ute, yet eloquent attestatiou Of thef n
rrible earnestness of the conflict. InI n
he spot OF about an acre in extent, there o.
scarcely sapling that is not splintered u
! slivered by the flying balls, and in u
any cases cut down BY the oft repeated NJ
lots. In one, tho size of my wrist, ] re
,unted the marks Of dozen balls, and to
eked up that many without moving OF