Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-03-04

y I'll eAtTeinity OF WHICH the present. COnultlOn
tof affairs happily affords no inimatiou.
The Fisht at Fort Donelson.
A correspondent cf the Richmond Dispatch
writing from Augusta, Georgia, under date of
Feb. 22nd, gives the following interesting parti-
culars of the fight at Fort Donelson as furnished
by participant in that battle:
sOurtroops numbered about eighteen thousand,
and were under the command OF Generals Floyd,
Pillow, Buckner, and Bnshroi R. Johnson
Most Of the regiments were from Tennessee and
Mississippi, but Virginia, Alabama, Texas and
Arkansas. also contributed their quota, and
swelled the dimensions of the army to the size /
| have named. Active hostilties commenced as
4 early as Tuesday morning, but were confined to
the cutpostS aud pickets battalion OF Missis-
| sippi cavalry, under command Of Colonel For
rest, that day encountered strong skir..ishing
| party of Federals, but finally succeeded in re-
| pulsng them with considerable loss. At night,
| the fires of the Federal camps plainly vis-
BILE, and at dusk long lines OF troops could be
discerned moving into position.
On Wednesday morning our artillery opened
FIRE upon the enemy, and both armies prepared
for serious work, nut nothing in the shape Of in
fantry encounters interrupted the cannonading,
which continued during the day. +
Thursday witnessed repetition of the events
; Of Wednesday. There was some fighting be-
tween the infantry and sharp-shooters OF both
armies that were engaged in picking off those
who exposed themselves to this species Of GER
tain death. The gunbs ats on this day came up
the river and opened vigorous fire on Fort
Donelson but after severe exchanging of shots
for several hours, fell back disabled. Taa8
u Friday the cannonadng was more terrible than
at any time during the week. Again the gun
, boats renewed their attack, and again they were
compelled TO retire, this time thoroughly nors .%
combat. The infantry also engaged, and the
! blaze of musketry was visible along our entire
=, lines. During the fight desperate charge was
, made by the Illinois regiments upon the Second
Kentucky and Tenth Tennessee, but they were
met almost hand to hand, and sent back bowling
to their entertainments, leaving frlghtful pro-
portion of their number dead and mangled upon
the field. The day closed without any practical
advantage to either party. We held our own
and the enemy maintained their position. The
loss was less thsn one hundred on our side, prln-
cipally from SHE'LL and that of the Federal severe
Saturday was the RubicCn OF Fort DonelSon
J The enemy had received strong relnforcements
during the week, and now they numbered, ac-
cordng to their own estimates, fifty thousand
/ men. Snow lay on the ground to the depth OF
, three inches, and cold binding sleet poured
necessarily in the faces Of orr soldiers. Still,
with all these odds, they faltered not. EARLY in
the day the order came from headquarters to
make vigorous attack on the right flank of the
Federal army, which, thirty-fve thousand strong,
was posted on the opposite hills, under command
} OF Gen Grant Not more than ten Thousand OF
of our men engaged in this movement, but such
: was the impetuoSity of their advance that the
enemy fed in confusion from their entrench-
mentS.
Charge after charge was made by our regi-
ments, and The ground was covered with the
slain. Three hundred prisoners, including sew
eral officers belonging to an Illinois regiment,
four batteries, and thirty-tive hundred stand OF
arms, were captured. The former are now in a
Confederate prison. The two latter may have
been retaken, but this fact is not yet Known
. Everywhere, in the early part of the day, our
flag was victorious.
The Federal commander finding that his right
had been turned. and that the day would be lost
but for some decisive effort, concentrated hi
troops in the afternoon on our right, and max ing
a sudden plunge, after long and desperate
| struggle redeemed his mornings less hy captur-
ing portion of our entertainments. The dead
lay piled up in heaps, their gore trickling in red
lines along the snow in every direction. Still
our troops fought on, contestIng inch by inch
{ the ground they were compelled to vacate. Al
nightfall the firing ceased, and at twelve O'Clock
Pillow telegraphed to Nashville: ssThe Cay il
ours we have repulsed the enemy with great
: loss to them and with considerable loss to our
selves. We want reinfOrcements." Reinforce
: ments were not forthcoming, however, and Sun
. day morning found the Federal army strength
!, ened by thirty thousand fresh men, encompass
, ,ng the place and completely surrounding oul
forces. The fight was renewed at five O'Clock
) A. M; but it being useless to contend against
8 such odds, the fort and army captulated to the
enemy their own terms.
Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner, fought like he.
roes. They were everywhere, animating theil
men, constantly under fire, and encouraging
them by their example and presence. As the
regiments moved on to the charge, Floyd would
rise in his strrups and shout: ssBe steady,
boys, and aim low-fear not, tie day will be
ours.'' e
The total number Of our killed and wounded
is estimated at from twenty five hundred to three
} thousand. That Of the Federals at from four to
II six thousand"
/ az Gen. Jos. r. Johnston has published q