The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-03-06
From the Cor. of the n. Y. Tribune.
Incidents of the Battle Of Ft. DonelsOu.

Incidents of the Battle of Ft. DonelsOu.
THE MANNER OF FLoYD's ESCAPE. .
Surprise has often been expressed in
my hearing that Pillow and Floyd
should have been able to escape with
five thousand men, number of pieces
Of cannon, and supply of the best
arms. This will seem an easy task
when it is remembered that we had
no force above the Fort on the oppo.
site side of the river, and that steam.
ers were lying near Dover, and had
been conveying provisions to the
rebels for several days without fear of
molestation. All that Pillow and,
Floyd had to do, therefore, was to go
down to the boats, cross the -Cumber.
land, and 60 mp OIL the opposite side
as 'ar as Nashville. 1t was generally
supposed we bad troops and batteries
to defeat such movement, but We had
not; and that we had not, is great
mistake, for which some one is re-
sponsible Floyd, learn, carried
with him about ten of the best of the
forty guns taken from us at Manassas.
the remainder having fallen into our,
hands. 81 9. .rFaa IS iua i19
@ REBEL DESPERATION. isgm5o
Several of the rebels showed du-
ring the engagement recklcssness Of
life that proved their desperation. One
of them mounted the breastworks in
full view of our forces, and. ~}efied the
Id Yankees; but hardly had his
defiance passed his lips before he fell
pierced by score of bullets. ,eags3.
Another remained. outside of the
riie-pits after all his companions had
retreaied behind them, and fought
with his sword against half dozen of
the Unionists who had surrounded.
him, and were anxious to take him
several times To surrender, but he de-
! clared he would rather die, and die
he did on the point of a Union bavo-
net; but not before he had slain one
and wounded three of his adversaries.
One If the prisoners has since given
me the history of this desperate seces-
sionist. He had inherited large for
tune; married wife i'm Tennessee
squandered his means i'm riotous living
and dissipation separated from his
spouse; became reckless; Joined the
army and declared his intention to
live no longer than The first battle. He
redeemed his fatal promise, and closed
his wild career needless martyr to an,
unholy cause. j. ,raEso-s sdt
A third secessionist, a private in a
Mississippi company, left his COM
panions in arms, and, with a horrid
imprecation, rushed into the midst of
one of our regiments, his hand grasp,
ing his mnskct barrel, and aimed a
blow at an Indiana captain, but was
shot dead with revolver by his op-
ponent.o ah ii 'ad si.gof lfsise5s
UNION RECKLEssNEss OF LIFE.aiNos
Three members of the Eighth Illi-
nois rushed over the rife pits after the
enemy had retreated, and perished
fighting against thousand foes. .ia 2 y
On Saturday, young man, James
Hartley, who had lost brother the
previous day, swore to be revenged,y
and in one of the sorties by the rebels,
attacked six of them single handed;
killed three of them, and lost his own
! life. e 1ai.i41ei s.tf 3soQ4a -
Corporal Mooney, am Irishman, see.
ing that the staff of one of the reei-
mental flags was shot away, picked mp
the STATS and Stripes, and wrapping
them round his body, rushed over the
parapet of the outworkr, and, crying
:. Come on my brave boys," was blown
to pieces by shell. 1ai .oa .lp n8iYus
3 HAIR BREADTH ESCAPES ~ 1he
A Lieutenant Colonel in an Iowa
regiment, during the fierce contest of
Saturday afternoon, had nine bullets
put through his coat, and yet sustained
no injury. f te1 sEfs -9.2
Peter Morton of the Thirteenth Illi-
nois had the case of his watch, which
he wore in his upper vest pocket, nm
mediately over his heart, torn away
by canister shot, aud the watch still
continued to keep tirne. ssoiig-
The life of Reuben Davis, Of the
Kentucky Fifth, was saved by a silver
half dollar in his waistcoat pocket.
lie bad borrowed that amount of
companion some days before, and Of
tered to return it before going upon
the field but his companion told him
to keep the coin. as he might stand in
need Of ID before night. Tie had need
of il in his greatest need, for rifle
ball struck the coin in the center, and
destroyed the figure of Liberty, on its
face.