Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-02-26
THE WAR NEWS.
DESPERATE BRAVERY or the TROOPS.
Details Of the Victory at Fort Donelson

CINCINNATI, Feb. lS.-1he following is
the account Of Saturdays fighting at
Fort Doaelson:
On Saturday morning the battle was re-
sumed with unusual vigor and determines
ton. The Sth, 18Th, Goth, and 3lst lllis
nois occupied position above the fort
They were about preparing little food,
when the rebels opened on them with a
fire Of musketry. The line of battle was
at once formed and the storm of leaden
hail returned, perceptibly thinning the
rebel ranks.
The rebels, from their advantageous po,
stion, showered upon our ranks most
murderous volleys of musketry, grape and
canister, killing and wounding our men
almost by companies at every round.
Yet every man stood his ground-brave-
ly, determnedly, without ainching. These
four regiments held then ground, dealing
death around them, dying and fighting
against appalling odds, and in the face of
every disadvantage.
The eighteenth regiment seems to have
resisted the seyerest storm. Against their
ranks the rebels directed their heaviest
fire. bu. instead Of falling back, they adj
vanced to the very face OF the enemy, and
there stood in the very jaws of death,
with scarcely any prospect that single
one Of them would escape
For three hours these regiments, num-
herring scarcely three thousand men, held
their ground against the whole Of the re
bel garrison.
At one time the Eighteenth, being par
TALLY ilanked, was exposed TO cross fire
Of both musketry and artillery, but our
right wing engaging the enemy'5 left, at
once relieved them.
At this critical moment Col. Lawler fell,
and Capt. Bush acting Lieut.. Col assum
cd command, but was soon wounded
Capt. Cruise was shot dead, and Capt, Law
le. was mortoIly wounded. Lieutenanls
Mausrord and Thompson were killed, and
Captains Dillon and Wilson, and L.euts.
Kelly and Scanlon wounded, 50 that the
daring Egyptian regiment stood before an
overwhelming foe almost without officers.
They fell IN heaps of dead and wounded.
Companies were bcreft of Captains and
Lieutenants, and Captains and Lieuten>
ants almost of Companies
The other three regiments dId their du-
,y nobly. Colonels OgIesby, Marsh aad
Logan dashed along the ranks, waving
their hats, and cheering their men on to
the conflict. "SuIier death, men" cried
Logan, "bu. disgrace never stand firm"
And well they needed him. Many fell
dead and wounded among the latter were
Logan and Lieut. Col. White.
Oglesby's and Marsh's regiments fought
desperately, losing like other regiments,
an undue proportion Of officers. Colonel
Oglesby displayed such coolDess and Cours
age rs to have elected the highest praise,
and served well in stimulating hls men
Never, perhaps, on the American conti'
nent, has more bloody battle been fought.
An officer whc participated ami was woun>
dcd in the fight, says the scene beggars
description. SO thickly was the battle
field strewn with the dead and wounded
tha, he could have traversed acres of it,
taking almost every STEP upoG PROSTATE
body.
The rebels fought with desperation, their
artilleris!s using their pieces with fearful
effect. On either side could be helrd the
voices OF those in command cheering on
their men. The four Illinois regiments
held their ground full :hree hours-reaf-
ly one.third had been killed and wounded
yet the balance stood firm. Finally, iein-
iorcements arrived and for an hour the
slaughter continued.
About o'clock our right wing turned
their left, and the rebels fell back into
their Notifications, and our flag was plan
ted upon the position occupied by their
left wing, and for a time the slaugh-
ter teaced.
Dresser's and Syartz's batteries we're
captured during the action, but the 18th
Illinois, with clubbed muskets, carried
Dresser's while the 3Istrecovered Swartzs
CHICAGO, Feb. IA special from Fort
Donelson, to the Times, says:
The forces engaged were about equal,
but the rebels had all the advantage of
position, being fortified or two immense
hills, with their fort near the river, on a
level piece Of ground. From the fort their
entertainments, rifle pits, abattis, &c. ex'
tended up the river behind the town of
Dover; their Gortitications on the land
size, back from the river, mounted nine
heavy gurs, The rebels were sure of sucr
cess, and in any other cause, against less
brave troops, they could easily have held
their position against hundred thousand
men.
The business of getting the different
brgades into position, and attaching new
arrivals to different commands, took IN
the greater part of Friday night At day.
light on Saturday the enemy opened on
,he Eighteenth Illinois, when all of Ogles,
by's brigade were soon engaged, which was
soon followed by Gen. Wallace's aud Gen.
McAuhurs brigades the latter acting un>
der Gen. McClernand.
As the position of the troops had been
changed during the night, and Gen. Grant
had been called away during the night TO
the gunboat movements, all the troops,
except those attached to NJ 'Qernand's di'
vision, acted without any thing except
General Orders.
At suggestion from Gen. M'Clernand
ien. Wallace sent up four regiments to
irpport his division, who were nearly out
81 ammunition. Fyom the commence
nsntof the fight until l0:o'clock the fight.
'ng was terrific. The troops on the right
we're disposed as follows;
Gen. M'Arthur's brigade, the 9th, 18th,