Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-17

each other at any moment. We have lost
two Lieutenant Colonels killed, one Of whom
is Lieutenant Colonel Smith, Of fine Forty
Eighth Illinois, and two COlOnels wounded.
The Elgth Illinois regiment fought like tigers,
and are badly cut up. Loss on both sides
pretty severe. More particulars in next dis
patch.
schwaIE' Battery, captured by the rebels
this morning, has been re-taken.
OA1Ro, Feb. le.
The steamer Minnehaha arrived here from
Fort Donelson, having left the Fort at five
o clock last evening, bringing a military
mail and dispatches, and $50 ofthe wounded
TO the hospital at Paducah. The fight COM
menced Thursday, and on Friday aud Sat
urdsy the contest was desperate. The 18th
Illinois suffered severely, and the 7th Iowa
suffered severe loss. Swsrtzs battery which
was captured by the enemy was retaken by
our men. Two Colonels were wounded and
two killed. The loss is heavy on both sides.
The upper fort was taken at four o'clock and
the Union flag now floats over it.
Our troops behaved with great gallantry.
The gunboats St. Louis, Louisville and
Pittsburgh we're disabled. The Minnehsha
met the morter boats at Psducsh going up.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16.
Dispatches received ct headquarters say
all the gunboats are pretty effectually dis
abled except one.
Commodore Foote was wounded twice but
not fatally.
The upper redoubt taken by our troops
command Fort Donelson.
Gen. Grant telegraphs that be would be
able to capture the fort to-day, (Sunday.)
A special 70 the Missouri Democrat, dated
Cairo, Sunday P. NJ, says Commodore Foete
reached here st u o'clock last night on board
a. nG nGQpnestoga.
y. With GSnnhoats St. Louis, Eo33,1asltlu 3 tlui Be-.
and after fighting little over an hour he
withdrew. FIfty-six men were killed and
wounded on the gunboats. Pilots Riley and
Hinton, Of the St. Louis, being among the
latter.
Com. Foote, while standing on the pilot
house Of the st. Louis, his flagship, was
slightly wounded. The st. Louis was hit 81
times. Two gunboats were disabled. The
Tyler and Connestogs remained out of range
Of the enemy's guns.
The line Of battle was as follows: The
st. Louis on the right, next the Louisville,
then the Pittsburgh, and the Oarondolet on
the LETT.
The enemys firing was very accurate
They had three batteries, one near the water,
ov,a forfvv Cat obo1a fbfo o1d a tb;,S Eft--
feet above the ssco9d. The upper one
mounted four ls.pOunders. This one was
held in reserve antil our boats got within
four hundred yards of the fort.
Our fire was directed principally at the
water battery. One of the enemy's guns
burst and number were dismounted. The
enemy could be seen carrying their dead out
Of the trenches. All the gunboats were left
up the Cumberland except the Oonestoga, and
she left there yesterday morning. A rifsd
gun on the Carondelet burst killing 6 men.
The rudder of the Pittsburgh was shot away.
The mortar boats left here yesterday Morn.
ing.
The above statement of the fight was re-
ceived from q gentleman who was aboard of
the st. Louis during the engagement.
4
Donelson yesterday afternoon at o'clock
and reached here this noon, ssys the tight
had been going on all day yesterday, and the
right wing of the enemy's notifications had
turned, and the Union flag was floating over
them. The forces were breast to breast and
the fight was to be resumed.
A Cairo special to the Democrat says Capt.
Wise, of the steamer Minnehaha, reports that
the enemy made a sortie from the fort at 10
o'clock yesterday morning, driving our forces
back three. quarters of mile, and captured
SchWartz's battery, and at one o'clock our
troops rallied, recaptured the battery, and
drove the rebels before them, and planted our
Gag on their outer Notifications.
A steamer from Evansville brings 8 report
that four Of our OolOnels were killed yester.
day afternoon, smong them Col. John A.
Logan, of Illinois. The names Of the ethers
are not ascertained.
A special to Democrat, dated in rear of
Fort Donelson, Friday P. NJ, says last night
was very severe on our troops, rain having
set in, which turned to snow. Il is freezing
to day, and cid citizens say they rarely have
such cold weather in this climate.
The more see of the Fort the more con-
vinced am that it can't be taken without
q terrible battle. Its rear seems almost i'm
The outer works and bsstions of
the fort are located on ridges $50 to $50 feet
high covered with dense timber and under
growth. Upon q similar range of hills out
side these our army is drawn up in line of
battle, completely encircling the enemy from
the Cumberland South of the fort to the
back water of stream Whicd tanks the
fort on the north.
Gen. Og.esby, who has the entrene right
last night pushed forward bis brigate to the
Cumberland river, and has planted battery
commanding the river which will efectually
prevent the arrival of reinforeemets In
fact we have them completely surrounded
and can complete the job at our leisure.
Aformidsble attempt was made last night
to take Tsylor's battery by ths enemy who
approached under cover of the darkness, bat
they were gallsntly rspulsed By the goth I'll.
skirmishing occurred during the
night, both forces eudeaEJring in the dark
ness to crawl in upon the other.
This morning it was discovered that the |
ensmy had placed logs on the top their
breastworks, leaving little space for them
to shoot through, and diminishing their
risk from the unerring aim of our sharp
shooters.
The casualties among cur artillery thus |
far Was very small. The loss Of the enemy,
as far a. can be ascertained, Is considerable. |
Yesterday afternoon, after the storminR party