The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-02-26

advancing. The enemy, either not aware Al
the time OF the vicinity Of the force, or wish.
ing il TO advance further, refrained from
opening, and the General managed % With
draw his men without suffering anything
worse than bad scare. II the battery had
given them the contents OF their guns, tho
fire must have decimated the entire brigade
Some Few guns were discharged by our meu
in the confusion Of the moment, and the horse
ofa certain chaplain became frightened and
began fight which bid fair to land the non.
cOmbatant plump over the batteries. A lew
agonizing "whoas'' and still more emphatic
pulls, however, checked the rebellious ten
denotes OF the beast, and the parsoD, noticed
eschewed horses ever after.
OPERATIONS OF BIRGE's sHARPsHooTERs.
In the meantime Birge's sharpshooters
were doing good execution both to the right
and left OF this position. In squads of skir-
mishers they crawled up the ravines Of the
ridge on which the batteries and the rifle pits
OF the enemy were located. and lying con-
cealed behind stumps and logs, woe to the
unwary rebel who dared to show his head
above the intrenchments. The continual
crack OF the Dimmock rifle could be heard
rom the ravines all day, at last became q
perfect terror to the enemy. Lying in this
position, these men for halt day completely
silenced tie battery which covered the road
over which the Seven had advanced in the
morning. In vain attempt after attempt was
made to man the guns, bnt hardly had the
gunners grasped their swabs ere score oil
bullets would drop them in their tracks,
The enemy were not without their sharp.
shooters, foo, who would in turn attempt q
response, but so vigilant were the Birges,
that but few Of theii bullets did much harm.
have heard but Of eight or ten casualties in
the entire regiment.
Thus passed Thursday morning Gen.
McClernand's gradual closing in toward the
river on the right, and Gen. Smith slowly
and surely completing his line OF circumval-
lation on the left.
sToRMiNG THE ENEMY's BEDoUBTs ON THE
RIGHT.
In the afternoon Gen. McClernand deter
mined to make formidable assault OF a re
doubt of the enemy fronting about the center
Of his right wing. The redoubt was about
the only one which could be distinctly seen
by us, owing to the timber and underground.
The batteries OF this redoubt had got a very
perfect range here, and gave our troops con-
siderable uneasiness, by blazing away at them
whenever they passed over the brow OF the
hill. Three regiments were detailed TOR the
work. The advance was most beautiful
one. With skirmishers advanced in front,
the three regiments swept down the hill,
over kpowl, down ravine, and up tn }
high hill on which the redoubt was situated,
some $50 or 800 feet in hight, covered with
brush and stumps, all the time receiving a
CALLING fire OF grape, she'll and musketry,
with precision which would have done them
credit on the parade ground. The breast
works were nearly reached, when Col Nor.
rison, who was gallantly leading on his men,
was struck by musket ball. The captain
OF the company on his right also fell, and the
Forty Ninth fell into some confusion, but
unappalled, the Seventeenth still gallantly
pressed forward and penetrated even to the
very foot Of the works. But it was not in
the power ofman to scale the abattis before
them. Brush piled upon brush, with sharp
points fronting them everywhere, met them
wherever they turned, and so, af'er few in
terchanges Of musketry with the swarming
regiments which had been concentrated here
the order for retiring was given. 1t was
done in good order by filing off to the left
and obiquing into the woods below; but
many gallant soldier was left behind un
derneath the intrenchments they had vainly
sought to mount They were not, however,
destined to die unavenged Scarcely had our
retiring columns get out OF range ere Tay-
lor's Chicago Battery opened on the swarm
ing rebel masses with shell and shrapnel
with fearful effect. Every gun was aimed b.
the captain himself and every one did honor
to his craftsmanship.
THE FLEET.
During the day much uneasness was felt
as to the whereabouts of the gunboat fleet.
1t was, therefore, with no little qualification
that information was at last received about
noon on Thursday, that the ovant co,r7ios OF
the feet. the Carondolet. Lieut.. Walker, had
arrived below the fort. In the afternoon the
report Of her guns guns was received with
cheer upon cheer by the troops encircling the
beleaguered iort.
Lieut.. Walkers operations this afternoon,
although partaking more of the nature OF a
reconnaissance, we're considered by the rebel
officers, as have since ascertained, as one oi
the most formidable attacks they had to en-
counter. Hidden behind jutting promon-
tory of the river bank, the Carondolet itseli
secure from the heavier shots OF the colum
biads of the fort, hurled shell upon shell into
the water batteries of the fortifcations.--
The commander Of these batteries has recent
ly informed me that the fire of the Carondo,
let did more actual damage to his guns than
the heavy bombordment following the sue
ceeding day. rs.
THURSDAY NIGHT.
The night OF Thursday will long be re-
membered by the troops surrounding Donel
son. The weather, which for the two pre-
vious days had been so mild and genial, to-
ward the close Of the afternoon became chill
ly and lowering. About six O'Clock heavy
rain set in. During the warmth OF the day
before, when momentarily expecting to meet
the enemy, whole regiments had cast aside
their overcoats and blankets, and without
tents, and, in great majority Of cases, occu-
pying positions rendering fire sure mark
for the enemy's batteries. with nothing to
eat but cold rations, their condition was de-
plorable indeed.
To add to their discomfort, when thorough
ly saturated with rain, a peltipg Snow storm
sctin, continuing all night. As can be i'm.
agined, with an enemy in front continually
annoying and annoyed, but little sleep was
INDUCED in.
The weather Of Friday was in striking
contrast to that of the morning previous. -
The ground was covered with snow to the
depth OF couple OF inches, and the breeze
that would have done honor to the Artic re
gions, swept across the vdesolate ridge upon
which our army was lying. The inhabitants
of the country roundabout averred that they
had rarely experienced SO severe day.
Nothing Of special note transpired along
the lines on Friday The sharp shooters
notwithstanding the cold. ensconced them
selves in their old positions on the hillsides,
and were as great terror as ever to the
gunners of the batteries above them. Caven
der, Taylor, Woods (of McAlister's battery, J
Dresser and Swsrtz would OCCASIONAL ex-
change valentine, as they were playfulIy
called, but there were no such bloody affairs
as had characterized the operations Of thu
day previous. t sr