The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-03-01
lOor Nrws.
Incidents OF the Seige of Fort Don

Incidents OF the Seige of Fort Don
olson.
The .Neao Tork Tribune had two
reporters at Fort Donelson during the
battles and capture of that rebel strong
hold, who gave minute accounts of the
exciting event; from whose narrative
we take the following incidents -
A BRILLIANT CHARGE AND GALLANT
GENERAL.
The most brilliant charge in the entire
seigc of Fort Donclson was that of the
I'd and 4th Iowa and the l1th and 25th
Indiana, under the command General
&. +. Smi h, who led them in person,
amid storm of balls and bullets, and
chcercd them through all the terrible
strife. He even rode his horse upon
he breastworks, and for fifteen minutes
exposed himself as target to every one
of the passing messengers of death -
That he was not killed or wounded is
something marvellous, for the brave
soldiers were falling all around him.
The Iowa I'd was the first regiment,
to its honor be it said, that scaled the
breastworks. They performed this haz-
ardous and brilliant movement in mas
tcrly style, and af err the manner of the
veterans who immortalized themselves
in The wars of Napolcan.
They never hesitated, they never fall
tered but with firm step and flashing
eye, they passed without firing gun
i'll o the Rebel works. In few seconds
other regiments followed them, and a
terrible strife ensucd between the con-
tending parties. The Seccssionsts SEEM
cd resolved to drive the Unionists back,
and the latter equally determined not to
surrender the advantage they had OBJ
tanned.
For a least two hours The rafting OF
muskctry was INCREASINGLY heard, and
the armed masses swayed to and fro
fortune appearing to favor now one side,
and now another.
Ever and anon loud cheer went up
for the Union, and this was caught up
at distance, and echoed by our soldiers,
and joyously re-cchoed by the surround
ing hills. Many brave warrior heard
that glorious shout as his senses rcclcd
in death, and his spirit went forth en-
balmed with the assurance that he had
not fallen in vain.
a large Rebel gun every few seconds
would pour It's iron hail upon our strug-
Cling heroes but generally the firing
was too high to do much harm. Our
courageous troops soon planted the Stars
and Stripes within the intrenchmcnts,
and as the good old flag waved it's folds
there, a deafcning shout went up to
heaven that gave the defenders of the
Union strength to ba tie anew in the
cause whose glory shall never set.
Southern regiment after regiment went
to the assistance of the Rebels, who
were burning to retrieve their failing
fortunes but our troops FASTENED
forward and thronged into the stronghold
of the enemy, and battled as the hosts
of Richard the Lion-lIcartcd ba:tlcd
once in the home of the Saracens.
I" If we only had battery there" the
Unionists of en- said. +" We fear the
Rebels will ovcrpower US with numbers
and rcpulse us on the very threshold of
vic ory."
Those were ANXIOUS moments, and
many a heart-praycr was offered up for
the success Of the cause of liberty and
right, for the sustainmcnt of the Cons;i-
tuition and the Laws.
Your correspondent watched the pro-
gress of the battle from hill Immediate
ly adjoining the breastworks, and heard
painfully anxious questions from the
troops who stood around. &C Are the
Stars and Stripes still there ?" care
the Rebels re,rcating ?" edo our boys
stand their ground ?" "IIavc we whip
ped them yet - was heard at almost
every breath.
Soon loud report was heard, and the
woods reverberatcd with Union cry of
joy, for the men recognized it as the
thunder of a Union gun, and believed it
would do much to control the battle.
Again and again the gun sounded,
and the national banner waved, and the
Rebels were driven from their rcdoubt.
THE SOUTH WEARY OF THE WAR.
The prisoners are from Arkansas,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ten
ncssce, Texas, and Alabama, and nearly
all of the privates express their WEAKNESS
wi h the war, and declare they are con-
WINGED the backbone of the Confederacy
is broken. They make no complaint of
the result of the battle, but seem quite
contcntcd to be prisoners.
Some Of the officers are cgotistica!,
presuuptuous, pompou2, aud even lugo-