The New York herald., 1862-02-21

|
red out upon every visage and resolution was Tie oie
apparent upon every hand -,..,
dampensd the ardor of our men. We had hoped for a
continuation OF the beautiful weather OF the iast three
days but now could sec nothing oeore US put iepe
ton the disasters and disagreeabses Of the late re-
connoissance OF Ballard county Still, We hoped Tor the
best and trusted in Providence But here we are, az
eleven p M anchored couple Of miles below the fort
and busy preparing valentines TO send by The salt
| petre mails TO our "southern brethren On the
morrow. Twill be a bloody message but tits the only
way we have just 10 tell our love, and tits 20 be
hoped that they will receive the missves in loving kind
ness and Chrisianlke consideration But must close
for steamer is now whstling her last shrek pepara
tory trip to Cairo, and this go by her at
sB. Tomorrow We open the cotilon; until then, az
ysroir.
On BOARD TIE GrsRoAr LOUISVILLE, Two MINIS
Below fokr DoSELsos, Tenn, Feb. 4-lOP NJ
How shall describe the events OF the day9 Before
this reaches you you win have been informed by wires
Of the gunboat attack upon Fort poneson and wiz have
learned, nnyhap, OF repuse, after sharp engage
rnent Of hour and half was my fortune TO be on
board the good steamer where am writing during
the entire gagement saw the whole affair from bc'
ginning to end, and the battle have visited every
member Of the feet to learn all that will interest your
readers. What know write.
We 10 anchor where we are now lying
last night between ten and eleven O'Clock, in the
mfdst of terrible storm Of hail and elect.
This morning We took on coal, and at two
the action ives take place Early in the day General
Giah md stat eamo board the flagship, and arranged
with Flag oacer FOete 20 make land attack Upon the
fort simultaneously with that by water in the stefno0n
in pursuance of which onset was made by the feet
But General Grant having come up with his troops,
the whole force Of the enemy was turned uponss and
the result was precisely might have been expected
After an hour and half Of desperate fighting
compelled to drop down to old anchorage leaving the
rebes still masters OF their position above us But 10
the detail Is Of the fight
THE FIGHr.
At two P. NJ. precisely the signal given from the
flagship 10 get underwegh, and in q few moments we
slowly steamng up the river. We had proceeded
perhaps tie fourth Of mile when single report
emanatng from the upper battery Of tie FORT
greeted US, and notified that the rebels
awaiting US in savage expectation. On went,
however, not sound escaping from crafts, except
he slow putting OF the escape pipes and the cheery
flashing of the paddle wheels, while the enemy were
busy awakng the dormant echoes with their cannon.
sdirg, and sgitang the swollen with their shot
and shell scattered proniscuous profuson al around us
Whes we had sailed up to within nile Of the fort the
Flag Officer let 20 his starboard bow rife and we fol
lowed him with ours then the Pttsburg and Caronele
followed suit, and the ball really opened in earnest
Our first shots fell short; but little elevation Of
the guns renedea the falling and the round saw
balls and shells dropped into ucomfortably close
proximity to their batteries. From this time the end
Of tie action there lull In the steady con.
stsnt firing from boats, was there a
moment when the whole of the eneIny's front
was net steady stream Of ire. In order to
! get the best view OF the action, l stationed
myself upon the upper deck and just near in the
wake Of the pilot house possble taking my chances
at getting sight Of what going in front by alb
brcviated peeps and squnts around the corners and
urrod stares nroa gh the look holes which the con-
deate carpenter had left for the optical
OF the pilots. The flagship St. Louis TOOK advance and
was huggng the western shore; then own (the
Louisve) then the Pittsburg and Carondeet In order
side by side as was possible in river scarcely
| order formed straight battery OF twelve guns in
front, while the two gunboats, Conesicga and lexington
followed in our wake pouring in their quota missiles
! ffom their bow coluinbads at a safe distance We
| could see nearly every one Of shots take
enec, within or near the rebel batteries, the more
deadly and certain as we slowly steamed up to
wad them. Thus VIC proceeded side by side, our
fre never s.aeSening or cur determination falterng
until arrived within three hundred yards lower
battery ~ this time the ring both sides was truly
terrific The eneny's shot ard shells were screaming
through the air or ravagng our sides and decks
without cessation, while were diyestng 4 en- OF
thor exposed batteries, plogghne up their hill
sides and decimatng their camps IN terrible haste
largo sLc from the louisville fall and cx l0io
directly under one Of their guns, sending Of rebel
soldiers 70 their lesg homes demoshng the battery ami
70 The nearest cOyes when We had attained the last
named position viz within thi hundred yards OF their
we're rn0tionle-s poured In last aDd most de.
struciIYe Gre. II really seemed ~ this time that
The dnnitssehee u destruction contained in those
twelve great iron thunderers. With each discharge
rebel ssn silenccd, az each broadsidc a
bot Of frightened rebels would scrd up the hill 10 a
8 s ss. ss s ii.E 4S9 ssl"s,iSS ssi
Now 4sy battery Of ore hupdred :.Ed twenty po.nda
rs opthed ipoi from the left ana Il iis isi
works. We we're within point blank range. and the dc
sruc,on TO hse was really terrible. One huge solid
shot struck boat just at the angle Of he upper deck
and pilo. house, perforated the iron plating, passed
through tho heavy timbcrs and buried se in pile Of
hamnoeks just In front and In direct line with tho
boilers. Another, Shell raScd from bow to stern
passed through the whcc!housc emerged dropped and
exploded In the river jus, at stern. Then cninch
solid shot entered sarboard bow port, demolished
gun carriage, killed three men and wounded four
oerg raveYsed the entire length Of the boat and sunk
into the river in wake Then sh. came shrickng
through the air, striking fair into forward s,srboard
port, killing another and wognding two more passed
aft sundering rudder chains and rendering the boat
unnanageable. Now wo were compelled 10 drop asern,
and leave tho of action; but gnner sent their
respects TO the rebels as long as their FIRE cocld be the
least effective aud, 50 Tar as we were concerned the battle
was
This last battery the that put the finishing
TO the feet One Of the eneys shells entered
and exploded directly ia the pilot house o the st. Louis
n he leg. Two Of the shots entered the ptsbnrr be-
low the guards causing her TO leak badly. and Is
probable that she will sink before morning Another en-
others BY this time three OF the boats disabled
and then the signal given TO back out and return
TO our anchorage. The encmys lower battery
slenced however, and only the two hundred and
twenty Founders the hill playing upon and II
universally conceded that f had had ten minutes
time Fort Douelson world have Jared the fate OF
Fort Henry and the Cumberland river been opened and
civesisd Of i,s rebel embargo.
INCIDENTS, ETC.,
On board vessel were NOT wanting. Captain Dove
had just complimenied OF the gunners upon
| splendid shot, when the shot that played rs such
| havoc entered port and completely severed the
gunner n twain, scattering the blood and brains and
maug ged flesh over Captain Doves person In sckenl1s
profusion but the Captain never blanched he only
wiped the human gore from his face and in an instant
waa experimenting the replacement of another gun
n nothing had happened Cool, brave and determined
he throughout the action mountain OF strength 10
| his crew and, though wounded and deested for the
nonce looks forward 10 the morrow, when the light will
| be renewed with confidence and cagernees.
Commodore Foote standing In the pilot house OF tho
St. Louis when shell entered II, killing the pilot and
woundng himself severely The room filed with the
pieces OF broken wheels chains, room furniture and rub
bsh " every there thero TO take the