The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-03-07
COLUMBIA, Tenn, Feb. Is, 1862.

-a Ns -
CoLusBIA, Tenn, Feb. Is, 1862.
Capt. c. Derrick, Assistant Adjutant- General.
On the Sth inst. Gen. A. s. Johnston
ordered me TO proceed to Fort 0onelson
and take command of that post. On the
9th inst. arrived at that place. In de.
failing the operations of the forces under
my command at Fort Donelson, il is prop.
er to state the condition of that work, and
OF the forces constituting its garrison.---
When ] arrived found the work on the
river battery unfinished and wholly too
weak to resist the force of heavy artillery.
| found ten-inch columbiad and thirty
two pound rifle gun had not been mount
ed. Deep gloom was hanging over the
command, and the troops were greatly
depressed and demoralized by the cir.
cumstances attending the surrender OF
Fort Henry and the manner of retiring
from that place. My first attention was
given TO the necessity Of strengthening
this work, and mounting the two heavy
guns, and TO the construction Of defensive
works to protect the rear Of the river bat
terry. impaired to the work all the
energy which it was possible to do, labor
ing day and night with the whole COM
mand. The battery was without COM
petent number Of artillerists, and those
that were there, were not well instructed
in the use of their guns. 20 provide for
this want placed the artillery companies
under active course of instruction in the
use Of their guns. detailed Capt. Ross
with his company of artillerists to the
command OF one Of the river battcries.-
These heavy guns being mounted and
provision made for wol king them, and q
proper supply of ammunition having been
procured by my orders from Nashville,
felt myself prepared to test the effect of
the fire Of the heavy metal against the
enemy's gunboats, though the work was
much in need Of more heavy pieces.
The armament Of the batteries consist
ed Of eight 32pounders, three 32-pouEd
carronades, one l0inch columbiad, and
one rifle gun of S2.pound calibor. The
selection 6f the snefor The work was an
unfortunate one. While its command of
the river was favorable, the site was com
manded by the nights above and below
on the river, and by continuous range
of hills all around the works to its rear.
A tield.work of very contracted dimen-
sions had been constructed for the garri-
son to protect the battery, but this field
work was commanded by the hills already
referred to, and lay open to fire Of ar
tillery from every direction except from
the hills below. To guard against the
effects of fire Of artillery from these nights
line Of defense-works consisting of rifle
pits and abattis for infantry, detached on
our right, but continuous on our left, with
defenses for our light artillery, were laid
off by Maj. Gilmer-Engineer of Gen. A.
S. Johnston's staff, but on duty with me
at the rost--around the rear of the bate
ry and on the heights from which artille-
ry could reach our battery and inner field
work, envelopng the inner work and the
town of Dover, where our principal sup
plies of quarter and commissary stores
were in deposit.
These works, pushed with the utmost
possible energy, were not quito completed,
nor my troops all in position, though
nearly so when Brigadier Gen. Floyd, my
senior officer, reached that station. The
works were laid of with judgment and
skill by Maj. Gilmer, were well executed,
and designed for tie defense of the rear
Of the work, the only objection being to
the length Of the line, which, however,
from the surroundings, was unavoidable.
The length Of the line, and the nadequa-
cy Of the force for its defense, was a source
OF embarrassment throughout the strug.
gle which subsequently ensued in the de-
Tease Of the position.
had placed Brig. General Buckner in
command of the right wing, and Brig
Ger. johnson in command Of the left
BY extraordinary efforts we had barely
got the works in a deiensible condition
when the enemy made an advance in
force around and against the entire line
of outer works.
The first assault was commenced by the
enemy's artillery against the center OF our
left wing, which was promptly responded
to by Capt. Green's battery Of field artille-
ry. After several hours of firing between
the artillery Of the two armies, the enc.
my's infantry advanced TO the conflict all
along the line, which was kept up and in.
creased in volume from one end Of the
line to the other for several hours, when
at last the enemy made vigorous assault
against the right Of our left wing, the po-
sition assaulted being a height cammand.
cd by Col. Heman, and defended by his
brigade, consisting Of the 10th Tennessee,
under command OF Lieut.. Col. McGavock,
Col. VOORHEES, Tennessee, Col. Hughes
Alabama, and Col. Heads Tennessee regi.
ments Of volunteers, and Capt. Mancyis
field battery.
This assault was vigorously made, and
the position as vigorously defended, and
resulted in the repulso Of the enemy here
and everywhere around the line. The
result Of the dayswork pretty well tested
the strength OF our defensive line, and
established, beyond question, the gallan.
try Of the entire command, all OF whom
fought well at every portion Of the line.
The loss sustained by our forces in this
engagement was not large, our men being
mostly under the shelter Of their rifle
pits; but we, neverthless, had quite a
number killed and wourded, but owing
TO the continued fighting which followed,
IL was impossible TO get any official report
Of the casualties Of the day On the same
day our battery on the river was engaged
with one Of tho enemy's gunboats, which
occasioncd quite lively cannonading for
more than an hour IN which tho gail.n,