The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-02-20


February Is, AN
Firing commenced again at da, break,
and continued at intervals all day yester-
day (Fridsy.) Up to iour O'Clock no
or assault by the land forces
had been made. l...s ....
Night before last an attempt was made
by tie rebels TO take TayIor's battery Of
light artillery. but they we're rcpulsed by
Two regiments, and driven tack beyond
their intrenchmenis. Our loss in wourd.
ed is considerable. but not more than
three or four are dangerously wounded.
Six guBboats arrived yesterday, and
commenced an attack on The fort at two
P. NJ. The firing was very rapid and
severe, and lasted an hour and twenty
minutes. when our gunbosls fell back
The four ironclad boats went within three
hundred yards Of the fort. All of the
rebels river guns, except six. were eth.
er silenced or dismounted. The first
shot fred from the Louisville dismouned
tie rebels twenty eight pouuder. The
Louisville received fifty seven shots. two
of which took effect, one striking the
starboard side Of her deck and passing
through the length Of the boat. killing
three men and broke her tlllcr rore a
short distance from the pilot house. The
rope was then managed by some Of the
bands, when shell from the Taylor, that
lay some distance aslerD, burst over the
Louisville. scattering the men at the
tiller rope. aud so much disabled
The steering tackle that the boat was com
PEELED to drop astcrn One shot struck
the Pittsburg in the bow and stove an i'm
mense hole in her. which caused her to
draw ou, OF action. The leak, however
has been stopped, One shot struck tht
pilot house Of the st. Louis passing lhro
it between the Pilots ! gs without inju
ring him. .... ...
All OF the b0ats were more or less inju-
red, but mono but the Louisville, serious.
Iy. There were FIVE killed and two woun-
ded on the Louisville.
The gunboats vii not be in condition
TO renew their attack efore tomorrow
morning In consequence Of the hight
Of thu bluff on which their fortilications
are built, our shot cannot have as much
effect on them as those on Fort Henry.
therefore it will require much longer
time TO reduce this tort
The rebels have raised the black flag
II can be seen flying from the bank. 4
short distance above here. l leave for tho
column sgain at once. .f
SECOND DISPATCH.
CAMP IN FIELD, near 1T. Donelson, !
February 10. 6 P. NJ I
The right wing Of our force before Fl
Donelson, commenced tho storming Of the
tort about noon, and have taken the right
wing Of the enemy's Notifications, over
which the stars and stripes are now float.
ing in triumph. The opposing fOrcos are
now about breast to breast. ready to open
tho work Of death upon each other at any
moment
We have lost two Lieutenant. Co!onels
K lied; one Of whom is Lieut.. Col. Smith
of the Forty eigth Illinois, and two Colo.
nels wounded.
The Eighteenth Regiment fought like
tigers. and are pretty badly cut up.
The loss on both sides is pretty severe
Swartz's Battery. captured by the reb
els this morning, has been retaken.
DISPATCHES TO THE ASSOCIATED TREss
Specialize tho 81, Louis Democrat.
CAIRO. Feb, Is, p. M-Commodorc
Foole reached here at l2 o'clock las
might, on board the gunboat Conosloga
lie stormed Fort Donelson Friday p. NJ
with tho gunboats 81: Louis. Louisville
Pittsburgh. Carondolet, Taylor and Con
estoga. After fighting a little over al
hour he withdrew. Fifty four men wer
killed and wounded On the gnuboats. -
Pilots Riley and Hinton Of the st. Loui
being among the latter. Commodor
Foote. whilO standing on the pilot.hous
Of the ST, Louis. his flagship. was slight
ly wounded. The 81, Louis Was hit ak
ty .one times, Two u our gunboats wer
disabled. The Taylor and Conestoga re-
mainec out OF range Of the enemy's gurs
The line Of battle was as follows.
The st. Louis on the right, next tn
Louisville, then the Piltsburg and tn
Caroudolet on the left. The enemy's iir
was very accurate. They had three bat
teries---one near the water, one 50 feet a
bove this, aud ,hird 90 feet above tn
second, The upper ono mounted four |
Founders. This MAS held in reserve ur
til our boats 60. within four hundre
} yards Of the fort. Our ilre was drecte
r principally At the water b,t,ery. One Q
the enemy's guns burst and u numbe
were dismounted. The enemy could b
> seen carrying their dead outofthe trench
Y IS.
All the gunboaS were left up the Cum
berand except the Conestoea, and sh
left there yesterday morning.
A riAed gun on the Oarundolet burs
, killing six mou.
, The ruddor of the Pittsburg was sh,
, away.
The mortar beats left here yesterd'
morning,
D The above statements Of the fight we
: received from a gentleman who was {
= board the st, Louis during the ensag
. ments.
n LATER
n A gentleman who lsft Fort Donelst
yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, al
reached here this noon, says the fight HI
. been going on all day yesterday, ~