Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-27
SATURDAYS FIGHT AT FORT DoNEL-

lowing account of the 6ght at Fort
DoneIson on Saturday:
On Saturday morning the battle was
resumed with unusual vigor and deter
mination. The 9th, 18Th, goth. and
sIst Illinois, occupied Q position above
the Fort, tie Eighth holding the ex-
treme right. the Eighteenth next, then
the Thirty-6r and Twentieth. After
another severe night. our men were
about to prepare q little food, when the
rebels opened upon them FIRE Of
musketrY that was well calculated to
create the widest confusion, il not a
panic: but the line Of battle was at once
formed, and the storm Of leaden hail
returned, perceptibly thinning the rebel
ranks ao they advanced. There are
many reasons for believing that the real
object of the rebels was to evscuate
the fort. and cut their way through
Col. Oglesby's command in doing so;
but, although they seemed as an over
powering host, and from advantageous
positions showered upon our ranks the
most murderous volleys Of musketry,
grape, AMI canister, killing and wound
ing our men almost by companies at
every round, yet the stars and stripes
moved not a single foot backward
Bravely, determinedly, without finch
ing, these four regiments held their
ground, dealing death. dying, and
fighting against appalling odds, and in
the face Of every disadvantage. The
18Th regiment seems 10 have resisted
the severest storm. Against their
ranks the rebels directed their heaviest
fire; but instead of falling back they
advanced to the very face Of the ene-
my. and there stood. as il were. 10 the
very jaws Of death, fighting bravely
and determinedly, with scarcely q
prospect that single one would escape
sure and swift destruction.
For three hours these four regi-
1nents, numbering scarcely three thou
sand men, held their ground against
the whole rebel garrison. At one time
the 18th, being partially Aanked, was
exposed to cross FIRE of both musket-
ry and artillery. but our right wing
securing the rebels left at once re-
lieved Them. During this critical mo-
ment Col. Micheal K. Lawler fell pierc.
ed by two musket balls. Capt. Brush.
acting Lieut. Colonel, assumed COM
mand, but was soon wounded. Capt.
Cruise was shot dead; Capt Lawler
was mortally wounded; Lieuts. Mans
ford and Thompson were killed; Lieuts.
R. Kelley and Scanlsn wounded; Capts.
Dillon and Wilson were wounded; SO
that The daring Egyptian regiment
stood before an overwhelming foe al
most without the officers actually re-
quired to direct its operations. How
desperately they fought. how terribly
they suffered, can never be fully
known. They fell in heaps, dead and
wounded. Companies we're bereft of
their captains and lieutensnts; captains
we're almost bereft Of companies.
The Eighteenth, Twentieth. and Thi-
ty-6rst did their duty nobly. Coils.
OgIesby, Marsh. and Logan, dashed
along their ranks, waving their hats,
and cheering their men on TO the con-
fiict. "Suffer death, men," cried Lo-
gan, "but disgrace never; stand firm;
yield never" And well they needed
him. Many fell. killed and wounded.
Among the former. we are panied to
name Lieut.. Col. White, and, among
the latter Logan.
ogIesby's (tbe Eighteenth) and
Marsh's (the Twentieth) J fought desper-
ately and suffered severely, losing. like
the other regiments, an undue proper
tion of officers. Col. Oglesby display
ed a GOODNESS and courage that have
elected the highest praise, and served
we'll in stimulating his men to deeds of
valor.
Never perhaps on the American
continent has more bloody battle
been fought. An officer who parlici-
pated and was wounded in the fight,
informs us that the scene beggars de-
scription, and must ever be beyond
the conception of those who were not
present. He says that he scarcely
thinks he exaggerates when he says
that so thickly was the battle field
strewn with the dead and wounded that
he could have traversed acres OF it, TAX
ing almost every step upon PROSTATE
body The rebels fought with des-
peration, seeming to be inspired with
what will prove measurably true, that
their hopes Tor success in this rebellion
were intimately connected with the re-
suit of the battle then raging. Their
srtillerists were skillful. using their
pieces adroitly and with most fearful
effect. On either side could be heard
the voices of those in command cheer
ing their men on, using every means to
hx them in the purpose to die rather
than yield the contest. In such fight.
the Iour Illinois regiments We have
named, held their ground for full three
hours. Nearly one-third of the whole
number had been killed or wounded,
yet the balance stood ready and will
. ling to fall sacrifices TO their country
Over. FIVE hundred Of the Eighteenth
Regiment wers still in death, or suffer-
ing from their wounds. The other
commands had suffered less, but great.
ly; and for all. without relief, it seemed
that nothing short Of annihilation could
be expected. At this juncture rein.
forcements arrived. The battle was