The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-01
Let Justice he Done.

We have felt no disposition to eriticise
the official reports of the officers in COM
mand of the various divisions and brigades
at the battle of Fort Donelson, for at best
it is but an unpleasant task. Where all did
so we'll we are 10th to draw any invidious
comparisons. As for the reports of the
stipendaries of the Press-who draw pay
alike from the papers for which they manu-
fscture news, and the officers they bespat-
ter with praise-while copying them in our
columns, we paid little attention to their
statements as we were aware these depend
ed upon the location of the papers for which
they were written and the peculiar relations
their authors sustained to the different COM
manding officers and the troops under their
authority. But our state pride will not
suffer US to see the credit properly belong
ing to Indiana troops coolIy appropriated
by officers and soldiers from even a sister
State without at least examining the fonn-
dation for such assumption.
Certain facts in connection with the
storming of Fort DonelsOn stand out SO
pEomnsntZ that evsEy RQ&X fsH see then them
of wordy reports, We propose to enumerate
few of these, and in doing so, shall avoid
casting any reflections upon any officer or
regiment:
LIST The battle at Fort Donelson was
opened on the morning of the 18th by the
25th Regiment Indiana volunteers, on the
left wing of the Union army. This regi-
ment moved steadily up toward the fortif-
cations through an almost impenetrable net
work Of logs and brush without wavering,
and continued to advance until they were
halted by the brigade commander. They
remained in their exposed position, under a
most terrible fire, and repuIsed frequent
sorties of the rebels with the GOODNESS and
success of veterans, until they were ordered
by the commanding officer to fall back
This was the principal fight of importance
during the day, and yet it is barely mention
ed in the numerous accounts furnished th,
different Illinois and Eastern papers, ani
but very briefly in Col. Humans officia
report. The regiment lost in this struggle
fourteen killed and sixty wounded. Not
withstanding the severe loss of the regi
ment and its gallantry, Col. Lauman could
not find space in his report TO mention
single officer as having distinguished him
sell, proven a credit to the service, OIL
worthy of promotion.
ID. When the right wing of the Union
forces had been attacked by the rebels, and
driven back considerable distance; when
the gunboats had been foiled and compelled
TO withdraw from the engagement; when
the spirits Of the army were sinking, and
sigus Of encouragement were visible, Gen
Grant saw the necessity of striking a blow
that would restore the enthusiasm of the
army, and arouse the men to extraor binary
exertion. The order was given Gen. Smith
TO storm one of the rebel redoubts in hi!
front, at the point Of the bayonet. I5Oo In
dana and the I'd Iona regiments were select
ed by that officer as the storming party
the Iowas taking the lead. And nobly did
they sustain the credit Of their gallant lit
tie STATED These regiments marched up the
hill which was raked by musketry, grape
and canister, without firing a gun; sweep
over the breastworks, drove the rebels from
their hiding places, and planted their flags
on the rebel Notifications, for the first time
during tha three days battle Yet, Colonel
Lanman IN his official report compliment
his old regiment-the 9TH Iowa-whicb
scarcely participated in the strugcle-men-
tioning its regimental officers bv mama
while those of the SD and 25th indiana
are given the ego by" with merely pass
ing notice Of their COIOnels.
3D. The Division Of Gen. McClernand,
composed entirely of Illinois regiments
constituted the right wing OF the Union ar
nv. Skirmishing had been kept up betwe' 4
the regiments composing this division and
the rebels, during the first two days of the
siege. On Saturday morning, this division
was attacked by large party Of rebels, and
although the men fought like heroes, strug-
Cling to maintain their position, they were