Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-02-20
More Particulars Of the Battle
at Fort Donelson.

the account OF Cuturuhy ; uRnting NJ DOn-
elson
On Saturday morning the battle was re-
sumed with renewed vigor and determine
ton. The 8th, 18th, Goth aud 3lst Illinois
occupied a position above the fort. They
were about preparing q little food, when the
rebels opened upon them with a fire ofmus-
kerry.
The line Of battle was at once formed,
and the STORM Of leaden hail returned, per-
ceptibly thinning the rebel ranks. The re-
bells, from their advantageous positions,
showered upon our ranks most murdcrous
volleys of musketry, grape and canister,
killing and wounding our men almost by
companies at every round yet every man
stood his ground. Bravoly, determincdly,
and without ninching, these four regiments
held their ground, dealing death, dying and
fighting against appalling odds, and in the
face Of every disadvantage.
The 18th Illinois seems to have resisted
the severest storm. Against their ranks the
stead of falling back they advanced to the
the very jaws of death, with scarcely a pros
pect that a single one would escape. For
three hours these regiments, numbering
scarcely three thousand men, held their
ground against the whole rebel garrison
Att one time the 18th, being partially flanked,
was exposed to a cross fire of both musketry
and artillery, but our right wing securing
the rebels left, at once relieved them.
AT this critical moment Col. Lamler fell.
Capt. Bush, acting Lieut.. Col, assumed
command, but was soon wounded. Capt.
Cruise was shot dead. Capt. Lawler was
MORALLY wounded. Lieuts. Munsford and
Thompson were killed. Capts. Dillon and
Wilson and Lieuts. Kelly and Seaman were
wounded, so that the daring Egyptian regi-
ment stood before an overwhelming foe al
most without officers. They fell in heaps
of dead and wounded. Companies were
bereft of Captains and Lieutenants, and
Captains almost berett of companies. The
other three regiments did their duties no.
bly,. Colonies Oglcsby, Marsh and Logan
dashed along the ranks, waving their hats
and cheering their men into the conflict
"Suffer death, men," cried Logan, but
disgrace, never! Stand firm % And well
they needed him, for many fell dead and
wounded. Among the latter were Logan
and Lieut.. Col. White.
Oglesby's and Marsh's regiments fought
desperately, losing, like other regiments, an
undue proportion of officers. Colonel Ogles-
by displayed GOODNESS and courage that
have elected the highest praise, and served
well in stimulating his men. Never, per-
haps, on the American continent has u
more bloody battle been fought.
An officer who participated and was
wounded in the fight, says the scene beggars
description. So th:clly was the battle field
strewn with dead and wounded, that he
could have traversed acres Of it walking al.
most every step on a PROSTATE body.
The rebels fought with desperation, theii
artillerists using their pieces with most fear
3 full effect.
+ On either side could be heard the voice.
of those in command cheering their men.
The four Illinois regiments held theil
5 ground full three hours. Nearly one-third
$ had been killed or wounded, yet the balance
: stood firm. Finally reinforce mcnts arrived
and for an hour tho slaughter continued.
About 4 o'clock our right wing turnct
, their left, and the rebels fell back into thei
Notifications, and our flag was planted upol
> the position occupied by their left wing, and
for tho time, the slaughter ceased.
q Dresser's and Schwartz's batteries wer
captured during the action, but the lStl
Illinois, with dubbed muskets, recovered
Dresser's, while the 3lst also recovered
, Schwartz's.
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 1S.--The Republican
: Fort DonelsOn correspondent gives the fol
lowing account of the fighting ON Saturday
Yesterday morning, just before dayligh
a heavy sortie was made by the garrison
: from the lett portion Of their works. TIL
attack was made upon the extreme RICH
wing of the Union army where it was tn
weakest, consisting of part of Gen. McCler
: nand's division, under Col. Oglesby. consist
q ing ofhis brigade, which was stationed there
also Schwartz's and McAllisters's batteries
The point was upon the ridge leading int
the right redoubt, and was situated jus
It above the main fort. During the night tn
enemy could be heard busily ut work, bu
at what it was impossible to tell, as thicket
y and woods encompassed the Union troop
on every side, rendering a view in any di
%rection almost impossible. AT day light,
large body Of the enemy suddenly appeare
on the extreme right wing of Col. Ogleby'
l. command and opened a terrible fire wit
cannon from their redoubts, playing at tn
n same time upon our forces from guns place
in position on the night previous. The cam
of the Doth and 3lst was most exposed, an
the whole brigade was at once forme
into line, as follows: The 18th Illinois hel
the extreme right, Sth Illinois next, BOT
Illinois next, then the 29th Illinois SUI
: porting the right of Captain Schwartz
, battery, the 3lst Illinois defending tn
:. artillery on the left.
L From the firing of the first gun until 9 0
f. clock, the battle ragged unremittingly, ar
with fearful loss TO both sides. Again al
he again our troops drove the enemy back, b,
they were often reinforced, while our trool
had, owing the extended lines of the arm
and also their position on the extreme RICH
of to fight unassisted. More terrible fghtir
IN never took place than that of the Unit
troops, exposed to the terrible firing of trib
Is their number. They stood their ground u
lie til in some regiments every officer was Xxi
mt ed or wounded. At last, and reluctant
n regiment by regiment then slowly fell bac
- leaving Schwartz's battery and three I
'r' McAllister's guns in rebel hands. Retiril
a few hundred yards they again made
m, stand, and Gen. Smith arrived with rel
forcements, and at once drove the ener
again into their works.
he In the first of the battle was also Col. v
he Fl. l.. Wallace's brigade, the 18th, cot
to 10th and 49th; also Col. McArthur's bri
'ut ade, all of which troops suffered severely.
:. Opposed to them were IL, 600 rebels, su
IL. ported nv Gums nlacad carefully in nositio