The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-03-12
Army correspondence.
CSROAucHCS.
HENDERSON PRAIRIE, ]
March Sd, 1862. (

J
Dear Times 1T is not yet too late to
send you few notes Of the battle of Fort
Donclson. In conversing with many who
get their information from the press, they
invariably say that they would like so much
to read an account stating the minutia of
the march, the charge, and the deadly en-
counter. TO give, in short, such items as
all are eager to know, but which reporters
always neglect to give. This neglect is
easily accounted for. The soldier who pur.
sues the toilsome march charges in the
face Of death sees friends falling around
him, and has the whole crowned with a.
triumphant. victory--he alone can give
those particulars which reporters, not ex-
periencing, can never give.
On the morning Of Feb. 18th, about 49,.
600 soldiers were encamped in and around
Fort Henry. The two hard crackers, the
slice Of salt pork, and the cup Of strong
coffee were hastily being disposed Of by
each, for Ill knew that in a few moments
they must march upon Fort Donelson.-
Presently one Ct the Generals Aids gal
lops rapidly up to the ColoneIs tent and
hands him one of those mysterious long
envclopcd letters. In an instant the ~'long
rolf is calling loudly to arms. .....
Now comes a time when officers can know
their men. All knew that there was fight.
ing ahead, for the rebels would certainly
make stand at Fort Donclssn. The great
majority of the soldiers shouldcrel arms
and obeyed the "fall in; with an a.dity
never before witnessed; but few are sud-
denly seized with shooting pains" in the
head, looseness Of the bowels, or q sort Of
goneness in the region Of the throax. =
While these sorely afflicted ones are elo-
quently explaining their dangerous symp-
toms, the cooks interrupt b. asking why
the ID they dind't discover this before
they ate their regular ration" This qucs
ton brings prcmp.cry "fall in" from the
Captain which stops all caving OF this
class, however, there are only few. More
frequently the Captain has to give perempt-
DRY orders for some to leave the ranks and
remain at their tents, their faces plainly
showing that their courage and patriotism
are leading them to encounter that with
which they are unable to contendi Meet!
IAN overcoat, havcrsack with three days
rations, cantecn full o. water, heavy En-.
field rifle, and ttNy rounds of cartridges
made up the soldiers load for Fort Doncl-
son. And when you carry this load tttfve
miles in a hot sun, a great share Of the way
through mud above the ankles, and most
Of the time on the "double quick" (Which,
with western troops is smart run) you
will be willing t. swear hsfDrc God and
man that $l3 20 is none too much for a
! soldier. But those marching on Fort Don
elson were not toiling for money. A holier
motive urged them on. -'--~,...-ss,,. ss'
=" Every few steps we wouldfind men lying
on the ground completely exhausted, not
even able to drag themselves into the shade.
Caps were carried in the hands, while the
red face and swollen veins showed too plain
ly the extraordinary Gxcrtion the troops
were putting forth. Bravely they struggled
on, dragged themselves up the hills to with
in mile of the breastworks of the enemy,
where forming in line of battle, and the
piekets being posted in front, We lay down
in our places, our accoutcrments on, guns
by our sides, and sought a few hours sleep
to prepare us for the bloody drama in which
! we expected TO mingle on the morrow. -
- On the 18th the first peep Of dawn found
! our lines as!ir, hastily deyouring the two
crackers and slice Of raw pork dad no
time to cook before leaving Fort Henry
and at precisely six O'Clock a heavy gun
from the Fort opened the morning exercises,
brought every soldier to his place, and
sent that thrill through every nerve which,
patriots alone can feel. In an an instant
| the hills trcmbled with the thunder of ar
tillery from gun boat, fort and federal bat
teries. Suddenly thousands Of musketry
opened fire in front. This was an engage
mcnt between the enemy and our advance
guard. The rebels had left their entroncl-
ments and advanced upon US, but our brave
soldiers soon made them run in confusion
| back to their trenches. Our whole lines
Immediately moved forward and rapidly
closed ir upon their breastworks, effectual
! ly cutting off all escape. Skirmishers were
at once deployed all along our lines to watch
the movements of the enemy, while we
waited for the gun boats to come up, one
only having yet arrived. All the fighting
that was done from this time until Satur.
day, the 10Th, was between the sharp
shooters Of the enemy, and Briggs sharp
shooters and our skirmishers on our side
with some growing from the gun boats
that came up on the l4th, and an occasion.
al roar from the batteries on both sides. 2
During this ",tay Of the final Judgment >
we found good opportunity to examine
the position of the enemy. We saw at a
glance that there was bloody work ahead
as the enemy we had to fight were safely
concealed behind well constructed breast
work, with batteries planted on the mos,
commanding points all along their lines
while for hundred rods in front the trees
were cut down land it was heavily timber
ed) covering the ground and forming an
abbattis work SO complete that certain ruir
must await the regiment that attempted t
drive them from their trenches. So conf
dent were the traitors Of victory, and ST
cruel and savage arc their feelings, that fol
a day and a half they kept the black fial
floating IN our faces. saw it-fired at it
and had it not been that the ccnquerors o
Fort Donelson were men as well as soldiers
the Cumberland would have drank NOR,
blood that Sunday than ever was poured
into the User or the Danube from the bloody
fields Of Europe =
/During the 18th, specimen Of coolnes.
7 came under my observation which canno
resist giving here. One Of Birges SHARP