The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-02-20
ANOTHER nrLI RuN PANIC.

arrival OF q thousand cavalry which they
had sent for from Dover when our ap-
proach was first known. That they in
tended to fight, up to the very day Of
attack, is evident, and the sudden
change in their plans can only bo ac.
counted for on the supposition that the
Of the guDboats struck them
with sudden panic, similar to that of
our own troops at Bull Run. That
this was really the case, the appearance
of their camps amply proves. Had they
remained and fought, as was was antiei-
pnted, although there is little doubt that
we would ultimately have succeeded in
defeating them, it must have been at the
expense Of severe loss on our part.
THE ABANDONED CAMPS.
These give ample evidence, first, that
they wero intended for permanent oc-
cupation, and secondly, that they were
abandoned in the greatest haste On
a piece of rising ground Immediately in
the rear Of the fort wero constructed q
series of log cabins, capable of accom-
modating three thousand men. In ad-
dition to these, tents were pitched in
different parts of the oncampment for
more than as many more. The tents
were mostly new, of good quality, and
very comfortable. Judging from ap.
pearances, the force of the rebels could
not have been less than seven thousand
men-perhaps more. They must have
abandoned very hastily, as scarcely any.
thing was taken away. Arms, clothing
books, papers, letters, daguerreotypes
even watches and money, were left
strewn about in the widest confusion
In some Of the cabins the dishes stood
on the table just as they had been left
at breakfast. In others the dinner was
still cooking over the fire when our men
arrived. Everything denoted that the
flight was the result Of sudden alarm
and not of deliberate intention. The
papers found included all the variou:
documents pertaining to the manage
ment of military camp, muster.rolls,
reports of all kinds, acquisitions, orders
commissions, &c, &c., some of them
containing valuable information. The
letters were mostly from Mississippi
and Tennessee, indicating the quarter
from which troops came. Many of
them are written in rather a despond-
ing strain, evincing rather uncomfort
ablo state Of affairs at home.
THE FORT
is of the class known as a full Fashioned
earthwork, standing directly upon the
bank of the river, and encloses abou
two acres. 1t mounts seventeen heavy
guns, including one ten-inch Colum
bad, throwing a round shot of Us
pounds weight, one breech-l 10 ldiug, ri
fed gun, carrying 80 pound elongated
shot, IL 32-poundcrs, one "a FOUNDER
rihed, and two 12.pounders siege guns.
Nearly all the guns are pivoted and ca
pable of being turned to any desired
derection. The fort is surrounded by
deep mont, and when fully garrisouod
would be almost impregnable against
any force that could be brought against
it from the land side. Evidently it.
designers did not anticipate so formida.
BILE an attack from the river, and GER.
tainly nothing less we'll defended than
our iron clad gunboats could have at.
tackled it with any hope of success.
FEARFUL EFFECT OF OUR FIRE.
The fort showed fearful evidence oI
the accuracy of our FIRE, and the terri.
bio force of our heavy guus. Every
port facing the river was knocked out
OF shape several of tho enemy's gun,
had been hit by our shells-one haC
been completely dismounted and two
more disabled by our shot. The fas
staff was hit, and every one of the small
log cabins which stood thickIy in the
open space, were ridded through anC
through by shot and shells. The earth
en- embankment, some fourteen feet il
thickness, was pierced completely
through in several places, but the te
nacious character of the earth prevented
it from forming such breaches as woult
ordinarily occur.
THE GUNB0ATs ENGAGED.
There were seven gunboats engageC
in the attack, carrying in all about 10t
guns. The boats were placed in tn,
following order:
On the left, next the encmy's posi-
ton, tho st. Louis; next Carondolet
next the Cincinnati-for the time be
ing, the Flag ship, and having on boart
Flag Officer A. H. Footc; next, upor
the right the Essex. The Tylor, Lex
ington and Cone 'toga acted as reserves
remaining behind until after the fgh
begun, and then, the enemy's fire bein,
engaged with the front boats, coming
within good shelling distance and put
ting in many telling shots.
This disposition of the boats com
mends itself at once as an admirable
stroke of Commodore Foote's undoubt
cd naval genius. The object was {,
bring to bear the best guns Of the feet
and at the same time to prevent the OK
pOsure of the broadside of any of tn
boats to the enemy's guns. Had ther
been such exposure, il is easy to imagin
the destruction and probable failur
which would have occurred, for tn
boats are extremely vulnerable in thei
after parts.
This order of approach having bee
assumed at the beginning, was prcserv
cd throughout the engagement the fir
opened at the distance of about on
mile, and continued with terrible eifeC
until the surrender, when the feet wa
not more than five or six hundred yard
| frotn tha eo.f