Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-03-07
RATTLE OF FORT DONELSON.
Official Report Of Col. Lnumnn.
L;.t IF Killed and Wounded in the ID, TIA
aud l4fh IOsc0. Us e

|
10Th inst. arrived near Fort Donelson tn
same evening. Immediately on our arIiva
I received your order to move tho 7th low
Infantry to the front to support battery {
Major Caycrde.'s 20pounder kine farro'
guns, which were placed in position TO CON
mand portion of the rebel works. l o1
taincd permission from you to associate IN
Regimen, of Birge's Sharp Shooters IN tn
movement, and placed the two regiments II
position where they remained during tn
night.
In accordance with order, on the morninl
Of Thursday, the 18th inst, l moved the Lot
wing of nv Brigade, consisting Of the 14tl
EIowa. Col. Shaw, the 25th Indiana, Col
Veatch, from their encampment towards tn
enemy. who were entrcnchcd about mil
distant therefrom. =.
The advance was made steadily and in a
GOOD order as the nature of the ground woult
admi, of, until we reached the ravine at thu
the base of the hill on which were the enc
my's Notifications. Here we halted until ths
| line could be formed, when the 18th Indiana
under Col. Veatch, moved steadily up the
hill and towards tho entrenchments, under
tho mos CALLING Are Of musketry aud grape
until their on ward progress vas obstructed by
the fallen timosr and brushwood. Having,
however, succeeded in obtaining an advanta-
geous position, they held it untiinchiDgly for
more than two hours and until ordered to fall
back out of the range of the enemy's fire.
The loss of this regiment in killed and wound
ed was yery severe. The 14th Iowa advanc-
ed at the samc time, and took position on the
right and across the ravine and did good exc
cution. Whilst these two Regiments were
taking the above positions, tho 7th Iowa ln-
fantry under Lieut. Col. Parrot, came up in
fine style and took position in the centre, be-
tween the 25 b Indiana and the 14th Iowa.
The lst Regiment Sharp Shooters, Western
Division, Lieut. Col. b. S. Compton, were pos
ted on the hill to the extreme right, excep: a
detachment of about sixty, who were deploy-
ed as skirmishers, and rendered most ettec-
tive service in that capacity, and proving by
their deadly aim that they are = mort valua
BILE arm of the service. We held this position
until night, when we fell back to the position
occupied in the morning. On the following
day we remained in camp skrmishing with
the rebels during the day and night.
On Saturday the 18th inst, at about two
o'clock, | received your order to advance with
my whole Brigade, and assault the heights on
the left of the position attacked by US on the
previous Thursday. The Brigade was prompt
" in motion in the following order:
The Second Iowa, Col. Tuttle, led the sd-
vance followed by the 52nd indiana. (tem
porarily attached to my Brigade who were
ordered to support them. This regiment was
followed closely by the 25th Indiana, the 7th
Iowa and the Iowa H,h. The Sharp Shoot
ers were previously deployed us skirmishers
on our extreme rig ght and left. Col. Tuttle
led the left wing Of his regiment in line Of
battle up the hill, supported by the right
wing advancing at distance Of about one
hundred and fifty yards in the rear. So soon
as he came within the range of the enemy's
fire, he led his men forward without firing
gun up to and charged into the rebel works,
driving the enemy before him and planting
his colors on their forti6cations. He was
closely followed by the other regiments in
the order of advance before named. The EN-
emy were closely pursued and driven behind
their inner works. Night coming on, we
held the position we had gained, and remain
ed under arms until morning, intending at
the dawn of day to re-cOmmcnce the attack
In this engagement the End Iowa suffered ter
ribly. Captains Slaymaker and Cloutman
fell az they entered the enemy's fortifcations
Cloutnan was instantly killed and Slaymaker
died calamity shouting to his men to 60 for
ward and cons innate the work.
In the morning, as day dawned, we were
attracted to the inner fortifcations by the
sound of bugle, and saw the rebels display
lug white flag instantly dispatched
Lieut.. Col. Parrot to ascertain the intent of
It. who re. orted that an officer wished to see
me. repaired to the spot and received from
him offers of capitulation, which at once
forwarded to you--the result is we'll known.
1t would afford me much pleasure to par
ticularize the various instances of personal
bravery displayed on the occasion by offic rs
under my command, but when all behaved so
we'll, it would be invidious to particularize,
but cannot refrain from mentioning, in this
connection, the bravery of Col. Tuttla, Lieut.
Co.. Baker, and Major Chapman, (who re-
ceived severe wound in the thigh) of the
Iowa Second Col Vcatch and ut-Col
Morgan, Of the Indiana 25th, and COL Shaw,
of the Iowa 14th also, Lieut. Col. Parrot!
and Major Rice, who led the Iowa 9TH, and
to whom return my warmest acknowledg
ments for the gallant manner in which they
led their regiment in the engagement on the
18th and 18th. They did all that men pos
sibly could do, and well sustained the Tepu
tation of the Iowa 9TH.
For the kindness, attention and skill mani
tested by the Surgeons and Assistant Sur
geons towards the unfortunate wounded fol
so many consecutive hours, | return my
| most sincere thanks.
The total loss in killed and wounded, is al
follows: -