The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-02-19
Letter from Fl. DoneIson, Tenn
FT. DoNELsoN. TENN, !
Feb 9th, 1868. (

FT. DoNELsoN. Tenn,
Feb 9th, 1863.
EDIroRs GAZETTE II have just VISITED
the scene of one of the most desperate
conflicts of the war. On the morning Of
the Sd, Generals Forrest and Wheeler
made sleir appearance befort For! Donel
son and demanded its surrender. Col.
Harding commanding. replied that he
would "surre nder when lie had to-" For.
rest then surrounded the Fort, displayed
his force. and again demanded its surren.
der; but the sight of his overwhelming
numbers failed TO produce the desired eff.
feet. He was again Informed that he
must fight to get Ft Donclson. The
force occupying the Fort consisted of nine
companies Of the 83d Illinois, numbering
about elk hundred men, ana Blood's bat
terry. Al two o'clock the attack COM
mepcpd on all sides except the river
Part Of the 83d stationed ont from the
Fort were soon driven into the village 10
which the Fort is located. The rebels
8 on got between the Fort and the rive.
20 the little band was surrounded. They
advanc.d to the edge of. the river and
took possession of houses from which
they pon,sd.a continual wiley ipio our
boys. Several times they charged up to
our men, but were sent back in confu.
sion. A force of three hundred advanced
up ravine, and had Just reached the
top from which the man were to charge
when Colouei Harding with forty men
dashed upon them, when part Of them fed
and the rest dismounted and ran into
houses. Col Harding dashed up with
unloadsd guns,i under fire from everv
window, mashed down the doors, and
clearing away all resistance with the bay
onet, entered like tigers. The poor reb>
els cried for mercy and we're marched
out as prisoners. A siege gun mounted
in the centre Of the village was manned by
men of the 83d and supported by part of
the regiment it was charged upon again
and again, but the boys were invlncib!e.
The gun fred fOrtytwo rounds, tie last
two being fred with Goals, the fuses hav
ing been expended The AdjutAnt twice
advised the men working the gun, to
leave it or they would be captured. Ev>
cry officer Of the 1871 regiment carried
musket and used it heartily. One of
Blood's pieces was captured, the horses
being shot so he could not move it when
be retired into the village. Thirty we
Of the 9th Iowa cavalry were captured be-.
fore the fight while out scouting. They
we're all paroled except the Captain.
Forrest had three batteries and six
thousand cavalry He Withdrew at dark,
just as the arrival Of gunboa,, which
shelled the woods in front of the fort
The field was cleared of dead and wound
ed last night, and the result of the Gghl
shows loss to US of II killed and 25
wounded, and 35 nlen and one cannon
captifed. Loss to the rebels ll5 killed
twenty two wounded and forty prisoners,
Tn my hurry have given a few dis,
Ijoiuted ideas Of the fight as 1 got them
from those engaged, except that | can.
not describe the invincible courage Of the
S3d Illlrois, Their ''bull headed per.
sisIency has not been surpassed during
the war, and they needn wish to ex
change reputation with any regimen! ia
the service.
\ Major General Grapgsr's corps is near
\ y all up here. Forty.6ve boats are here
waiting for the rest before proceeding tc
Nashville. II ib expected we will NEE
with resistance but We have six partic
uhr friends of the rebels. which ! have
no doubt will persuade them TO let vi
pass. Among the gunboats is the AL
fred Robb which | saw captured up the
! Tennessee.
The snow is four inches deep, The
recruiting pert OF the l7lh patiently ex'
Ipect to reach the regiment before theil
term of fservice expires. ]. E. l..
The Soldiers Right to Vote.
No party denies this right. therefore
lthere is no necessity to argue the point