The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-02-19
The Rattle at Fort DoneIson.
Detailed account of the .Struoqle.

II
Special Cispatch to the, Chicago Tribune.
In all published accounts Of the late
battle at Fort Donelson it appears that,
from some reason or other, all mention
of the fact. that the gunboat feet under
the command of Capt. Leroy Fitch
participated, has been omitted: but this
will probably be remedied in Col. Hard
ing's official report to Col. Lowe, COM
handing the three forts--Donelson, Her.
man, and Henry From participating
officer of the light draught gunboat feet
who arrived to-day, have obtained the
following regarding the part taken in the
battle by he.naval forces
gunboats Lexington, Capt. Leroy Fitch,
St. Clair, Capt. j. S. Hurd, Brilliant,
Capt. Charles G. Parkins, Silver Lake,
Capt Robert Rulley, and Robb, Capt
JOSH Yandy-all under the command of
Captain Fitch, were engeged as conveys
to forty-two transports, carrying
men and stores the men commanded by
Gen. Beard-to Rosecrans' army. When
about twenty miles from Fort Uonelson,
information was received of the desperate
straits of our troops at the Fort, under
Col. Harding. The gunboats left the
transports and steamed as fast as possible
to the aid of Fort Donclson. 1t was s
o'clock in the evening when they arrived.
They took position and opened upon the
rebels who were investing the fort on
throo e;doe o,d ,,uct hove bod ,o.eo,.;o,,
in less than half an hour. The gunboat
Lexington followed with her heavy guns,
and others of the feet soon went in with
great effect. The st. Clair, lying oppo-
site our forces, had 70 60 to another posi-
ton, and she opened upon the Confede-
rates. From the number of dead bodies
brought in from the locality covered by
her guns, and where the Eighty-third
Illinois had done no fighting it seems the
St. Clair's aim was most effective. Pre-
vious to the arrival of the gunboats the
rebels had flag of truce demanding the
surrender Of the fort, but Col. Harding
firmly refused. He bad hopes of holding
out until Col. Lowe could send him rein
forcements, and if they failed to arrive,
and as he and his officers uni e in saying,
had the boats tarried half an hour longer
they would have been compelled TO sur
render. They had held the fort six hours.
Their ammunition was nearly expended,
and all the men tired out with hard fight
ing. The rebel force was several thous-
and. Our force was less than 600, all
told, but when the gunboats appeared
Col Harding ordered firing to cease, and
drew his men into as small compass,
within the works, as possible, that they
might not be injured by the shot and
shell, and awaited the result, giving the
conclusion of the battle entirely to the
feet. Right well did they finish what
the brave Illinois troops and Floyd's bat
terry had we'll commenced. The rebels
took fright, broke ranks, fled, and ran
pell neil, heller SHELTER, like sheep, with
curses loud and deep, against the Internal
gunboats.
Gems. Wheeler and Forrest were not
the last off the field Cul McNary was
undoubtedly killed, with 200 others. His
corps was recognized by an old friend, in
the presence of the captain of the St Clair.
1t is conceded on every hand that Col
Hardings men fought well and nobly,
and it is also conceded that but for the
timely arrival Of the gqnboats, the Con-
fedelates would soon have re-possessed a
point that cost so much blood to capture
from them. All honor to COL Harding,
of the S3d Illinois, and Capt. Fitch, of
the light draught gunboat fleet. Honor
to the soldiers, honor to the oficers and
seamen. They saved Fort Donelson.