The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-02-14
RroD Fofs DomelsOn-HoW the Sun bos :
saved the Day. ~
Special Dispstch 70 the Chicago Tribune

special U1spetch 70 the Chcego.Tnbune.
iaH eiaf f'se tfsa CAIRo, Feb 10, 1868, !.
{ mail published accounts of the late battie at
Fort Donelson it appears that from some reason
or other, all mention of the fact that the gun.
boat feet under command Of Capt Leroy Fitch,
participated has been ommitted; but this will
FpFooaaiy BE- remediedin Col. Harding's Official
report 70 Col Lowe commanding the three forts
-Donelson, Herman and Henry. q 70
draukht gunboat Aeet, Who arrived today. I have
obtained The following regarding the part taken
in the battle By the naval forces : .is.s 81
y seems that on the I'd inst, the gunbosts
Lexington, Capt. Leroy Fitch, ST. Clair, Capt
y. - hurd, Brilliant, Capt. Chaao g. Perkins,
silver Lake, Capt Robert Rnllsy, and Robb,
sCspt Joshua Yandy-sll under the command
q Capt Fitch, were engaged as convoys to
forty-swo transports, carrying men and stores
1.-The men commanded BY Gen. Beard-to Ros
,ecranssarny. When sbout twenty miles from
Fort Donelson, information was ,received of the
desperate straits of our troops at the Fort. I'M.
der Col. Harding. The gunboats left the trans.
ports and steamed 81 fast - possible TO tie did
of Fort Donelson. . Il was O'Clock whea they
arrived. They took position and opened upon
the rebels, who were investing the fort on three
sides, and must have had possession in less than
half On hour. The gunboat Lexington followed
With her heavy guns. and others Of the feet
soon went in with great effect. The St. Clair,
ing opposite our forces, had TO 60 TO another pc.
sition, and she opened upon the Confederatea -
From the number Of dead bodies brought in
from the locality covered by her guns, and
where the SD Illinois had done no Sighting, it
seems the St Glars aim was most effective.
Previous to the arrival Of the gunboats the
rebels bad sent second Gag Of truce demand
ing the surrender of the fort but Colonel Hard.
ing had firmly refused. he had hopes of hold
Ing ont until Col. Lowe could send him rem.
forcements, and If they failed to arrive, and as
be and his officers unite In saying, had the boats
tarried hslf an hour longer they would have
been compelled to surrender. They had held
the fort for six hours. Their ammunition was
nearly expended, and I'LL the men tired out with
hard fighting ,s;s,f.iiq bal e1ohss -.
4 The rebel force was several thousand. Our
force was less than 600, all told, but when the
gunboats appeared Colonel Harding ordered
firing to cease, and drew his men into az small
. compass within the works as possible that
they might not be injured by shot and shell,
and awaited the result, giving the conclusion Of
the battle entirely to the feet. 7aes
9 Right we'll did they finish what the brave Illi-
nos troops and Floods battery had we'll com.
menced The rebels took fright, broke ranks,
fed and run pell nell, heller skelter like sheep,
with curses loud and deep against the internal
gunboats. se 70 rz ~
Gems. Wheeler and Forrest were not last of
the field. Col. NcNary was undoubtedly killed.
with 200 Others His corpse was recognized BY
an old friend, in the presence of the captain Of
the ST. Claire. F7lss sgas ~ 49,.
It is conceded on every hand that Col. Har-
ing's men fought well and nobly, and it is also
conceded that but for the timely arrival of the
gunboats, the Oonfederates would soon have re-
possessed point that cost 90 much blood to
capture from them. All honor to Col Harding,
Of the SD Illinois, and Capt. Fitch, of the
light draught gunboat feet. Honor to the SOL
diers, honor to the officers and seamen. They
saved Fort Donelson. s5AsS