Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-02-14
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
TIE OFFICIAL YAOr5 AS To THH CONYsD-
ERAIK EEf AT FORT DuNBLSON
OFR 6USBOATS DO THR WORK AND SAW
FORT ONBtSON WHEN SURROUNDED
BY THR ENEMY
". =. GUNBoAT FArRPLAY,

~ OCvT, Term, February 4, 1853.
Sar; nave the honor to report that, On the
I'D instant, ieft Smithland, Ky, with feet ct
transports, and the Eunooass Lexington, Fair
Play, ~ CHAR. Brilliant, Robb, and Silver
Lake, n convoy, up tie Cumberland river
" hen about twenty four miles below Dover
met the steamer Wild Cat with q message
from Gel Harding, commandant of the post At
Dover, informing ME that his pi:kets had be.n
Gri'rn IN, and that he was attacked IN force [
s MI to The gun boa,s to foluw on up IS fast rs
possible. short distance below the to wn [
met another steamer, bringing the inteili ,e ace
ts:;t The place was rntrriy surrounded.
I-GSnlnE on up viii all possible speed,
drNtd here about p. III, and found Colonel
Lar ;inz ToT.e out OF ammun tiun, and en-
tneiy surrounded ny the reprls la ov, rwheim N
umbers, but still holding then in chark
The en' my not expecting guns,oats hal I'M
via ~ posi- d tie main rody of his army IN
line OF rattie IL the gra,ey ard 1T t;e wess end
o. the tiwn, with his left wing rtsIIag In a IA.
vine that led down 10 The river, giving US 4
chance 10 throw a T1king fire slon. his line
Simuii aneously the a,unhoaLs opened fir. I'D
tn's raniEr into the graveyard, and over iutJ
thc valley beyond, where the en-my iiai horses
MI. la @, aDG most probably kent ais reserve.
, NE krbeis WIRE so much tak.n by SURPRISE,
tnat they old not even life Il shot, but INN -di-
ate!y on menced retrealfng. 30 well directed
=" IA our ME on them, that they could not even
carry OF calsson that they Lad c1ptursd
from our forces, but were compelled 10 aaan-
II
il by hrp.
After having dispersed the main body of tho
ent my, stationed the Robert and Silver Lake
belOw the towr, TO throw shell nm th- rtvin.
ana prevent thu R beis from returaiay L, carr
on the wounded, while the iexiny. on, Fair
play, 81. CLAIR and Brilliant went above, AMI
90. 'ied me roads LEADING ont 20 The Ell ,tward.
SupposIng the retreating forces would fol o1
TIE riveI Tor short distance, sent The Lex.
In ton ana ot- Cisir On up 10 she'll the woods,
4 rass aid annoy them As rauch rs possibl.,
u q hSnQ fhlt
upper raNine, and threw shells up the roads
About 10 p m. We ceased firing, with tee ex.
e~ption VI now and then n random she'll tip the
f1ads. at ii T. m, learning from Col Harding
tnat the enemy had entirely disappear d, W.
ceased firing, and took position to guard the
rUacs approaching the town.
Although much OF our firing was at random,
we have The qualification OF knowing that
scarci ~ prof. ctile went amiss, and that out
Of the 40 buried to-day tbs gunboats can claim
their share.
Even hen the Lexin gton aad st. Clair wen,
abovr, many Of their shells fell right In The
midst OF The refreshing Rsbeis, killing and
woundirg many.
10 IL II: orted that the attacking force num-
Be: cd sone $50, with eight pieces OF artillery
IL d. cCDr,and OF Major General Wheeler,
Hrfg Gems. Forrest and Wharton. II is crr-
entire force was cut MP, routed and dsspoiied
OF ne FREY hy the timely arrival or the gun boats,
and that Col Harding and his gallant Iittls
oAnd were spared 10 wear the honors they had
30 fai-iy won.
At frst regretted that was not here with
ire g, ntoxts sooner, but, upon reflection, l do
not think could b-tter have arranged the
tmr, rad IL ben AZ my power.
Lad We been here befvse Wheeler, he would
not nave mae the attack, hu. most probably
vcuid have marched on Fort Henry
Had We arrived during the day he would
nave s'%n "rr strength, and would have ~.
treated with but little loss. Arriving as we did,
u ~ dark, ana when he least ex pected u aud
was 90 S2ngrine OF success, we caught 80
I"fces arranged IN the most favorable position
70 receive TakinE lire from our guns.
Ihe omcers and men We're very glad to haye
shot at these river inf-stors, and only reyrs,
that they did not remain within rsact Of .ur
guns q little longer. Az IL in, thry claim the
noaoT OF dispensing them, and saving Fort
DoB<l-
Very respectfully. your obedient servant
Lis Roy FITCH, Lieut. Com.
fieet Csptain A ~. PEssock, U. :. N. Com
maEdant or Naval Station, Cairo. I'll