, 1863-02-11
From FORT D0NElS1A.
FURTHER FROM THE LATE
BATTLE,
How the Gunboats Sayed the
Day.

Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.]
CArRo. Feb 10, 1853.
In all rablished accounts Of .hc late battle
at Fort Donelson il appears th.st from some
reason or other, all mention Of the fact that
the gunboat feet under command OF Capt.
Leroy Fitch. participated has been. omitted;
but this viii probably be rcmedie5s In Col.
Harding's official report to Col. Lowe com
manding the three forts-Donelson, Herman
and Henry.
From a participating officer Of the light
druught gunboat feet, who arrived to-day,
haye obtained the following regarding the
part taken in the battle by the naval furces.
It seems that On the Sd inst, the gunboats
Lexington, Capt. Leroy Fitch, st. Clair, Capt.
J. s. Hurd, Brillinnt, Capt. Chas. G. Paskins,
silyor Lake, Capt. Robert Ru1lcy, and Robb,
Capt. Joshua Yardy-an under tho command
Of Capt. Fitch, were engaged Us eonrK5s to
forty-two transports, carrying men and stores
the men commanded By Gen. Bear1-to
Rosecrans' army. When about twenty miles
from Fort Donelzon, information Was received
Of the desperate straits Of our troops at the
Fort, under Col. Harding. The gunboats left
tho transports and steamed as fast as possible
to the aid Of Fort Donc1son. It was o'clock
in the evening when they arrived. Thoytook
position and opened upon the rebels, who
were investing the fort on three sides, aud
must have had possession in less than half an
hour. The gunboat Lexington followed with
her heavy guns, and others Of the 1ect soon
went in with great effect The st. Clair, ly-
ing opposite our forces, had to so to another
positIon, and she opened upon the Confcdcr-
a'es. From the number Of dead bodies
brought In from the locality. covered by her
guns, and where the SD Illinois had done no
fighting. it seems the St. Clair's aim was most
effective.
Previous to tho arrival Of the gunboats the
rcbe1s had sent q second flag Of truce demand
ing the surrender Of the fort, but Colonel
Harding had firmly refused. He had hopes
of holding out until Col. Lowe could send
him reinforcements, and if they failed to NJ
rire, and he and his officers unite In saying,
lad the boats tarried half an hour longer they
would have been compelled to surrender.
They had held the fort six hours. Their am
1nunition was nearly expended, and al1 the
men tired out with hard fighting.
The rebel force was several thousand. Our
forco was less than 800, all told, but when the
gunboats appeared Colonel Harding order
cd firing to cease, and drew his men into IS
small u compass within the works as possible
that they might not be injured By shot and
shell, and awaited the result, giving tho con.
| clusion Of the battle entirely to the fleet.
Right well did they finish what the brave
| Illinois troops and Floods battery had well
commenced. The rcl,els took fright, broke
ranks, fed and ran pcll nell, heller skelte,
like sheep, with curses loud aud deep against
the internal gllnboats.
| Gems Wheeler and Forrest we're not tht
last off the field. Col McNary was undoubt
edly killed, with eco others. His corpse wa
recognized by an old friend, In the presence
Of tho captain Of the st. Claire.
1t is conceded on every hand that Col. Har
ding's men fought we'll and nobly, and 1t I
also conceded that but for tho timely nrriva
Of the gunboats, the Confederates would 500
have rc-posscssed point that cost so muc
blood to capture from them. AL honor t
Col Harding, Of the SD Illinois, and Cap'
Fitch, Of the light draught guns:at fee
Honor to the soldiers, honor to the Officer
md scamcn. They saved Fort Done1son.