Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-02-20

A corre.uondent Or ths CIncIr1st Ilales
zrves Al account Of the severe fighting on
land sr Dover and Fort Doncl.1n, On The 4th
Of Teh-u.-y. Inc part taken By the gun
bo..s and he conclusion Of the whole nat
te- ve E-vs yesterday. Inc garrison Tss
mail. consisting OF oas regiment, the sd
Illinois volunteers. nu-h-rtns 79o men, and
four piece o. srtiiis-y. To- reh-l. ar
proschlnc II az. fore expected n e-sy
victor
d" They approached ths plzoe y thre. cli-
unns about u 'clocE. Tho an ms. ui---S-
Their artillery n a ssmi-oirele. am counsnc-
e thc zctsck 1hev were resolved ~ tn
unerrIng am of the SD. causing great ios>,
whiie thew Tepulsed them on svs-v size. Bod
and daring we're many Of their moves, BAT
this gallant regiment fsitsred not, ana cou-
unucd % pour their deadly ms among
them
Several tlmes, inst when they thought they
were about 70 obusIn tae prize, our nsn
would u ana a. then. pourinE such 2 Tak-
ins ire into their charging columns, Is o
completely bsvildeT and route then with
great slsuEhter-
One lirtls incident VIII show what the RIB
els eTpected- Having exhibited such e lSrge
force, and c1ulplsteiv surrounded our men,
they thought Il was about time FOR Ne to eur
render ard they bsCzr 70 Be out Of p-tisncs
Al our nen's foolish tsnscity. 81 they termed
Il, and determined 20 make charge npon the
siege yrr, winch they hored 20 capture snd
decide tbs co,t=s--
-
rode rsp.iiy 70 the sivznce Of me charging
force, and v-ntured little advice. yelling out
- You damned fcols You, don't you know
vher 70 surrender don't Won So Won are
completely surrounded Our gallant little
forcs at this point did not appreciate this
sdnoriticr-but Just then hang went the
old gun, blowing Mr.. rebels and horrs 20
atoms, repulsing the charge. and saving this
point again ! saw the men and horses-
they were about fifteen feet from the gun
when Il went Of. loaded with canister
Ihs fight commenced about llo'ciock, and
continued I'll about O'Clock At It's com
mencement our men Withdrew from the fort
% the town Of Dover, about half = mile
from II. When the eiegc guns were planted
and they had breast vTorks thrown up, and
the building to shield them from TINS position.
.
About O'Clock Gen Forrest sent in q Tag
Of truce, demanding 4 surrender, saying that
we had fought gallantly killing many Of his
men in fact, mad covered Ourselves al over
with glory; but that he had not shown alf
ms force. and ms orders were 70 take the
place at all hazards-thst against such over
whelming ODDS II would only be folly 70 ID
danger the lives cf the men by holding cut
any longer
Col. Harding replied that his nen were
Just getting their hands ir-th.t he had
not shown one quarter Of me men. and they
were al anxious 10 continue the 6-ht as soon
ss he chose be was ready and anxious.
Concluding that discrstion was the batter
/ part Of valor, they Withdrew 70 a place bshind
mi and connenoed building their camp
fres, preparatory 10 camping for the night,
probably 70 renew the attack II the morning
but 81 this luncture Of zfairs, the run-bosrs
cane W and opened Ere on them, czusinc
confusion vor.e eonfounded, bringing vividly
20 their minds the terrible execution Of the.s
monsters al Pittsburg landing. Az the feet
came up. the boats Wero throwi,- An ocos-
slonsl shell INTO IN, vOo.is after than II their
hssty rctrsst- The lose Of the sd was ! :
killed and ahOut % wounded, vhiis that OF
Ia reh-ls Il izbnlous. 80 CT their kfrci
having ben found, among ~facn were = cols-
neAz, shout 50 pris0nsrs-lz-rc uuuh,rs
Eounosa showing the unparalleled tsct tlat
the E,iieo, wounded and prisoner 81 ne
rs-e.s an cunt - nsre than tne whc.s f,,lcss.l
tcroe engage