White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1863-02-19
SECOND BATTLE OF FORT posv,
SON.
GUNBOATs DECIDE THE EF.r,
THE DAY. VI
MTERzsTIHe DETAILS OF THE .v,.-,

CAIRO. Feb. 10.-In all publi,bs,
counts Of the late battle of Fort Donslsae
it appears. that for some reason or u o,S"
all mention Of the fact that the ouuh"a, Nue.,
feet under command of Captain ' Is.a"
Fitch participated, has been omi.,0iy Jy
But this will probably be remedisd tu' !.
Colonel Hsrdings' official report IN on !,
Lowe. commanding the three for.s-Don
elson. Himan and Henry.
From q participating officer i. II.
light.draught gunboat feet, who arr;rsi
to-day. l have obtained the FOLLOWING =.
garding the part taken in battle by n.
naval forces: 1t seems that on the Sdin.
stant the gunboats Lexington, C.ut,in
Leroy Fitch: the St. Clair, Captain J 8
Hurd; the Brilliant, Captain Charles G
Perkins; the Silver Lake. Captain Rob,
Reilly. and the Robb. Captain Josbu,
Gundy-sll under command Of CAPTAIN
Fitch-wsre engaged as convoys to III,
forty-two transports carrying men and
stores to Rosecrans' army.
When about 20 miles from For, Dan.
elson, information was received Of the
desperate situation Of our troops at the
fort under Col. Harding. The gunbo,,,
left the transports and steamed as fast :,
possible to the aid of the garrison Il
was 8 o'clock in the evening when th.y
arrived there and took position, and fair.
play upon the rebels. who were besiegiur
the fort on three sides, and must have had
possession in less than half an hour. Tb.
gunboat Lexington followed with hsr
heavy guns. Others of the fleet soon
went in with great effect. The St. Cl.ir
lying opposite our forces. had to 90 to
another position, whers she soon opened
upon the rebels.
From the number of dead bodies
brought in from the locality covered BY
her guns, and where the S3d Illinois had
not done any lighting. it seems the St.
Clair's aim was most effective.
Previous to the arrival of the gunbo.ts
the rebels had sent two Gags of truce de-
manding the surrender Of the fort; but
Col. Harding had courteously but firmly
refused to surrender. He had hopes Of
holding out till Colonel Lowe could send
him reinforcements. II they failed to ar
rive, he and his officers unite in saying,
that had the boats tarried half an hour
longer they would have been compelled
to surrender. They had held the post
six hours and their ammunition was near.
ly expended. and all the men tired out
with hard fighting.
The force of the rebels was 1000 ours
less than six hundred, all told. But when
the gunboats did appear. Col. Harding
ordered the firing to cease, and drew his
men into ss small . compass within the
works as possible. that they might not bs
injured by the shot and shell, and await
ed the result, giving the conclusion Of the
battle entirely to the feet; and right we'll
did they finish what the brave Illinois
B3d and Floods battery had well COM
The rebels soon broke ranks and fed
pell.mell, heller.skelter like sheep.
Generals Wheeler snd Forest were not
The last off the field. Col. McNairy was
undoubtedly killed, with 200 others. HIS
corpse was recognized BY an old friend
10 the presence Of the captain Of the St.
Clair. ..
1t is conceded on every hand that Col.
HardiDgs men fought well and nobly.
Il is also conceded that but for the timely
arrival Of the gunbosts, the Confsderates
would soon have repossesssd point that
cost 90 much blood to capture from them.
ALL honor to Colonel Harding. Of the
s3d Illinois. and Captain Fitch, Of the
|ight-draught gunboss feet. Honor to
The soldiers, honor to the officers and Sea-
man fhnz aa1ad t. no..l.aa