, 1863-02-13
THE SECOND BATTLE OF DON-
ELSON.
Floods Huftcry-pRrt Taken by the
Light Drift Gunbont Fleet, Gn.1rr
Capt. FIteA-Incfdc1lte, &C., DC.

G. Gallnnt Defence ny tic sad II1tnof~nila
Floods Huttcry-IRrt Taken by the
Light Drnff (sunbont Fleet, GnIrr
Capt. F'ftcA-1nc1acalts, 6c., dc.
[rrom Our Own Cosrcspondent.]
OK ppAnD THH GuEnoAr ST., CLAIR. orFl
sa1TuLANn, H., Feb, 8, 1868.
The second fight at Fort Done]son, which
occurred on tile ID Of the present month, from
the absence Of The newspaper correspondents,
las only been casually noticed by tho press,
and the slight mention that l,as bcc, n,atlo .us
come through the telegraph. I arrived at
th!s point only Inst evening, and to-day have
lit upon iii old aid able army officer, who
took part in the battle, or at least in lis ton
GLIDING Ecence. From this gentleman and
from the officers Of his boat lavc been able
to- gatl,tr tolerablc idea Of The entire occur.
renee.
: TIE DAY OF TIL: FIGHT.
To give III account Of this fight In ull its
particulars, would he an impossibility at this
distant day. But perhaps description Of Its
prominent points may do in the absence Of NIL
more perfect clucidation. The I'd WIS II
stormy tlny. It bid fhlr at one moment to
SNOW, MD oil the ensuing moment rain would
f,ll. Thcn tlcTo carlc sprfnklfng Of snow.
OF course there was solac delay In navigation
IT. consequence of the weather. And, as will
be shown In tho sequel, 1t vas most provldcn-
tial tnnt there was delay In lllc movements III
onc particular rnlt Of the country.
THE yoncE or uES. baird.
To commence this description wl.crc my In.
formation Is bcst, although somcwhat distant
from the fccne If lie battle, ] oprn al this
rlncc.- smithlana-where were lying, Oh tho
'3d lnstant, forty.tlyc river steamers, upon
wllic;i: were loatlcd Gen. Dalrl'B division Of
troops, md n largo supply of storcs intended
for Ro.ccran's arlny, Those transports wcrc in
convey uf fleet Of light gunhonss, to which
Ind lutcly been nddcd The wooden bttt service.
able l'oat LcAington-all unler command OF
Capt. Ltroy CIarli Of Jnd1ana. Tho little lcct
was composed Of the Lexington u'nl Fairplay,
Capt. Clark; st. Clair, CAPT. j. s. I1url Ut Ken,
tuchy; Brilliant, Capt. Gins. q. Perkins o'
| Cincinnati; Silver Lake, Capt. Robt. Rcillcy
If Pennsylvania; and Robb, Capt. Josllua
Cloudy If Cincinnati
4 REDEL Sly.
The storm had delayed progress little, nnG
Tic fleet lay ut this place some hours, taking
On forage and coal. While the St. ClaIr Vii:
lying tied up to The Kentucky shore, the pi
lot went on shore for 4 moment. As he Was
attending to his business, he was noticed anG
closely followed and questioned by an ole
man who said lie had friends at Fort Donel
son, and Was yery ANXIOUS to reach them, o.
fleet then in the river near by woult
reach Fort Donclson. The pilot looked
ut the old man. lie must hnyt
been seventy years Of age, and although harm
less enough, lie bad a sinister expression il.
tie eye Which I'D Tue pilot, to suspect nim
the pilot that the boats would not leave mil
tic next day, and would he perhaps until TIL
second day in reaching or pIssinE Donc1son
Soon afterwards the questioncr disappeared
Il w:ls another providrntia1 occurrence tim
the pilot prcyaricatcd and deceived his aget
lhan was rebel spy. But more oil him anon
MEMS FROM DoSELsoN.
Notwithstanding tho unpleasant weathe
ard the fact that there were rumors Of th
presence Of rebels in the vicinity, their fleet o
gunhoats and transports arrived on the Sd
| and steamed lcisurly up the stream. 1t wa
early i'll the day yet, and considerable progrcs
was made before the middle Of the afternoon
| When about twenty miles from Fort Doncl
sod, a dispatch boat hove in sight and sig
! nailed The Elirplay, upon which the com
mander ofthc feet was, to halt for dispat ches
This dispatch was most important. It VA
from Col. Howe, commanding the district In
md stated that Col. Harding and the GOO lii
nois troops Under him, had that day been at
tackled by Gems. forrest and Wheeler, Will
over T,Cc0 infantry, FIVE or six guns, and som
cavalry, and that unless there WAS aid render
cd them Immediately, the chances were th;,
1{y~$1y $~1 Il 1srS.a H..
The report said even then the Fcdcrals wer
entirely surrounded and running short Of am
munition.
WHAT CAPTAIN FITCH DID.
Capt. Fitch quickly concluded to leave hi
transports to take care Of theMselycs-or, "a
thcr to follow rs fast as they cou1d-and wit!
all the available gnnboats, to steer directly t
acccded to by every commander in the fleet
and with all tho steam they could safc1
carry the fron.clads, turned their prows u
stream. They soon left the heavily laden col
yoys astcrn.
| AFFIAS AT TIE FORT.
Leaving for the moment the fleet moving Ii
with all speed, let It's turn our attention
Fort Donclson, and see how affairs were pre-
crossing there. -.
The rebels bad appeared in the vieinit
about one o'clock in the afternoon Of tue da
in question. That is, Col. Harding heard RI
ports that they were near at hand. lie ilr
mediatc1y telcgraphcd Col. Lowe. That of
send out scouts and learn the exact force m
! intentions Of the enemy. This wns dont
He tclcgraphcd the facts learned to Co!ons
Loweand asked for rcinforcemcnts. Col.Low
: at that time had nearly all his available fore
I out OH scouting expeditions aud could not sen
any ald. Dnt nc learned from fadncah IN
+ the gunboats were coming, ard he sent a di
{ patch stating tie condition Of the garrison
Fort Donclson. nc 1hen telegraphca 70 u u
commandant, tolohci 1iafaing, TO nola IL
placc at az hazaras 1 nhlfl aarh, ~ wnlen IN
that which IL promised, the result wi
: show.
t TIE REREL ATTACK
e at2n. m thc rche1s maf,c their onnr,r,u,
in 1rrc,f n.,1nhcrs. md attarl,rd fi7c XII fro
the cast,yari. thinEinc that fbc weakest
most available polnt at which to opcn Il
| combat. The Confederate l,ttcrjes wer,. VI
IL and Astronomical cavalry tllen commenced The
|. f;rc and several un:,,ccrssfnl charges r..
i made unon Inc works with The intEntion
carving them nj The ,,oint nf Tho haynnf
W;tn,{ thc dnrt ~ nHo ~ nonJou: ~ ny
= orn,a5 rc,,aIz ln5 1r ercoss sf,1 anJ a,,in ~
aare yr;t1;,, if,o o;,,h ,,,l.,,n,,t, a1,,to.o
10 ~" non1 nni'aa,aa r'i ~ !,
rns,,lts hnt datarr,,noa ~ sai1 t1,.;s ~ H..
It aaa1i oee uee ~ III Ti,na, t ,1 raa;
s, "Ile ~ ~ ao1S l.as:;.9 anu n!u9e
- ma nnacr thc or3crs Of Go, Hanlinm I,
siMI,n-, oraI sin,,1., ~ ',i 1a1;Ieasaa+a Il
anh sot reu te,;n@ no"i No. a t,o ao
11,+ e:lsn hnut @ tcn.ns ,,,an n4'on lue @ n9S' c,
E lesu!s Mae M Iaan9 ~ tnG aeu Aou
It ouesat Nv !o4s, riea ti.I lcptl' ~, w
shot eset ~ aus oai aSa VI osest ~ W. ~
nfs1 nghl Q! Luz oou, a3o sooa nFne u VI N.
Il anu oue MnieE ,s itta ettat ~ ~ "