Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-10-02
The Story Of Donelson.
From Phelps Life OfGeneral Gran


On the 10th of February, Grant wrote
Foote, 81 have been waiting very pa
tienily for the return of the gunboats
under Com. Phelps, to go around on
the Cumberland, whilst I march my
land-fOrces across TO make a simultane-
Gus attack upon Fort Done1son."
It was six days before the army could
be moved. Fort DOneIsOn was a far
more formidable place than Fort Hem
ry. 1t enclosed nearly a hundred acres
on bluff a hundred feet high. 1t was
defended by sixty-6ve guns. among
them ten-inch Columbiad, sixty-fonr
and thirty-twO FOUNDERS, Water-batter-
les on the river, and on land Relled tim
bers breast high,-the whole garrisoned
hy about tweDty-One thousand men,
It WAS one of tue strongest works in the
South or North.
Generals Buekner, Pillow, and Floyd
were in command.
After the fall of Fort Henry, the men
had worked day and night TO enlarge
and render the works impregnable.-
It's importance fc the COufedeTacy WAS
well understood hy the rebel govern
ment. l. was the key to Nashville, the
capital of Tennessee. It had been made
a large depot of supplies and its fall
would compel the evacuation of Bow
ling Green, which had even then been
/ partially weakened to re-enforce Dom
elzon, SO important was it deemed to
hold the latter at all hazards.
On the morning of the 18th, the army
began its march the bands played pa
tri0tic airs. the flags danced in the sun
light, and the men were determined to
conquer or die. Grant carried no tents
or baggage; he took only bullets, guns,
and ratIons; be threw up no iuIrench-
ments; his picks were pickets; his
spades were those described as having
| heen used in the burial OF Sir John
IN hr NJ fFr,v-rr
1--WE buried him darIzly at dead of night,
The sods NTH our 5zyOnets turning"
The exact number of the rebels was
then unknown; and, after giving direc-
uons as fully as possible, Grant added
/ in his field order, in regard to the de-
/ tails of the attack, 'tIhe- necessary or
ders agiI be geOe7a on the tJetd."
| Gen. Q. z smith had the left, ard Gen.
J. A. McClernand had the right, of
the national line, which was gradually
| extended to nearly three miles in
/ Ieugt b, IN the form of a crescent
The men bivouacked in line Of battle
/ with their arms in their hauds, and
/ were constantly under fire from the
| rebel bresstworks. Many of the men
/ bad thoughtlessiy thrown away their
1 blankets. No fires could be lighted ;
| and near daylight there was a severe
| snOw-stOrm. Through the night, the
rebels dropped shells frequently over
/
/ troops was very great.
Before daylight, on Friday the I4th,
/ the welcome sound OF the guubOatS was
/ heard on the river, and Com. F0ote ar
rived with four ironclads and two wood
/ en- gunboats. At three 3'clock in the
afternoon, they moved up TO within
four hundred yards ofthe heaviest guns
/ of the forts There, until hali-past four,
/ they maintained a most unequal fight.
The elevation and number of the rebel
guns, their great weight of metal, both
from the fort and the water batteries,
placed the boats at great disadvan-
| Eage. At last, the wheel of "The ST.
Louis" and the tiIler of 'The Louis
| vile" were shot away, and they were
rendered useless a rif1ed gun ex plOded
upon another boat ''Tbe Carundeiet'
received I20 FOUNDER in one Of hel
| forward ports Com. FoOte was wound
ed and The disabled fleet was compell-
ed to fall back cut of the range OF the
guns.
Grant then wrote, appearances nov
are that we shall have a protraeteo
siege here.........I fear the result of ar
with new troops. feel great conf
dence, however, Of ultimately reducing
the place.
Another night of piercing wind
snow, and sleet, came down upon th'
devoted soldiers.
No regrets were heard, no impatienc,
manifested. They only seemed eage
for the hour when they could show
, traitors how brave men could fight ant
die for the land they loved. Gran
seemed omnipresent. Without food o
| sleep be was everywhere, and Yet ap
peared to be exactly at the place wher
required at the proper moment.
AT two O'Clock at night, he recievei
the following note from the wounded
cOInmRnder:
FLAGSHIP ''sT. LOUIS" Feb. Il, 1865.
GEN. GRANT, commanding United stae
Forces.
DEAR GENERAL: VIII you do me tn
D favor to cOme on board at your earltes
D convenience As am dIsa Oled froi
waking, from confusion, L cannc
" possibly get to see you about the dispC
siIiOn of these vessels, all of which ar
more or less disabled.
A. s. FooTE, Flag officer
The rebels, seeing the gunboats re
tire, were greatly encouraged, and de
termined to move out early Saturda
morning, drive back the Union line
overwhelm Grants army, and win on
OF the greatest victories OF the war.
- At daylight, Floyd massed his troop
heavily on the left, who advanced ur
der Gen. Pillow against Macarthur
, brigade, on our extreme right, whel
our line was thin and weakest. The
y Setllo vi Will udEluB anu PRAYER
worthy of n better cause; and Tor tw
, hours the fighting was terrific. At tn
= time, two or three of our regiment
were broken, and one or two more wei
out Of ammunition; and the Union lii
10 waYeTed. Gen. MCClernaud sent woT
le back that Buckner had Joined Pillow
RI and he SHOULD be destroyed unless 7,
enfof ced.
Gen. W. H. L. wallace, who con
munded the centre, now advanced
his support, ccOmpHnisd by Logan
Both were fearless, and both magnp
ic men, who Inspired their soldiers wit
,, their own ind0mltabie spirit. The
and their troups fought with u courag