The National tribune., 1883-12-27
THE 18th Illinois at Fort ponelson.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
] send you letter written by my second
lieutenant TO his brother, which we old soldiers
of the 18th Illinois infantry would like to see
published in TEE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Sue
cess to THE TRIBUNE. Yours, truly,
WM. ILIFF,
WASHINGTON, Ill. 11th Illinois Inf
FoRr DoNELsox, TENN, Feb. 20, 1862.
DEAR GEORGE: Doubtless this you have
heard of our success in taking this place, but rs
am at leisure at present will give you few ac-
counts they under my observation On
the eve of the 18th inst, on our march from Fort
Henry, we halted within one mile OF the enemy s
Notifications at Fort Donelson. We blvouaefled
for the night and rytg passed OF quietly tlll
sunrise. when instead OF blank report OF the
mornings gun at revcilie as usual we were star
tied by heavy cannonading from the enemy,
throwing grape and shell but a few feet over our
heads. Every IN line OF battle instantly
The I4th was improved in arranging the different
brigades, regiments, batteries, &c, for action.
heavy cannonading was kept up all day. Two
regiments, the 18th, made an attack on
the center of the forti1cation, but were driven
back badly cut up. Again we biyonacl1ed for the
night The eneny's fiiln2 reached us ABOUT MID
night when asEcBe and found ourselves COW
cred with eight inches of snow. The rebels did
not venture near. but kept their balls wflz-
zing heads all night Friday, the
18th was cold. Our line extended ali along
their breasworiSs. the farthest distance from ii one
mile, the nearest one-half mile. The enemy Kept
very quiet with their batteries. but every that
showed himself st tlle top of the hill YVES tired at
! 10y their slsarPsifooters We soon toQk up their
game, and Often bad the pleasure OF seeing a seeesh
drop At O'Clock D. the gunhoats commenced
Smelling the fort. At O'Clock p. IA. the fIIIng
ceased, when the rebels commenced cheering,
/ which gave understand that the gunboats
were unsuccessful. Up to this time the battle had
not commenced We had kept up continued
sfirTislsiag TO ascertain the rebels strength posi-
4 ton, courage Gc
Dover j. q small town the county seat of this
county, situated on the Cumberland River. The
country around is very ro5gh and hilly, mostly
woods and brush OF oak. The fort Is on the high
4 est eminerce built of gravel bags. Then the
j breastworks extend from the north side OF the
river around Enclosing the town and fort TO the
4 river agaim / should Judge il was i've miles IN
length. Al military say every advantage was
taken when the breslstworlSs were built. They
had fallen timber space OF thirty RODS IN width
/ in front Of and all along the works. Between the
] breastworks and our line a deep rayfne. Our
brigade Nallace'sl was the second from the south
of the river. We Were stationed back a little rom
the top Of tle ridge to keep OF range OF the
1 my's guns. Again biyoRacked, but the snow
4 and cold and shells Of the enemy prevented us
from getting any sleep The shells came pouring
over cur heads al night hut none could touch us,
for were just below the top of the ridge. On
the morning Of the 10th made coffee, and while
taking it the enenly's firing warned us Of their
approach We fell into line where arms was
stacked and waited their approach.
Seen their balls esme in showers over our heads.
! IL returned by the brigade right, and
sooa the devils cgawled all fours up in front oil
Us. They would lie on the ground and load, get
up and IRE, and lie down again. At tleiE first ire
the right OF company and The left OF company
@ suffered badly. They now stuck up their flag
q
until they were so badly cut Up that they were
obliged to fall back. The 18th Illinois stood theil
ground and suffered the egieinys fire until oul
regiment WAS badly cut mp. when the order was
given 10 retreat Our regiment mainly made fol
the woods but l. with about twenty men, made
for the rear Of the Goth Illinois which was not ex
1 posed to the FIRE. had received n spent bail in
the left SIDE four inches below the breast; i
wounded slightly but panied tremendously, and
supposed was Slot through In the retreat re
ceved two more just below tie s:louidel
blades the backbone the other struck in thu
small Of the back, cutting my sword belt IN two
and lodging in the flesh. J NOW felt nearly uses
up. but before reaching the 25fh regiment body
OF rebel cavalry had cut OF our retreat. The.
, charged Us cutting right and left with tlsei
sabers, but oGr boys piled into them with thei
. 5ayonets. drew my revolver and leveied il ol
one just az he aimed az ne. but his horse iseiss
. unsteady had the advantage and popped nin
from his horse; his revolver discharged II half
second after fired. kept firing as long. the,
were within sight, when l took the sabsr Of TIA
nand shot a trophy, and made good my retreat
We halted about half mile from the field Of acton
and formed line, and supplied ourselves with am
nunition for another stand should we be requires
/. to do SO. But were called on again. w
slept on the frozen ground thHt night H5thau
blankets On the morning OF the glth we heard tn
fort bad surrendered. and formed and naarche
, into il with The other regiments 10 the tune {
Yankee Doodle"
In our company there were four officers an
men that were IL the action that not killed
wounded. We took forty-lour officers and nse
into actior-four were killed and thirty-sx wound
cd and missing.