The National tribune., 1883-10-25
FORT DONELSON
TContinaed from LIST pace. I

resulted In wounding. by scalding twentynine OH
GERS and men, including Commander Porter The
Essex then necessarily dropped out of line astern,
entirely disabled and unable to continue the fight,
in which she had so calamity participated until
the sad catastropby. The firing continued with
unabated rapidity and effect upon the three gun.
boats as they continued stiI TO approach the fort
with their destructive fire until the rebel flag was
hauled down, afler a very severe and closely
contested action Of one hour and fifteen minutes.s
boat, containing the acknowledgement and
captain OF engineers, came alongside after the nag
was lowered, and reported that General Lloyd
Tilghman, the commander of the fort, wished to
communicate with the fag-officer, when / dis
patched Commander Stembel and Lieutenant-
Commander Phelps, with orders to hoist the
American flag where the secession ensign had been
flying, and to inform General Tilghman that
would see him on board the flagship. He came
board after the Union had been substituted
for the rebel flag by Commander Stembel on the
tort and possession taken. received the general,
his staff and sixty or seventy men as prisoners
and hospital ship containing sixty inyalids, to-
Getler with the fort and its effects, mounting
twenty runs mostly of heavy cailber with bar
racks and tents capable of accommodating 1900
men, and sundry articles OF which. as turned the
fort and its effects 10 General Grant, COM
manaing the army, on his arrival IN an hour after
had made the capture, he viii be enabled to
give the Government more correct statement
tL.an am enabled 10 communicate rom the snort
time had possession of the fort The plan of the
attack, far rs the army reaching the rear OF the
fort to make a demonstration simultaneously with
the navy was prevented by the excessively muddy
roads and high stage of water, preventing the ar
rival of our troops until some time after had
taken possession OF the fort.
The following graphic account of the engage
ment Is from the official report of General
Tilghman:
at a. m. the fotilla assumed their line of bat
tie. had no hope of being able successfully to
defend the fort against such overwhelming odds,
both in point Of numbers and in callber Of guns
My object was 10 save the main body by delaying
matters as long possible, and to this end bent
every effort.
At precisely Has a. m the enemy opened from
hoo. frsaf.s f4xx1 ant
until the effects of the first shots OF the enemy
were fully appreciated. then gave the order to
by the brave little band under my command The
enemy, with great deliberaton, steadily closed
upon the fort, firing very wild until within LOO
yards The cool deliberatiOn OF our told from
the first shot fired with tremendous effect.
At 1885 p. IN. the bursting OF q FOUNDER
riied gun disabled every man at the piece. This
great loss 10 us IN degree made up by our
disabling entirely the Essex gunDoat which imme-
diateiy oated down stream. Immediately after the
loss Of this valuable gun sustained another loss
still greater, IN the closing up OF the vent OF the
l0-nch columbad, rendering that gun perfectly
useless and defying all efforts TO reopen Il. The
fire on both sides was now perfectly terrific The
enernys entire force was engaged doing US but
little harm while our shot fell with Unerring
tainty upon them and with stunning effect. at
this time question presented Itself TO with
inconsideTable degree of embarrassment The
moment had arrived when ] should join the main
body Of troops retiring towards Fort Donelson the
safety OF winch depended Hpon q protracted de-
tense of the fort 1t equally plain that tie
gallant working the batteries. fer the first
time under fire, with aIi their eFoisnl needed my
presence Colonel Holman. the next in command,
had returned TO the fort FOR instructions. The
working TIC heavy guns were becoming exhausted
with the rapid firing Another gun became useless
by an accident and yet another by the explosion OF
shell Immediately after. striking tse pluZZle. in
volying the death cf tx and disabling several
others. Inc effect OF my absence at such erItI-
cal moment would Lave been disastrous. AT the
earnest solicitation of many of my officers and
men determined TO renlain and ordered Colonel
44afsas
Retreat IN good order, while should hgat the guns
as long man was left, and sacrifice myself
10 save the main body Of my troops.
No sooner was this decision made known than
new energy was infused. The enemy closed upon
the fort to within six hundred yards, improving
very much in their fire. which began to tell
with great effect upon the parapets while the fire
from our guns now reduced to seven was return
ed with such deliberation and judgment that we
scarcely missed SHOT. & second one Of the gun
boats retired, but believe was brought into action
again.
At II0p. M, so completely broken down were
the men, that but the fact that only four of
guns We're then really serYiceabie cossld not well
have worked greater number. The FIRE was still
continued with great energy and tremendous effect
At $50 p. m. / took charge Of one of the g.
Founders to relieve the chief of that piece who
had worked with great effect from the beginning
OF the action. i gave the flagship Cincinnati two
shots, which had the effect 10 check d movement
intended 10 enfilane the only guEss now left me-
II was now PLAN 10 be seen that the enemy were
preaching the fort directly in front Of orr guns
and that could much longer sustain their fire
without nnjustifiabie exposure OF the valuable
lives of the men who had SO nobiy seconded me in
this unequal struggle
Several Of my officers. Major Giliner among the
number. suggested TO me the propriety of
taking the subject OF surrender into consideration.
Every moment knew WAS Of vast importance TO
those retreating on Fort Donelson and / declined
h1IlflE 10 Iad men enough Ct hand TO continue
while longer the fire destructive TO the
enemy. In this ! was disappointed. Ny next
effort was TO try the experiment Of flag OF truce.
4 t1tG n
was precisely al l-5G p. The flag was not no.
tlced, presume, from the dense smoke that en-
veloped IT, and Ieaping again into the fort contin
uec tie fre Tor I've minutes, Niae with the advice
OF my brother officers. ordered the flag be low
! cred. and alter an engagement OF two hours and
+ ten minutes with such unequal force the sur
render was made 10 Flag-Ofieer Foote repre-
sentcd by Captain Sten9bel, commanding gunboat
Cincinnati, and was qualified by the single condi-
ton that al officers should retain their side-arms
and that both officers and men should be treated
with the highest consideration due prisoners OF
/ war, which was promptly and gracefully aceeded
/ 10 by Commodore Foote.
The retreat Of the main body was effected in good
order, though involving tie loss of about twenty
prisoners. who from sickness and other causes
OF the army oveTfalEen at a distance of
gone three miles from Fort Henry by body of the
eneny's cavalry, but on being engaged by small
1 body Of our men. under Major Garyin were re-
pulsed and retired.
General Grants report is brief and to the
point:
HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF CAIRO
FoET EEsRF, Feb 6, 1862
Fort Henry Is ours. The gunboats siienoed the
/ batteries before the investment was completed /
treat last night. Our cavalry followed finding
two guns abandoned IN the retreat.
/ shall take and destroy Fort Donelson On the
Z. 6. GRANT.
BIigadier-General
aisjor-General II. ". HAIAEcE, 81. Louis, Mo.