Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-03-01
FoRT 'eDoNEEsON,
a sHrfef Sketch of the Battle, and. the capfa-
.,i,su,f., kat,Op FEB. rs, 1862, a.ff
Henderson IiKx.l Journal.

Henderson (Ky.l Journal.
Twenty-Five years ago to-day
Fort Donelson capitulated after a
| three DAYS stubborn resistance. In
the battle around Donelson were a
number of Henderson county men,
and in more instances than one
brothers faced each other in the
deadly conflict. Henderson was
largely represented in both Federal
and Confederate armies, and it is
true that none of the soldiers on
that terrible field OF carnage and
blood behaved with more gallantry
or greater courage than did these
men. Brother fought brother,
friend fought friend, class-mate
fought class mate, and yet, knowing
this, country stood paramount, and
to protect that deadly charges were
made and deadly missiles hurled
with unabating fury until the sur
render. On the 18th day of Februa-
ry, 1862, Gen. Grant moved upon
Fort Donelson from Fort Henry, on
the Tennessee river, and on the
18th began cannonade. Donelson
was occupied by troops under COM
mand of Generals Pillow, Floyd,
Buckner and Forrest. The Federal
troops were commanded by Gener-
ais Grant, Smith, Wallace and Lo-
gan. The attack Thursday after
noon (I3th) was made upon the
Confederate right, commanded by
Gen. Buckner. Both armies had
not only to contend with the enemy
of the other, but the cold and in
clement weather was sufficient of
itself to appall any but the stoutest
hearts.
At 10 o'clock in the morning the
Federals made terrific assault up
on the almost impregnable position
held by the Confederates. The be-
sieged waited until the assaiiants
came near enough for each man to
make sure of his mark, and when
the command to fire was given the
enemy fell like grass before the
mowers scythe. From the pen of
Rev. Joseph Cross, ID. D., published
in his work entitled Papers from
the Portfolio of an Army Chaplain,"
the following concerning the Con-
federate history of the battle is ta-
ken: ~
"Twice the Federals renewed the
attack, and twice were they repuls-
ed with dreadful slaughter. They
then made an attempt upon the lett,
where they met a similar reception.
Before sunset they were driven back
to the position they had occupied
in the morning, leaving hundreds
of slain and wounded men upon the
field. For two miles the ground
was strewn with mangled human
forms, and in front of the Confeder-
ate batteries they lay heaped to-
ge.her in their grave
son the night of the 18th a cold
rain storm set in, and the situation
of the beleaguering as well as the
besieged army was painful in the
extreme. Without shelter, without
fire, and with little food, both ar
mics were compelled to occupy their
lines of defense, while the Confeder-
ate trenches were filling with water
and mire and towards day even
with sleet. Their very clothes
froze upon them, and they could
not, dare not, sleep. The pits of the
Confederates were occupied by only
portion of accompanies alta time,
the Others being back In the rear, at
such point as to be able to keep
fires without attracting the atten-
tion Of the Federal artillerists, and
here they made coffee, and sent it
hot, by details, to the men at the
front. By this means they were
kept actually from freezing during
the night. ,a cssa
aThe sufferings of the troops were
intense and many died from the
effects of the cold. From every
pert of the field groans and shrieks
and cries for help rose through the
darkness and were borne away upon
the wintry gale.
'sPhe next morning, while Grant,