The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
FORTS HENRY AND D0NELSON.
Retelling the Story of Two of the First Bat
ties of the War.
General James $. Brishin.

! ne DOatS IN UIle river began Ule Dlutle dI IL
'p1'clock the 9th day of February, while Grant was
marching by land to invest the fort, having to
march eight miles to get to the of the rebel
works. While Grant was cutting roads through
the woods and bridging the overhowed streams
the rebels made good use of the two or three
hours thus afforded them and ran away by the
upper roads, but General Tilghman with his
staff and about sixty men remained, and sur
rendered to the navy before the land forces
could get up. Grant, knowing Foote'S modesty
and wishing to place tine credit where it be
longed, with the gallant tars, promptly tele-
graphed Halleck, Fort Henry is ours. The gun
boats silenced the batteries before the invest
ment was completed Next day Grant tele-
graphed Halleck: Il shall take and destroy Fort
Donelson the Sth."
Grants cavalry at once drove in the rebel out
posts, and pcketed to within one mile of the fort.
The sth, according to promise, the infantry and
artillery began moving on Donelson, but the rain
had so swollen the streams the advance was de-
layed until the 18th. Meantime Foote's gun
boats, which had been up the Tennessee, re
turned and advanced in conjunction with the
land forces. McClernand again led the advance,
and on the 18th the main column under Grant
well on the way, General Smith and Lew
Wallace commanding the divisions. Fort Donel-
son was strong work, built on precipitous
heights, and surrounded by deep gorges and Ia
vines 1t covered hundred acres of land and
mounted fifteen heavy guns.
The river protected by heavy water-bat-
teries, admirably located and well constructed.
The rebel General Buckner was in the works,
with twenty-one thousand men and sixty-tve
field pieces
The 18th Grant began investing the works.
McClernand, with his division, moved to the rear
.xlH4
of the beseging forces. General Smiths divi-
sion formed the left of the line and Lew Wal
lace's forces, under Grant in person, the center.
The l4th the gunboats arrived and the skirmish-
ing began. Friday, at o'clock, six gunboats at
tackled the fort and terrific cannonade ensued.
lFoote wounded, and all of his boats more or
less injured. some of them being literally
Knocked to pieces-the flagship st. Louis hav-
ing her wheel shot away and receiving fifty nine
shots
So shattered were the gunboats that Commo-
dore Foote said it would be necessary for him to
return to Cairo and repair them, and he urged
Grant to remain as quiet as possible until he re-
turned; but while Grant and Foote were still in
conference the rebels sailed from their works
and attacked the extreme right of Grants
line. After a stubborn fight, McArthur's brig
ade was driven back, and all of McClernand's
division for a time wavered, out Lew
Wallace came up promptly from the center to
their support and drove the rebels: but the at
tack was soon renewed on both McClernand and
Wallace, and after close fight their troops stub
bornly fell back The rebels did not follow far,
and there lull in the battle when Grant.
who had Just heard of the attack and returned
from the gunboats; rode up at full speed, and,
percerving the condition of affairs, said to staff
officer: Examine the rebel prisoners and see if
their haversacks are filed" The staff officer
did so, and found they contained three days full
rations. Good" said Grant, in gee; d" they are
fighting to get out to Nashville. They have no
idea of staying to fight u.s." Then, observing the
wearied and disordered appearance of his men
l41o az ne H. H.
test has reached its height Whichever party
first attacks now will whip" and putting spurs to
his horse he galloped furiously to the left,
where Smiths division was drawn I'D and
ordered an attack to be at made ON the
rebel right. Returning to his right he
rode among the soldiers, assuring them the
rebels were trying to cut out, and exhorting
them to stand firm and hold the enemy fast
while the left assaulted. The dispirited men
caught the idea and courage of their com
1nander and, with shouts, began to move to the
front. Meantime Grant had sent word to the
navy of what was going on, and had old Foote
up his crippled boats and again open The
rebel forts.
Smith's division at the point of the bayonet
carried tie nights and captured the key to the
rebel position. That night Grant slept in a ne
gro hut near the rebel works, and the weary
troops bvoucked on the hard frozen ground.
The rebel generals held council Of war; and
Floyd who was the ranking officer turned the
command over to Pillow; Pillow in turn,
turned it over to Buckner, and then both he and
Floyd ran away. Next morning the Union troops
began stirring carly, and Grant was preparing
TO assault the rebel intrenchments
when confederate bugler brought him a note
from Buckner asking him not to assault Soon
after it was light another messenger from Buck
ner reached Grant, and white flag hoisted
on Fort Donelson. The rebel commander PRO
posed an ar1nistice until u o'clock to settle the
terms of capitulation." Grant CURLY replied
mo terms other than an unconditional and inn
mediate surrender viii be accepted. | propose to
had already said in his note to Grant, "Commis-
sioners would be appointed to settle the terms of
capitulation in accordance with the circum-
stances governing the present situation of af-
fairs and the object of Grants reply was to re-
lieve his government of any complication. He
was determined not to embarrass the authorities
by recognizing in any doubtful way the Confed-
eracy. its negroes rights, property When
we remember the confusion then existing in the
public mind in regard to the Confederaey,
we cannot but admit the wisdom
Of General Grants action. When
Buckner received Grants terms he was
not well pleased but, seeing no help for it, ae-
cepted 1.-The ungenerous and unchivalrous condi-
TONS Grant at once rode to Buckner's head
quarters and cordially shook hands with the
rebel general, who had been his schoomate at
West Point "Ah,' said Buckner, IF | had
been in command yesterday, Grant, you couldn't
have reached Fort Donaldson easily" Grant
good -naturedly replied, Had you been in com
mand l should have waited for re-enforcements
before attacking. but ] knew Pillow would not
give me much of a fight"
Grant had 81, 000'men in the battle of Donel-
son, and lost J, O4 killed wounded, and missing;
of these 425 We're killed. The rebels had about
2l,0O6 men, of these II, 623 were captured, 1900
escaped with Floyd, 900 with Forrest and :, 800
were killed aud wounded Sixty-fve pieces of
cannon, II, 600 stands of small arms and large
quantity of ammunition also fell into the hands
Of the Union forces.
When the news Of the capture Of Fort Done-
son reached Cairo, General Cullam telegraphed
to the North: The Union flag floats Fort
Donelson. Fifteen thousand prisoners taken"
This news electrified the people, and the widest
rejoicing prevailed. While the names Of Grant
and Foote were in everybody's mouth, the Presi-
dent sent Grants name to the Senate as a major