Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-10

For nearly two months Grant disciplined
his troops in the district of Cairo. In Janu-
arv 1852, by order of Gen. Tallecl, he moved
a force of COCO men, under McClorland, from
Cairo and Birds Point towards Mayfiold and
Murray, in West Kentucky, ond sent two
brigalcs threatening Columbus and the Con-
federate line between thatand Bowling Green.
There was no fighting, but tho object of the
movement was accomplished.
He lonced to take Forts Henry and Donel-
son, but was si,enced when he preached the
subject to Halleck Not till the I'd of Feb
Iuary was be permitted to leave Cairo with
that intention. With 1000 men on trans
ports, accompanied by Admiral Foote with
seven gunboats he started, landing at Bailey's
ferry, on the east bank, three miles below
Fort Henry, which he took after an hour and
a half's fire from the gunboats on the 9th, the
main body Of the Confederate garrison hay
ing retreated upon Fort Donelson.
Grant determined to take Fort Donelson on
the 9Th. On the 7th his cavalry penetrated
to within mile of the fort, and the infantry
and cavalry on the east bank of the Ten
nessee were notified to move on the Sth
"without membranes, and with two days
rations in their haversacks. Heavy rains
had flooded the country, making it impossible
to move baggage or artillery, and delaying
the attack Re-enfOrcements were secured
but Haleck's orders to Grant were always of
defensive and not aggressive character.
Fort Donelson, high on its range of hills,
encircled by formidable abatis and gar
risoned by 81 600 men, was ono of the greatest
strongholds of the enemy. Its Notifications
had been strengthened since the fall Of Fort
Henry, re-enforcements had poured into it,
and Buckner, Pillow and Floyd had been sue
cessively sent to command it, each ranking
his predecessor, who remained to serve under
the new superior.
On the 18th Grant got into position. Skir-
mishers were thrown out in front and several
smart fights occurred. On the night Of the
18th he was established on the heights par
allel with the enemy's outworks. The
weather suddenly became intensely cold. The
troops, compelled to bivouac in line Of battle
with arms in their hands, within musket
range of the enemys breastworks, suffered
extremely. No fires could BIO built, many of
the men were without blankets and with in
sufficient rations. That was an awful night,
never to he forgotten by those who partici-
pated in it. There were no tents, and as the
nj wore ON snow and hail fell, wrap
p the waiting men in bitter
blanA of ice. Many were frozen. The Con-
federate pickets fired an uncertain but inces-
SAINT rain of bullets. The groans of the
wounded, the pitiful calls for help and water,
made the hours Of darkness terrible. The
next day re-enforcements arrived, and for
hours an irregular fire Of sharpshooters, with
occasional discharges of artillery, was kept
up. In tine afternoon six gunboats in com
mand of Foote, attacked the fort at 400 yards
and were worsted. Another night of cold
danger and suffering for the troops, Grant
then having 1000 men.
At dawn on the 18th the memorable siege
of Fort Donelson was begun in earnest, the
enemy coming out of his works and attacking
tho Federal line on the right. McClernand
Macarthur and Lew Wallace were engaged
Macarthur giving way with heavy loss, Nc
Clernand and Wallace repaying it. The Con
federates, however, failed to make their way
through the Federal lines, and were retiring
but the Federal troops were discouraged anc
disordered. There was lull. Grant wa.
absent at the flagship when the attack oc
CURED.
Returning to his headquarters, and apprisec
OF the events Ut the morning. he ordered tn,