Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-04-09

For nearly two months Grant disciplined
his troops in the district of Cairo. In Janu-
ary, 1862, by order of Gen. Halleck, he moved
force of 5000 men, under McClernand, from
Cairo and Birds Point towards Mayfeld and
Murray, in West Kentucky, and sent two
brigades threatening Columbus and the Con-
federate line between that and Bowling Green.
There was no fighting, but the object Of the
movement was accomplished.
He longed to take Forts Henry and Donel-
SON. but was silenced when he broached the
subject to Halleck Not till the I'd of Feb
ruary was be permitted to leave Cairo with
that intention With II 900 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 hav-
ing retreated upon Fort Donelson.
Grant determined to take Fort Donelson on
the Sth 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,
s'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 Halleck's orders to Grant were always of
defensive and not aggressive character.
Fort Donelson, high on its range of hills,
encirnled by formidable ahatis and gar
risoned by q, 900 men, was one of the greatest
strongholds of the enemy. Its forti6cations
had been strengthened since the fall of Fort
Henry, re-enforcements had poured into it,
and Ruciner 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. Slxir-
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 outworls. The
weather idenly became intensely cold. The
troops, compelled to biveuac in line of battle
with arms in their hands, within musket
range of the enemy's breastworks suffered
extremely. No fires could be built, many of
the men were without blankets and with in
sufficient rations. That was an awful night,
never to be forgotten by those who partici-
pated in it. There were no tents, and as the
night wore on snow and hail fell, wrap
ping the waiting men in a bitter
blanket of ice. Many were frozen. The Con-
federate pickets fired an uncertain but inces-
Bant 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 the 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 $1,000 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
the Federal line on the right. McClernand,
Macarthur and Lew Wallace were engaged.
Macarthur giving way with heavy loss, Nc
C.ernand 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 and
disordered. There was a lull Grant was
absent at the flagship when the attack oc-
CURED.
Returning to his headquarters, and apprised
of the events of the morning, he ordered the
troops that had not been engaged to make an
immediate assault. The assaulting column
was led by C. F. Smith. Up, up the steep
hill, under the fierce fire Of the enemy, went
the Federal column, inside the intrenchments.
while McClernand and Wallace supported
Smith. An hour and half more of daylight
would have given Grant the victory, but
darkness overlook him. The next morning
Buckner sent to ask his terms, while Floyd
and Pillow escaped ecross the river with as
many troops as two steamers could carry,
deserting the remainder of their troops.
Grant replied: mo terms except uncondf
tional and immediate surrender can be ac-
cepted. Ipropose to move Immediately upon
your works" The terms were complied with,
and the Stars and Stripes soon fluttered over
Fort Donelson.