Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-02

accompanying LnlS important eefVicc nc
fought two battles, one at Fredericktown,
Nd, and the other at Belmont. The effect
of bis victories was the enlargement Of the
district Of Cairo. Of which he was confirmed
In the command.
Capture of Forts Henry and Doneison.
For nearly two months Grant disciplined
his troops in the district of Cairo. he
longed to take Forts Henry and .Donelson,
but was silenced when he broached the sub
iect to Hslleck. Not till the I'd OF Febru.
sry was he permitted to leave Cairo with
ports, accompanied by Admiral Foote with
seven gunbosts, he started, landing at Bal
leys ferry, on the east bank, three miles
below Fort Henry, which he took after an
hour and half fire from the gunboats on
the 9th, the main body of the Confederate
garrison having retreated upon Fort Donel-
son. Fort DonelsOn, high on the range OF
hills, encircled by formidable abatis and
garrisoned by $1,000 men, was one Of
the greatest strongholds of the enemy.
On the 18th Grant got his forces in position
At dawn on the 18th the memorable seige
Of Fort Donelson was begun in earnest the
enemy coming out Of his works and attack
ing the Federal line on the right McCler-
rand, Macarthur and Lew Wallace were en-
gagged, Macarthur giving way with heavy
less, McClernand and Wallace repaying it.
The Confederates, however, failed to
make their way through the Federal lines,
and were retiring; but the Federal troops
were discouraged and disordered. There
was lull. Grant was absent at the flag
ship when the attack occurred Returning
to his headquarters, and spprised OF the
events of the morning, he ordered the
troops that had not been engaged to make
an immediate assault. 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
across the river with as many troops as
two steamers could carry, deserving the re,
mainder of their troops. Grant replied:
No terms except unconditional and i'm
mediate surrender can be accepted. pro,
pose 10 move Immediately upon your
works" The terms were complied with,
and the Stars and Stripes soon Huttered
over Fort Donelson.
At shiloh.
The battle was fought on Sunday aud
Monday, the 9TH and 9TH OF April, 1852 1t
took its name from a little log church,
known as Shiloh Church. Grant and his
staff were br5akfasting at Savannah when
he first heard the fire Of the enemyS attack.
Grant horse having slipped and fallen on
his masters leg on the 4th, at the time of
the battle and for some days after Grant
was unable to walk without the aid OF
crutches. The historic battle was already
on. Sherman, Prentiss, McClernand, Hurl-
burt and W. II. Wallace, with 33, 900 men,
we're there. The Confederate force, &C.
cording to Badeau, was little over
10000. There was hard fghting small
panics, retreating and other signs
of dismay among the Federal troops, and
renewed vigor on the part OF the enemy.
General Albert Sidney Johnson, Confederate
commander. was killed on the first day OF
Shiloh's battle Jefferson Davis had early
said of him that he regarded his service to
the Confederacy as ~o-th more than the
accession Of an army OF 10000 men. Night
iell and found the hsut unfinished. The
puA6oats continued to fling shells into the
| Confederate line, the woods caught fire,
AMI only merciiul rain saved the wounded
from being burned alive. Buell. and Gen
Lew Wallace arrived and the old line were
were reformed. The mex. day the battle
went on until Beauregard and his forces
beat 2 hLal retreat, Grant having lost over
l2OGO men. Sherman has said that he
never afterwards saw such terrible fighting.
The Capture of Tirksburs.
Aher defeating General Price at luka,
General Grant removed his headquarters to
jackson, leaving Rosecrans to hold Co.inth,
which he succeeded in doing against great
odds. The enlargement Of Grants com
mand by portion Of Mississippi, including
Yicks6urg, in October, 1862, led to one OF
the greatest successes Of the war.
Grant began the storming OF Nicksburg
on the 10Th Of May, gaining some ground
and on the 22d a general assault began. All
Gav long columns OF men moved against the
enemys stronghold, only 10 be met By
staggering fire, under which they recoiled to
the shelIer OF the hillsides, which was thick
with the dead and dying. The Confeder,
ats. behind their parapets, suffered little in
comparison. This assault is said to have
been unparalleled in the history Of modern
times Three thousand Federal soldiers
were killed. The assault on Nicksburg
having failed, Grant determined on siege,
At last, on the Sd of July, Pemberton
asked Grants terms for the cspitulstion of
the city. and the white flag foated from the
headquarters of the besieged. Grants su-
swer was: The unconditional surrender
OF the city and garrison The two gener
as conferred, but LETT the decision GG;;;l
later. On the ith of Jnly the garrison at
Vicksburg marched out Of the lines they
had Sc long and brave!y defended and
stacked their arms in front of ther con-
ouerors. This event was really the blow
which broke the backbone Of the rebellion.
Closing War Scenes.
Their cap,or was appointed Major Gen.
eral in the regular army in recognition Of
his distinguished services. In October,
1868, he was placed in command OF the
military division of the Mississippi, which
comprised the departments commanded by
Generals Sherman, Thomas, Burnside and
Hooker. To defend Chattanooga, he drove
the Confederate army, commanded by Gen
eral Bragg, from Missionary Ride and
Lockout Mountain, the latter especially
work of enormous difficulty, performed with
wonderful ability. When Congress next
assembled it returned thanks to Gen. Grant
and his army, and ordered q gold medal to
bs struck in honor of the soldier who had
served his country with such distinction.
The rank of LieDtenant-GeDeralW was also re-
yived by the action of Congress, and Grant
was nominated TO the Office By President
lincoln His appointment was confirmed
nv the vote of the Senate. The illustrious
soldier having received his commission from
the hand of Ihe President by hurried trip
10 Washing,o1, returned 10 Tennessee. As
Commander in Chief of the Federal forces
ke PROMPTLY begsn The decisive movements
which terminated in the collapse Of the Con
feSsracy ard the restoration OF the Union.
Tremendous Sighting followed. Failure
ard hoayy losses 10 the Upion side accom-
- ~ stes,rt IN take Richmond by