The National tribune., 1890-10-09
MISSISSIPPI FLOTILLA.
How They Assisted IN RepcIlIng tho Attack on
Fort DOncison,

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: send you
gunboat mans account of the second attack on
Donelson, or Dover, by the rebels under Gems
Wheeler, Forrest and Wharton, numbering
about $500 men, with eight pieces of artillery
with an account of tho part the gunboats played
and would like you to publish it, to lot the
boys see that the gunboat men think they
helped Col Harding and his brave old S3d Ill
out of as close place as any like number Of
men were ever in.
On Fob. 3, 1863, tho gunboats Lexington
Fair Play, st. Clair. Brilliant, RObb aud Silver
Lake left Smithland, KY, with feet of trans
ports bound for Nashville, Tenn. When about
20 miles below Dover, We met the steamer Wild
Cat with n message from Col. Harding, com.
handing tho post, informing us that his pick cts
had been driven in and that no was attacked
in force, and for us TO make all haste possible
to his assistance. We Immediately left the
Transports and signaled the other gunboats to
follow rs fast as possible. A short distance be-
low the town wo met the steamer Maggie, with
number OF women and children and one man
from the fort on board. The man told us that
the fort had surrendered; that we were too late,
etc; but tho women told him he lied that the
fort had not surrendered, and asked what boat
that was. When told that it was tho Lexing-
ton, they said For Gods sake, Lexington,
hurry rs fast as you can the boys ut tho fort
arc nearly out Of ammunition, but they know
you are coming, and will hold the fort until
you get there"
We crowded on all the steam possible, and in
very short time came opposite a ravine that
led from the river close to tho west side of tho
fort. There was o bargelOad of wagons and
other material on fire at tho mouth of tho
ravine. and up the ravine on the side next tho
fort was lot of corn, oats and hay on fire.
There was snow on the ground and tho moon
was rising, so by the aid of freight and moon
light we could 500 all that was going on. Some
person under tho river bank below the ravine
hailed us, and said, 1.-THE rebel cavalry sot this
all on fire; they are now in the head of the
ravne, in the graveyard beyond, and in the
houses above to tho east of tho fort, getting
ready to charge the fort"
We at once opened fire up this ravine with our
broadsde guns throwing shells into tho grave
yard aud into the valley beyond tho fort.s and
MS tho other boats came up We moved further
up the river to whore the houses were, and
fred shrapnel and canister into them.
This is why Comrade BOLTON thought they
looked like nutmeg crater. Tho rebels were
so much taken by surprise that they did not
fire shot at u.s. but commenced retrcating Mt
once. This was about p. m. After dispensing
the main body Of the enemy tho Robb and
Silver Lake continued throwing shells up tho
ravine TO prevent the rebels from returning to
carry off their wounded, while the Lexington
and Brilliant went above and shelled tho roads
leading out to the eastward, knowing that the
retreating forces would follow tho river for
some distance. At about 10 p. m. wo returned
to the fort aud learned from Col. Harding that
the enemy had entirely disappeared. Wo gave
Col. Harding some ammunition for his 81
FOUNDER gun, and took position to guard the
town and roads leading to it,
Arriving as we did after dark, and when the
enemy least expected US, and was SO sanguine
of success, we caught his forces arranged In the
most favorable position to receive raking fro
from our guns. Col. Harding said TO us the
next day: Boys. although much of your
firing must have been at random. can assure
You that scarcely q prcjectle of yours went
amiss, and out of 40 rebels buried this day,
you gunboat men can truly claim n largo share.
Even when you went above and shelled tho
roads leading out of town, your shells fell
right in the midst of tho retreating rebels,
killing and wounding many."-JAaEs FiTZ-
PATRICK, Acting Master, U. s. n, Gunboat Lex
ington, Middleport, o.