The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-04-04

brushwood, joined the Onion forces,
now increased to thirty thousand men.
The fort itself, occupying about one
hundred acres, stood on bluff a hum
dred feet high, with sixty-fve guns
threatening approach by the river, but
almost unprotected from the land side,
save for the inaccessible ruggedness OF
the ground and the heavy trees which
had been felled, and which proved to be
formidable abatis. Already Grant had
made an unsuccessful attack upon a
battery commanding a road upon which
he was trying to move.
But who among the thousands who
lay down to rest that night before the
doomed fort will ever forget its misery?
AS the men lay on the bare ground
without tents, without fires, many
without even blankets, cruel storm OF
sleet and snow swept over them and
the thermometer fell to IL degrees
above zero, while some Of the poor
wounded heroes literally froze to death
On their icy resting-places.
Next day the battle was resumed with
alternate success and failure.
In the afternoon the teafening cam
nonade of the fort guns told them that
Foote's gun-boats were already in adj
vance.
At four o'clock Frank found himself
in command of his company, for his
Captain was wounded and had been
carried to the rear Twice they had
charged and once again he was rally
ing them, when q sharp voice cried in
tone of command:
Halt, sir! Give your men breathing
time. Do you not see that your line is
not half formed?"
Turning with impatience at the re-
bulxe. he saw a man with rather
slight, ungainly figure with SLOUGH hat
and undress uniform. He knew not then
that he was gazing at that son of des"
tiny, Ulysses Grant.
But ere the angry reply rose to the
lads lips an aid~de-camp rode up and
saluted Franks ilnpertinent critic.
''What news from the river, Winters?"
''The worst, General. Six gunboats
have advanced-two are disabled and
are drifting helplessly down the stream,
while the others seem likely to follow. :"
"Al,! then. after all, the blow must
he struck on land''
And General Grant passed on, a
strange, cold CLEAN of determination
lighting his usually impressive features.
Meanwhile it was faring but badly
with the hapless garrison. On the
night of the 18th council Of war was
held by the beleaguered commanders.
They had done all that mortal men
could do, and knew that the end was
come General Floyd turned over the
command to General Pillow, taking,
however, his brigade across the river,
and Pillow turned it over again to Buck
ner, succeeding, too, himself, III escap~
ing in q wood scow.
At daylight Grant was ready for the
final assault. But see the white flag
waves and an officer comes from the
i1e]eageured ranks with offers OF capitu-
lation. Grants terms seem hard:
''Notbing but unconditional and inn
mediate surrender!" he cried, cor will
move upon your works"
Then Buckner sent back the bitter
message: NECESSITY co1npels me TO &C
cept your ungenerous and unchivalrie
terms" and Fort Donelson was won and
fifteen Thousand prisoners captured.
All. how quickly the news sped
North and South. What glad hurrahs!
what bitter tears, what joy, what scr
row, greeted that fallen fort!
Johnston heard the news at Nashville
and retreated in hot haste. Buell.
heard it and seized the defenseless city,
and Carey heard it at Columbus on the
Mississippi and spiked his guns and
flung them in the river, and fell back on
Island Number Ten, thirty miles away,
whose strong works he hoped would
shield him.
And two gentle women at Melton
burg heard it and on their knees
thanked God-not that Fort Donelson
was fallen~--but that their soldier-boy
was safe.