The National tribune., 1900-10-04

which shut from our view surroundinl
| objects; yet we maintained close watcI
along the dusky horizon in our front. Sud
denly the fog lifted. LII our front we saw
white flag, and off to our right an
| other; to our left another. Only mo
ment to satisfy ourselves of its meaning
| and then glad shout was heard as the
glorious truth flashed through our minds
Fort DonelsOn had surrendered
This was the first great victory for the
Union. There were surrendered, besides
Confederate force of several thousand
nearly 40 heavy guns and an immense
| amount of supplies.
Fort DOnels0n was located on a high
bluff on the south side of the Cumber-
land River, about 100 feet above the wat
ers of the beautiful river that flowed at
its foot. There were heavy water bat
ter1es commanding the river, while the up-
per batteries were of lighter caliber, and
were strongly posted in defense of the
rear. There was also an elaborate sys-
TEN of earthworks, which extended in a
semiclrcle nearly up TO the village of Do
yer, one mile above the fort
soon after the surrender we marched
inside the Confederate works, and after
viewing the heavy guns, we returned to
the rear, where, exposed to the elements.
we braved another night in Tennessee.
Early on Monday morning we moved I'D
to the eastern extremity of the works. and
made our camp on a sloping hillside near
the village of Dover. Here it was we
received our tents, which we had not seen
since leaving our camp at Napoleon, 0.
IN CAMP AT DOVER.
Soon after going into camp, our rations
being nearly exhausted, we were ordered
to supply our wants from the Confederate
supplies stored at Dover. Eating too
heartily Of rice and molasses thus Sc
cured, made many of the boys danger
ously Ill. This caused a report that the
Confederate stores had been poisoned
But upon careful examination bv n
board of medical men it was determined
that such was not true, but that the sick
ness in camp was due to exposure and
other causes incident to our hard cam
paigning.
Our first loss at Dover was l. Hooker.
Co. G, who died Feb. 10. During the few
days following occurred q loss of nearly
lOO comrades, who died and were buried
at Dover, or were removed on hospital
boats to breathe their lives away I'm diff
ferent hospitals and among strangers.
During the months Of March, April and
May, 1857, the mortality in our regiment
exceeded our total loss from all causes
during any succeededing six months of our
service.
ou utSudy, hdFcu 4, we were the
happy recipients of our first pay as sol
dIers Of the Republic.
Passing over the many incidents of the
camp, our hopes and fears, our highly
wrought excitement, and then our 'deep
rejection, we arrive at March Z, when we
received marching orders. Night found
us IN camp in a dense wood, having
crossed tract of country void of timber
which had been used in iron works near
which we passed. The following day W
marched short distance and made canlt
near place named Metal Landing, on the
Tennessee River, there TO await TRANSPORTS
TO convey US farther into the heart of re-
belion.
When leaving our camp on the Cumber-
land, Serg't l.. w. Richardson, Co, G.
was detailed TO take command of those un-
able TO march, who were sent around on
the transports, and again Joined the reci
ment at Metal Landing
ON THE TENNESSEE.
We remained in camp till the morning
OF March 10, when we We're set in mo-
ton and went on board the trapsport
Minnehaha. We remained at the landing
until Sunday morning, the 10th, when our
boat dropped down the river to Fort Hen
ry, and after loading with commissary
stores started back up the beautiful Ten
nessee. We continued on our course up
the Tennessee all day and night, and
early on Monday morning found ourselves
at a place which aft24ward became IA
nous i'll history as Fittsburg Landing.