The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-02-07

...s rnear cartridge boxes. for "the en-
eany In trying to escape and must be
prSvented." General Smith headed the
attack 10 close the road which the
CCnfederates had wrested from Nc
Ulernand In their bold scrtie Reach
ing the ahatis In front Of the Confed-
crate works with his center brigade,
~ sSafehed out path through the en-
tAnglement, keeping his cap on the
point of his uplifted sword in full view
Of the men. After passing the bar
rier he rode boldly up the ascent, fol-
lowed by all who had lived through
the terrible volleys which greeted his
column from the fort and from tho
E1fie pits in front. He captured the
outer lines Of pits and held on in the
face of q Confederate division which
attempted to beat him Off.
Under the cover of Smiths charge up
to the fort Lew Wallace sent forward
to the captured Charlotte road tho
demibrigade led by Colonel Morgan l..
Smith. There were but two regiments
In the column-the Eleventh Indiana
known as "Wallace's zouaves," and
the Eighth Missouri Both regiments
had been trained as skirmishers. After
explaining to the men the desperate
nature of the task Wallace told them
to be governed by circumstances. Ills
words were drowned by their cheers
and cries of forward! Forwardw
AS the skirmishers advanced up the
slope the Confederates opened from a
IT,, ri MI l1od Ia
The zouaves and Missourians spread
their line until it covered the whole
battle front. Volleys were fired over
their heads into the main line of battle
following at distance. Soon the en-.
emy's skirnishers were encountered,
aud then commenced savage bush
fight lasting an hour. It was every
man for himself.
Knowing the field well. the Confed.
crates made citadel Of every tree and
rock. Often antagonists took shelter
behind the same object Upon nearing
the crest Wallace's men began firing
steadily, and before the supports got
well engaged the Confederates fell back
to their intrenchmentS. just then an
order reached Wallace to suspend the
attack; but, believing he had the wedge
well In, he ignored the order and push
ed the Blxirmishers forward to the
Charlotte road again, cutting Off the
way of escape. His men bivouacked
within 100 rods of the enemys guns,
lying on their arms ready for the ex-
pected counter assault Grant retired
the night Of the 10th believing that
the Confederates must surrender next
day or be captured In their works. The
battle for the army had been more des-
perate than that of Skaters corps at
San Juan Hill and Eel Caney July /,
1893 The troops had lost over $500
killed and wounded and the navy 81
In all.
McClernand's battle had been the
most costly of the day In losses. The
Confederate attack on Grants right,
held by Netherlands division, had
been planned the night Of the 14th.
after the repulse of Foote's gunboats
and while Grant was debating the
question of a protracted siege The
plan of the Confederates in springing
the attack was to throw 10000 men
( upon McClernand and rush through
the broken lines to freedom. All night
the columns were getting into position
to spring forward at daybreak. A
heavy storm prevailed, and the Federal
pickets kept light watch.
!, By the middle of the forenoon Nc
Clernand's line was In confusion.
One by one his brigades and regiments
were forced back, and at ii o'clock the
Charlotte road was uncovered. The
C0nfederates lost heavily in these
chance encounters, but the number Of
casualties could never be learned. Ar
tillery on beth sides maintained a saw
age fire, and now and then the fierce
rebel yell" told Of a victorious charge.
For some unexplained reason the Con
fedcrates did not take advantage of
the surprise which meant escape to
them. 1t was claimed that after cap
turing Charlotte road Pillows men
were ordered back to their intrench-
ments, and before the ground lost
could be regained Grant was on the
field pushing the attack from his side.
The Confederate soldiers had suffered
from the cold more. perhaps, than their
foemen. In the fireless, cramped quar-
tiers of the fort they had no chance for
exercise. The ground was newly fro
zen after rain and was covered with
Ice and snow.
There was division in the Confeder-
ate councils even at the moment when
victory was in their grasp. General
Buckner, the third In rank, was good
tighter. The second In command. Pill
low. did the work cut out for him IN
opening the road of retreat, but inme-
dintely began to ignore his chleftain.
Floyd. who was In supreme command
Grant estimated that the enemy had
on the start over 10000 troops
General O. II. Smith fought his last
battle at Donelson. He was native
of, Pennsylvania and had served with
Taylor in Mexico, Whining laurels at
Pdlo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.
H4 died soon nfter Donelson as the re
suit of exposure in the campaign.
Smith had been a character in the old
array. When told, In 1861, that he was
accused of disloyalty, he said. "Never
mipd; they'll take it back after the
llrst battle"
There was another Wallace besides
General Lew at Donelson. This was
~ Y tDH