The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-02-09

[Coutinued from fourth psge.I
that night thinking he would have to
begin n long siege. The troops had no
shelter, and it was intensely cold. The
soldiers had recklessly thrown away
their overcoats and blankets, and it
was risky to have fires within range
of the guns of the fort. Early on the
18th Grant visited the wounded flag
officer on the St Louis and found that
the navy had been put out of the fight.
Returning to his camp. he was met by
the news that during his absence the
Confederates had opened the ball on
land by driving McClernand's line back
from the road of retreat, and there
was danger that they would escape the
trap he hoped to set for them.
Gallant Charge to the Road.
General Smith headed the attack to
close the road which the Confederates
had wrested from McClernand in their
bold sortie. Reaching the abatis in
front Of the Confederate works with
his center brigade, he searched out a
path through the entaglement, keep
ing his cap on the point of his uplifted
sword in full view of the men. After
passing the barrier he rode boldly up
the ascent, followed by all who had
lived through the terrible volleys
which greeted his column from the
fort and from the rifle pits in front.
He captured the outer lines of pits and
held on in the face Of Confederate di-
vision 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 the
demibrigade led by Colonel Morgan l..
Smith. There were but two regiments
in the column, the Eleventh Indiana,
known as "Wallace's zouayes," and the
Eighth Missouri. Both regiments had
been trained as sllirmishers. After eX-
planning to the men the desperate ma
ture Of the task Wallace told them to
be governed by circumstances. His
words were drowned by their cheers
and cries of Forward, forwardw
As the sIirmishers advanced up the
slope the Confederates opened from a
forest in front a terrible rifle fusillade.
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.
Knowing the field well, the Confed-
crates made citadel of every tree and
rock Often antagonists took shelter
behind the same object. Upon near
ing the crest Wallaces men began fir
ing steadily, and before the supports
got well engaged the Confederates fell
back to their intrenchments. Just then
an order from Grant reached Wallace
to suspend the attack; but, believing
he had the wedge well in, he ignored
the order and pushed the skirmishers
forward to the Charlotte road again,
cutting off the way Of escape. His
men bivOuacked within $50 rods Of the
enemy's guns, lying on their arms
ready for the expected counter assault.
Inside the walls Of Fort Donelson there
was gloom the night of Feb. 10. The
Confederates had been beaten in bat
tie that day and were hemmed in on
all sides. They had few boats plying
the river flowing past the fort, and
Grants troops had closed the only
road Of escape on land. The chieftains,
General J. D. Floyd General G.. ]. Pill.
low and General S. B. Buckner, met in
council of war. Various accounts Of
the scene have been given. Colonel N.
B. Forrest, the noted cavalry leader.
was present.
Confederate Leaders Disagree.
Colonel Forrest was full Of fight.
He would not surrender and told
Floyd that he would cut path
through the Federal lines at any
point Floyd would designate, form
line OF cavalry around the place Of
exit and keep the Federal soldiers