Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-11

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IF there was little OF the romanuc III
Dover itself. there was still less of poetic
nua,i,v In the country round about 1t.
The only beautiful feature was the Cum
herland river which, in placid current
from the south poured its waters past
the village on the east. Northward there
was a HILL then small stream then
holder. hill. round the foot of which the
river swept to the west. as II courteousiE
bent on helping Hickman's creek out of
its Doggy bottom and cherries ravine
North of the creek all was woods. Taking
in the ravine Of the creek a system OF
hol.ows almost wide and deep enough to
be called valleys. inclosed the town ana
two hills, their bluffest ascents being on
the downward side. Westward OF the mol
lows there were woods apparently in
teru1inable. From Fort Henry. twelve
miles northwest on the Tennessee river. a
road entered the village, stopping first to
Unite itself with another wagon-way, the
Wynn's Ferry road. conf g more directly
from the west. Still another road. leading
off TO Charlotte and Nashville had been
cut across the low ground near the river
on the south. These three highways and
the river We're the CHIEF reliances of the
people of Dover for communication with
the country.
However. when at length the Confed-
crate authorities decided to erect a mill
tary post at Dover. the town entered but
little into consideration. The real induce
ment was the second hill on the north
more properly a ridge AS ii rose about
hundred feet above the level OF the IN
let, the accommodating engineer. seeking
to control the navigation OF the river by
q fertilization. adopted it at sight And
for that purpose the bold bluff was in
fact a happy gift of nature, and II was
taken in hand and made terrible
The 9th of February. 1882. dawnef dark
" after a thunder Storm Pacing the
uarapets of the work on the hill above
the inlet sentinel might that day nave
surveyed Fort Donelson almost ready Tor
rattle There were the two water-Dat-
teries sunk in the northern face of the
bluff about thirty feet above the river: In
the lower battery nine 32-pounder guns
aud one 10-inch Columbiad. and i'll the
upper another Columbiad and two D.
FOUNDER cannonades. These guns lay be-
tween the embrasures in snug reVetment
OF sand in coffee-sacks. fanked right ana
left with stout traverSeS. The Satlstac-
ton Of the sentry could have been nowise
diminished at seeing the backwater lying
deep in the creek: more perfect ditch
against assault could not have been con-
structed.
The fort itself was of good profile. and
admirably adapted to the ridge il crown
ed. Around it, on the landward side. ran
the rif1e-pits. continuous but Irregular
line OF logs, covered with yellow clay.
From Hickrnan's creek they extended far
around TO the little run just outside the
the pits looked shallow, he was solaced
TO see that they followed the coping Of
the ascents, seventy or eighty feet in
height. up which foe must charge, and
that where they were weakes, they were
strengthened by trees feiled outwardy in
front of them. SO that the interlacing
limbs and branches seemed impa ssaoie by
men under fire.
About noon OF the 9th of February the
whole garrison was drawn from their
quarters by the sound Of heavy guns
family heard from the direction of Fort
Henry. "A token by which every man of
them knew that battle was on. The oc-
currence was in fact expected, for two
days before horseman had ridden to
Gen. Lloyd Tilghnan in command at
Donelson. with word that at $40 O'Clock
IN the morning. rocket signals had been
exchanges With the picket at Bailey's
landing, or the Tennessee, announcing
the approach of gunboats
4 second courier came and then a
t1r-d. the latter in great haste, request
ing the generals presence at Fort Henry
There was quick mounting at headqgar-
ters, and before the camp could he taken
into confidence the general and his guard
were out of sight. Occasional guns were
heard the day following. " noon of the
6th, as stated. there was continuous and
heavy. cannoBading at Fort Henry and
great excitement at Fort Doneison At
exactly midnight the gallant Col. Hell
man marched into Fort Donelson with
two brgades OF infantry rescued from
the ruins Of Fort Henry. The officers
and men by whom they were received
then knew that their turn was at hand
and at daybreak. with one mind and
firm OF purpose. they set about the final
preparation.
Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow reached
Fort ponelson the 9th, Brig Gen simon
b. Buckner came in the night of the nth
and Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd the 13th.
The latter, by virtue OF his rank. took
command To them Gen. Abort Sidney
Johnston in command Of the Depart
ment Of the West. had intrusted the oper-
alton of defending Nashville at Doneson
Tue morning Of the 13th-caim and
springiiSe-found in Fort Donelson
garrison of twenty-eight regiments of in
fsn;ry-thirteen from Tennessee TWO
from Kentucky. six from Mississippi, one
;ron Texas. two from Alabama. four
from Virginia. There were also present
two independent ha:talions, one regiment
Of cavalry, and artillerymen for six light
batteries and seventeen heavy guns
making total Of quite $1,000 electives
Gen. Buckner's diyision-six regiments
AMI two NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the right
wing. and was posted to cover the land
approaches to the water batteries A
jcft wing was organized into six brisades
commanded respectively by Co.'s. Herman.
Davidson. Drake. Wharton, McCausland
aud Baldwin. and posted from right 10
LETT in the order named. Four batteries
were distributed among the left wing
These dispositions made. Fort Donelson
Was ready for battle.
Fart Many n u.ir no h>Sod