Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04

Henry Coils Webster, RaWltnS and NC
Pherson with company of troops, and
under instructions from Gen. Grant pro-
ceeded up the Tennessee river and COM
pleted the destruction of the bridge OF
the Memphis and Bowling Green railroad.
On returning from that expedition Gen.
Grant requested me to hasten to Fort
Donelson with the Carondelet, Tyler and
Lexington and announce my arrival by
firing signal guns. The object of this
movement was to take possession of the
river as soon as possible, to engage the
enemy's attention by making formidable
demonstrations before the fort. and to
prevent it from being reinforced. On
February 10 the Carondelet alone dowed
by the transport Alps) proceeded up the
Cumberland river, and on the 18th ar
rived few miles below the fort
Il y
Fort Donelson occupied one of the best
defensive positions on the river. 1t was
built on a bold bluff about 12O feet in
height, on the west side of the river,
where it makes a slight bend to the east
ward. 1t had three batteries. mounting
in all fifteen guns; the lower, about
twenty feet above the water; the second,
third, on the summit.
In detail the armament of the fort con-
sisted of ten 32-pounder guns 1.-TWO of
them ship carronades), one S-inch how
itzer, two nondescript 9-pounders, one 10
inch Columbiad and one rif1ed gun throw
ing conical shell of 12S pounds, The
garrison was commanded by Col j. E.
Bailey, the artillery by Capt. Joseph Dix
on, and after his death by Capt. Jacob
Culbertson, with Capts. Ross, Beaumont
and Bidwell in separate command of the
guns of the lower batteries. Capt Dixon
was killed in the action of the 18th with
the Carondelet by shot which dismount-
ed one of his guns-"the only damage
done to the batteries during the SIEGE"
When the Carondelet, her tow being
cast of, came in sight of the fort and
proceeded up to within long range of
the batteries not a living creature could
be seen. The hills and woods on the
west side of the river hid part of the
enemy's formidable defenses, which were
lightly covered with snow; but the black
rows of heavy guns, pointing down on us,
reminded me of the dismal-lookihg sepul-
cheers cut in the rocky cliffs near Jeru-
salem, but far more repulsive.
AT $3.50 pm. to unmask the silent en-
envy. and to announce my arrival to Gen.
Grant, L ordered the bow guns to be
fired at the fort Only one shell fell
snort. There was no response except the
echo from the hills. The fort appeared
TO have been evacuated. After firing
ten shells into it the Carondelet dropped
down the river about three miles and
anchored. But the sound of her guns
aroused our soldiers on the southern side
of the fort into action; one report says
that when they heard the guns of the
avant courier of the fleet they gave
cheer upon cheer, and rather than per-
init the sailors to get ahead of them
again, they engaged in skirmishes with
the enemy. and began the battle of the
three days following. On the Caron-
delet We Were isolated and beset with
dangers from the enemy's lurking sharp
shooters.
On the 18th a dispatch was received
from Gen. Grant informing me that he
had arrived the day before. and had sue
ceeded in getting his army in position,
almost entirely investing the enemy's
works. Most of our batteries he said,
are established, and remainder soon will
be. If you will advance with your gun
boat at 10 O'Clock in the morning We will
be ready 20 take advantage of any di-
version in our favor"
Immediately complied with these in