Year: 1862

THE FORT DONELSON FIGHT. FoRr DoNELsoN, Feb. P. THURSDAYS OPERATIONS.

 Thursday opened as clear and serene as the day before it. Upon the first coming of the dawn our skrmishers had descended into the valley, and our artillery posted on the hills, had opened an experimental fire, which being occa- sionally returned by the enemy, gave us some in- formation in regard to the position of their bat, teries. The night before we were in possession of but little information in regard to the charac ter of their Notifications, and although it was generally supposed we were in front of some rather formidable works, do not think that our Generals even, were prepared for the disclosures which the operations of the morning had made known to them. Instead of an outer work to temporarily impede our approach, it was soon ascertained that we were directly in front of the rear fortifcation of the fort itself. These works beginning on the Cumberland, at the southerly side of Dover, and the main fort, ran around on the top of the high ridges before us to the head of the back water on the north, here and there with bastion works of formidable character, and at all points with formidable batteries sweep ing the more available approaches. These ridg- es vary from l50 to 300 feet in height and are covered with the most dense timber and under growth, conceang in great measure the char acter of the enemys defences. The few balls which they were induced to occasionally favor us with, afforded for the most part, our only clue as to the calibre of their guns.

 During the night previous. Gen. Oglesby, in advancing along the ridge running towards the river, above the fort, and which formed our right wing, suddenly came upon battery sweeping the road upon which he was advancing. The enemy, either not aware at the time of the vicin- ity of the force, or wishing it to advance still fur ther, restrained from opening, and the General managed to withdraw his men without suffering anything worse than a bad scare. If the battery had given them the contents of their guns, the fire must have decmated the entire briga1e.- Some few guns were discharged by our men in the confusion of the moment, and the horse of certain chaplain became frightened, and began a flight which bid fair to land the non-combat- ant plump over the batteries. A few agonizing whoas, and still more emphatic pulls, however, checked the rebellious tendencies of the beast, and the parson noticed, eschewed horses ever after.

 This morning, Gen. O.s brigade forced the enemy from this position, and subsequently, from another and advanced the right wing still farth- CT toward the river. A subsequent movement completed the lines of decentralization nearly to the river itself, and gave us position rendering IhO oiaNd di Ol duy uIUIc TclulOiCcutuCS hOui Nashville barely probable

 The operations of the day partook largely of the character of a series of reconnoisances. The artillery posted on the hill would send ball across the valley on an inquiring errand, and in turn, would get solid ball or shot, which lodged in close proximity to our artillerists would be hunted up and examined. and inferences drawn as to the character of the batteries pitted against them. This practice resulted in no casualties on our side of importance, and revealed good deal of information in regard to the position of the redoubts. The severest casualty of the morning was in the Seventh Illinois. In advancing down road on ridge connecting two hills on which the opposing forces were drawn up, battery of three guns. from the hill above, opened suddenly with grape and c mister. Fortunately. the bat tery had been discovered moment before, and the men had, to great extent, availed them selves of the protection of the neighborng trees, before the storm of iron hail was fairly among them. Capt. Monkle and many bravo fellow of the Seventh dropped to the ground beneath this fire; but the regiment bravely advanced, scat tered the skirmishers of the enemy lying in the valley, and maintained the position they were sent to occupy.

 OPERATIONS OF BIRGE's sHARPsHooTERs.

 In the meantime, Brge's sharpshooters were doing good execution both to the right and left of this position. h squads of skirmishers they craw wled up the ravines of the ridge on which the batteries and rhe-pits of the enemy were located, and lying concealed behind stumps and logs.- Woe to the unwary rebel who dared to show his head above the intrenchments. The continual crack of the Dimick rife could be heard from these ravines all day, and at last became per feet terror to the enemy. Lying in this position these men for half day completely silenced the battery which covered the road over which the Seventh had advanced in the morning. In vain attempts were made to man the guns, but hardly had the gunners grasped their swabs ere score of bullets would drop them in their tracks. The enemy were not without their sharpshoot- CTS, too, would in turn attempt response, but so vigilant were the Birges, that few of their bullets did much harm.

 sroRaING THE ENEMY's REDouBr ON THE RIGHT | In the afternoon Gen. Mo Clernand determined to make formidable assault of a redoubt of the enemy, fronting about the centre of his right wing. The redoubt was about the only one which could be distinctly seen by us, owing to the timber and undergrowth. At this point the ground was for the most part void of large tim Der, the barren extending even beyond the road on the ridge over which our troops passed. The batteries of this redoubt had got very perfect range here, and gave our troops considerable un- easiness, by blazing away at them whenever they passed over the brow of the hill. Three regi- ments were detailed for the work-the Forty eighth, Seventeenth and Forty Ninth Illinois, They advanced in line ofbattle order, the Forty | ninth, Col. Morrison, on the right, the Seven teenth, under command of Major Smith, in the centre, and the Forty eighth. Col. Hanley, on the left. Col. Morrison, as senior Colonel, led the attack. The advance was most beautiful one

 With skirmishers advanced in front, the three regiments swept down the hill, over the knoll, down a ravine, and up the high hll on which the redoubt was situated, some 250 or 300 feet in height, covered with brush and stumps, and all the time receiving galling fire of grape. shell and musketry, with precision which would have did them credit on the parade ground. The breastworks were nearly reached, when Col. Nor. rson, who was gallantly leading on his men, was struck by musket ball. The captain of the company on his right also fell and the Forty. ninth fell into some confusion but unappalled, the Seventeenth still gallantly pressed forward, and penetrated even to the very foot of the works. But it was not in the power of man to scale the abattis before them. Brush piled upon brush, with sharp points fronting them every where, met them wherever they turned, and so, after few interchanges of musketry with the swarming regiments which had been concentra- ted here the order for retiring was given. It was done in good order, by filing of to the left and obliquing into the woods below; but many gallant soldier was left behind underneath the intrenchments they had vainly sought to mount. They were not, however, destined to die un- avenged Scarcely had our retiring column got ,ut <sP TO nco oro T,avnr's Ghicap0 Raffprv 0non.