FORT DONELSON.
Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the
Groat Sioge,
THE STOSY TOLD ONCEMOEE
When, Whpre and How th Fomom
Rattle Wai Fonglit,
Vtm WTU9 Afterward Became Dlitln-a-aJ.-Hl
That Took Par la It-Polltl-
ol VnmAtm, Henators, Governors and
l-mhltnU That War Hi HWKIther
' Side Keadjr to Civ Vp"m.Ttam Henry
to DoneUonTb Horti That Failed.
. Illu aad (Iruy.
Once aguin the young people gather around
ml IlKb-n while veteran lip tell the story of
Fort Donelson. That iXotj wa made twenty
ilvo yean ag tliia February. ,
The writer anil raronteur hare preserved
lie history nwre flthfHy than the map
maker bava Neither Kurt Henry nor Fort
Donelson U marked upon the newet atlases.
Hature htiwlf ho not obliterated their trace
h Kjwmlily. Tbu tree yet tand u scarred
veteran of I lie mighty fight Ilullet mark,
aUinip and lrnken limb are yet to be leeu
wbon ta winter they are unelod of kindly
leaf and vine.
THE PREPARATION.
Turn to your map. Von will see that tlie
Tnwaaimniid Cumberland river run through
the nintn of Kentucky side and "Me, like twin
alstcr. They empty Into the Ohio not fur
apart. They coiuo near together flint Inside
tho Tennnwee line, and flow through that
state clone txwiile each other. The Tennes
ne forms irt of the lionndary lietween the
two tttuUu for some distance. On the Ten
nessee lde. Just ojikxIUj where the corner of
Kentucky liegiiui, wo Fort Henry. Twelve
mill acres from it, illghtly north of cant,
km Fort Donelson, on the Cuinlierlund.
Ihiury waaon the right hank of the Tennes
see, wliilii Donelson wo on tbo left bank of
itfce Cumberland,
li linNllY AND DONKI.HON.
V.f wy mid DoimiIsoii were iiiiMirtnnt Con
feuVnbt Hletloni Henry wn cnptiinil Feb.
fl, ttjfil A rfalnj young brigadier general,
named CkiHe8. (Inmt, wait nttlin bond or
the for.-? ?!iii bsik it. Tim vlrtory culM for
the Unit ll-iio tlionltcnliou of the iniintry to
till ofll.vr. The victory ut Fort Henry, too,
wim, strictly x-uking, the beginning of the
-turning of the tide in favor of the north. A
kIooiii like (lie fog of a winker's dny Imd Ixvn
-on the country till then. Men In the north
were sighing (or a hero a man who should
ltroiigcnoi;;h to take tho lieml of nlTuir
.and turn In art sickening failure into victory.
Tho hero was developing, tliouvcli they
know It not. Ho who wus to lift the cloud
m tho Hilutit limn tlmt, even In the mldht of
tho victory of Fort Donelson, wiw "too busy
to write a wonl"
A notublo point in the shortness of Grant'
dispab'lim ut ull lime. A few tmningin, of
not many linen, to Illu mi orior olllcer tell Die
alory of both Henry and Donelson. Gen.
llalleck, tlien tit Ht Louis, was in conunund
of the ilcnit incut of the Missouri. Orant
dispatched Ilulleek, Feb. (I, that Fort Honry
bad fallen. He added these words:
"I tliuil lake and destroy Fort Donelwm on
the Bl bund return to Fort Henry.
Hut be bud undertaken a larger contract
Umn even he could till in tho time be pro
Mwed. Tho fn-dietN and overflow, which al
way work kiuli luiwhief in the south and
west, prevented, for ono tiling. The road
leading bi Do.h Imiii were a tea of mud. !y
the backwater n( crflek on eat b nlde of the
twl there wnm a wof water two mile In
land from the tort.
The Cumlw I iimI nuia nort at the point
el(H-td for Foi l Donelnon. Aliout a mile
Kouth of tbo bu t, up Ilia river, ia the little
town of Dover. Thia Immlet wan the head
uarUn of tho Coiifwlemto general, Olileon
I'llhm, dm Ilia the lege. It waa in Dover
" ithi.t tlie but Confederate council of war be
tween Hon. Floyd, 1'illow, lluckncr, Col, N.
U. Forret and oilier took place, previous to
lie surrender of the fort to llrant. llelow
Fort IKinelion, on the north, Hick man's
ortvk cinptlwl into the Cumberland. It wan
overflowed for milm, the water up to a
liorwa breast. (Smut could not attack the
fort from Hint hide. On the other hnnd,
liowcver, In cn the Cotitoderutcti, Indng Imrd
rwl, wished to unite a nail v out from the
fort and vsi'itim by llm Kurt Henry rond, iu,
In fal, tlK-v did wWi to do, tbU oveiilowud
creek would )ivvelit them. 80, on tho whole,
tlie Uckwat-T of Ilickinim's cuvk was an ad
vantage to both ln'sicgi rnnd Unieged. Above
Fort Horn bum, und Is tweon that nud Dover,
wn auolliiT Htnam of water, Indian crwk,
'10 OVN IioWhI.
Mudl Them win never anything like It.
It was "half leg deep," ui vinlly imMltioued
In (Vaifeifcrate olll kil diiimlvhe. tlront'ssol
li'rs fairly aded iu niiid "up to their eyes"
wlien they marchiil from Fort Henry to U
!ei;n Dover und DoihUoil It llew from the
hoiw' Ikmii's like rain and peppered man mid
luibt, when Uw cavalry splai.li.xl hither and
tliithor, In tho vain fancy that they wort
trotting. Il rolled from tho gun earriuge
wheels and fell in busi nut-Mie at every turn
(Ik, artillery made.
It must be rememl.red that it wai Ornnt,
brigadier general, who bud urge,! the reduc
tion of Fort Henry and lonelv.iu TI10 ob.
Joel Ui be gaimil by it was the rUring of tlie
t'uuiherbuid and TenneMiw rivers, and the
occupation of Timiihsmhi and iu limn of rnil
way. (irnnt was at ('aire and repeatedly
rged Hallk to let hint vwt Ku IxMiia,
Is-ave was at lengtU giveiu (limit visited
tils superior and Ix-gnu to unfold his plan for
the capture of the two foils. Hut Halloek
ilencwl Ituu at once and snubbed bim
abarply.
Judge Fori In lit boik, nt Hint Cmnt
"retunml to Cairo believing his commander
tJiouRht Mill guilty of proving a military
blunder." And J et be twnb4.il, lniiorUm.
lug again and again. Flag Olll.vr Andrew
IL Fite, of tlie MiwMppi Nipndron, urged
the same, and begged Halhvl's nrmi-loii to
let bim and Onuil move on Henry and Don
biL It was at length tiven, and Feb. 9
Foote and Orant, Infnntrvand cavnlry fomi
in:!u.il, stalled up the Tenii.v 10 Fort
eiy, wiih I7.nn) men and seven tun
iioata "
Kortlleury fell on the flih. TheSi.mlsv
rter Cwnmaihlcr Foot Uk his place in tlw
fwlplt of the IWbyterian cbunh at Cairo
cusd m hod an eloqueut senuon ou the text:
A
"Ix not your hearts lie troubled. Ye believe
iu Clod, believe alno iu me."
Then be came down from the pulpit and
nioU) reaily bis boats for tlie exwdlllou
against Doiwlson, which surrendereil Feb. 1
jiikt one week from tiiat Hunduy niorniug.
Engineers of tlie Confederal nrvksj agree
that the site of Fort Donelsou was badly
cboneii. It Uk1 uion a river bluir. The
situation was elevated, to be sure, but there
was a ring of bills around It, at from one to
live miles distance, Tbiwo hills were higher
than the bluff upon which the fort was, and
convenient for the enomy to plant guns
Upon.
THE DEFENSES OF FORT DONELSON
Tho bluff upon which Donelson stood was
100 feet high. Tho fort iteeu ws what was
called in military language a bastlonedeann
work, with angles like star point projecting
fmm I Via mil ill liwhwnru ntttwunL and 1)10-
teeted by wull of heavy earthworks. It was
n situated that Its guns cominanaea meriv.-r
as far as they could carry. TwowaUTbat
terkf were erected on' tho slope of the blu.1
toward the rlvor, The larger Dowry
tlie ono nourest the shore. It had for arma
ment a Ill-Inch Columbia! and nine S3-pound
gun. The upper Imttory was supplied wifl
two 83-poundeni and one rtlleu cannon wmcu
carried a conical ball )f VX pounds. The
water bottorlcs wore built by Lieut CoL J.
F. Gilmer, chief engineer of the wentern de
iartmeiit of the Confederate army. They
were constructed after tlie la lor ron. iieiu j.
As soon as that point was captured the whole
available tonriiU-rnte loree in mat rrgiou
m eniMfttt.rnfal at DonelhOn.
The lino of batterlea was extended so as to
take In Dover, where stores of food and am
munition were. In and out, through salient
end re-entrant angle, for two tuilcs and
half, the tracery of earthworks end gun
went i
Iktides that, tlie fortl.'lcations were pre
tocted with bristling iibutu. It was a wooded
region, full of "black jne'i" oak and other
woods. Tho scrub ontj were felled, their
branches sharpened at the point and these
and tlie tree wore fastened upon the ground,
sliarjhcd point outward, In what seemed
an lmienetriiblo abatis. To get at Fort Don
elson Hie Union tiDo-a were obliged to go up
hill over these tdiarpened point iu the face of
marksmen whiwe aim wo yet shanr.
On tlie east, the river protected the workf.
Buch were tho defenses of Donelson.
Lieut Col. Gilmer soys that the effective
fighting force within the fort was 1.1,000.
Up to the time the slego l-cgaii it was com
manded by Gen. Hutdirod IL Johnson. He
was ro-enforced successively by Gens. Pillow,
Clarke, Floyd and lliu kner, with several
thousand men each. Gen. J. D. Floyd wot
tlie olllcer highest In rnnk and bud command.
FOOTE'S FLOTILLA.
Tho Union guulionts had done great scrvlc
at Henry. At Donelson Hie fleet did not dis
tltigiiit.li Itx-ir greatly, except by convoying
tiniix-sirts containing troops.
Whilo Gr.int, with l.ri,(XX) men, plowed
ncrofS tbo mud sea between Henry and Doncl
son by land, be sent F00U1 with six guuljouts
niiuind by water. They were obliged to go
down the Tenneshee and up tho Ohio n sliort
dittiinco to the month of tho Cunils-rtand to
Fort Doneliioii. Fite bad to niako a circuit
of 1.10 miles to go twelve. ,
Tlllt CAKONDICI.ET.
The Cnrondeli't is a good llluit ration of Hit
old foshlomsl guiilsmt It wits tho first to
arrive on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 11
K oismi'sis.;. It may lw mentioned that the
old Carondclet, wlt'.i tho samo rnmuiaiuler,
Capt. Walke, was ulso tbo fli-st to afterward
ImismiIowii the river under the batteries ut
Vleksburg.
The rext of Food's fleet with tbo trans
ports, containing six regiment of soldiers,
arrived Thursday evening. Friday morning
the Presbyterian flag officer opened fire from
bis fleet of six guuliout, four ironclads and
two wooden ones. There was a severe fight
of an hour and a half, which did not result hi
It brill hint success for the fleet The boubj
engaged were tlto ironclads 8t Iouis, Caron
dclet, Louisville and Pittsburg, and th
woo. leu boats Tyler and Conestoga. Four of
tin boat were disabled. The Hrst fire from
the Carondclet hud disabled one of the
J-poundcra In the water batteries. The
nine shot .instantly killed Lieut Joseph
Dixon, a brave Confederate ofll.-er and the
accomplished local engineer who had HKsisted
iu prejmrlng the defenses of Donelson. That
was alxmt tbo only damage apnreutly done
by the fleet Then Commander Footo drew
iff the remnlns of it and dropped down out
of range.
A VuBTAR BOAT.
The mortar Ismt got u luune from Hie gun
It carried. First a heavy wooden float was
built Upon it were erected very thick
wmslen walla Those sloped Inward and were
about eight bi t hUlu They wore pbitixl with
lu-avy iron. Inside was a. single heavy mor
tar, with ammunition Mow tbo water line
There was also a lent for the gunner within
the walk
These mortar Ixwts were considered for
midable twenty-five years a.T Met such is
tbo improvement made kinee then iu ilestm.s.
tive warfare tbnt one shot from even a mod
eiliteslledgunof the kind now m.ule would
knock an old f.-wdiioiiej mortar Uvut into
flinders,
Ono youthful Confederate gunner nis
ltnuMicil liiml( rallantly at the loner
watT buttery at Fort Donelson. While
Foote's giiiitf its were Hppcring tbo Nitter
l. to tho ri(:bt and left, tin youtU, Jobu (.
Fitua,st.si. pei f.vUy straight at hUgun,
Inking ami and firing as coolly oi it be bad
lvu squirrel bunting.
.Now, boys," said be, See me take a chim
ney." 1! alml at tlie smolesta-k of an advanc
ln gU'ilHUt It fell, rarrTlti- with it tlx
C :J FreiM threw hi cap iu Uo air, yellui
Juiunlly.
.-illii-
Again the nervy ly took aim, clear and
straight Shortly ho sent a bail directly
through a porthole, and thi n the gunliOiU fell
buck disublisl. The poi-tbolcs of the boau
were quito lurga
FOUR DAYS' FICHTING.
To tell the truth, army offlrcrs do nol
nlwuy write tbo clearest Engluh, not even,
alas! regular army ofllcera.
It is difficult, thoA-fore, for the hUtorian to
gatluT from tliecolonils'and brigadior gener
als' roxrt, Just bow a bat Ho was fought ond
bow and where tbo troop stood. Grant's re
port ond orders, what there are of them, are
models of clearness, brevity and simplicity.
From them we gain, more deal -bca-lcd knowl
edge than from most of the rest
Immediately on the fall of Tort Ilonry,
Gen. Halloek begun forwardbig fresh troops
and supplies as fust a poesihle for tlie reduc
tion of Donelson. Boy, on whose checks the
rose had not yet given place to tan, regiments,
ns Judge Force says, "so freshly formed that
they had hardly changed their civil garb for
soldier's uniform," were hurried to the front
to help out Grant at Donelson,
- i
''nsimWH 1
plax or suae
Feb. 11, 1R02, the general order was given
Grant's men to march from Henry to Doneb
on. There were two roads; 0110, tlie Wynn's
Ferry road, leading to Dover south of Fort
Donelson, tho other north of it tome dil
tnnee. The two rume together not far from
the fort, tbo northern road leading directly
to the fort
Along those two road the men marched,
starting tbu morning of Feb. Vi. The First
and Becond divliiou moved forward. The
First division was commanded by Gen. John
A. McClornnnd, the Second by Oen.. CL F.
Hmlth. They moved forward, McClernand's
division by tho right hand or southerly road,
Smith's by the northerly or left hand rontL
They came together two and oue-liulf miles
from Donelson. McClernands forces took
the right wing south of Donelson, Smith's the
left wing north of Donelson. Liitcr word
was sent to (len. Lew Wulluco, who hnd ro
luuined at Fort Henry, to bring up tho Third
division. Hu arrived ou tho Mill (Friday)
and took position with hi division hi the
center.
Thus tbo Fedend forces invested Donelson
In form of a crescent, A diagram of their
pnsitiou would show them as follows:
Smith's division.
Wallace's division. Donelson,
MoClernnnd's division.
There was some skirmishing on the evening
of tho 121 h between the pickets of tbo two
armies. Ou tho bith the Imttlo began in
earnest Col. Wm. U. Morrison, of the
Forty-ninth regiment of IHtnois Volunteers,
bad cburgo of a brigadu that duy in MeCler
nand'd division. His brigade bad some of the
toughest work of tho whole Donelson light.
Their work was to assault Bbuioy' buttery,
on the Confederate b-ft, at once tho most con
spicuous and iuacccssihlo of the entire line of
works. They started to climb up bill over
the tangled mid terrible "black jiu-k" abatis.
A double fire of battery and infantry raked
them fore and aft Once they fell back, and
were re-enforced. Four regiments started up
the bill n second time. They were met with
a hotter lire than Isiforo; Shrapnel and rifle
lialls flew Into their teeth thick as linil. They
OKA NT B IlKADQVARTKHS.
forced their way further up the abatis, then
wavered and fell back once more,
A curious fact added to tbo complications
of the light ut Donelson. Tho Conf.sleite
forces were 'airgcly uniformed in brown jeans.
The dead leaves of the scrub oak were nlinosi
the exact color of this cloth. The Federal
forces, therefore, iu climbing ihe abatis could
not tell what was leaves and what was Con
federate soldiers till a lineof lire iu their faces
told them the difference.
Tho third time Morrison' brigade stormed
the heights. This time they climbed quite to
the rifle pits. Tlie line in front rf them wot
one sheet of fire, awful and deadly. Just
then a musket luill struck Col. Morrison iu the
liijv The future Ih.oi ixilit icid b-ndcriwUxl
in bis saddle and then fell to tho ground. That
ended the ibisjieinte ussault, and Mauey's bat
Ury reinaiiH .i unttiken. -
Another cf tho curious incidents of war,
and a sad one, happened here. The flashes
!rom the guns set lire to the thickly clusU-r-iiig
dt-ad h aves. They flmiHil op like dry
straw, consuming tho dcud, dying nud
wouiid.il sohliciw who lay sUmt in tome spot
as thickly 111 tho l.-aves Uicmsolve. A con
slderablo iiuuils-r of the helpless ones were
burnnl to death. CoL Hciiimn, who had dis
tinguished liiiiiM-lf at Port Henry, was in
coiiiiiuiihI of the Conf.iicratc nt Mauey's bat
U ry. Ilis men leiil over in front of their
works, alter tboasMiult, and saved sucu as
they could.
So the night of Tliun.biy, Hie l.-ith, came
and wiu- hw.iv. Up to the arrival of Lew
Walltuv, on Friday, the Federal f.vrcea cn
gagtil uuinbeml only H0 men. Tboencmy
il:.l not know it, 1 ut they were without sup
plics. The ronds were too heavy to transport
foul and munitimu, and tlkne bad lo-n sent
around by water. The morning of tho Hlb
tlio Union soldier were aleolutcly without
food.
During the ni-;ht a storm of snow and sleet
came on. It was terrilile. The men bad not
ihutil to sleep during the ni ht. Tbey could
wot build lln-s, fvr tlu-se would have Uvo
merely so many targets for musketry and ar
tillery from the fort There were 110 sMtcr
tent for them. Dawn found them numb and
riff wiih the cold, thtir clothing wvt through
to the skin msl frosen on their lacks. CoL
Cnifta J Wright, Thu-teenth Missouri, sat
upon a log wrapped In his blonket till 3 o'clock
hi the morning.
Bo the Federal soldiers stood the night
through. At dawn the light began to shine
upon a bitterly cold day. Fires were built
toward the rear then, and coniiauiefi, m vurn
rclioving one another, went back and thawed
thrir frozen garment ami mode coffee.
But thev bod no food, not a bite. Their
only breakfast was coffee, and thus they made
ready to face the day.
For tlie Confederate iu the fort it was not
whit more comfortable. They lay upon
their arm all nlcht In the trenches. And
vet nobody on either side was disheartened.
The Confederate soldier were full of tight
and enthusiasm. At noou the Federal Gvu.
Lew Wallace and his Third division of min
gled veteran and raw recruits arrived into
ramp in tlie center with cheers and songs
and bugles sounding. Gen. Wallace rode
immediately to Grant's headquarters and
dinod with him on cracken and coffee. The
general was nearly a badly off as bis men.
It was this day that tho interchange of
courtesies between the fleet and the fort took
place.
Meantime there was not much fighting on
land, ito-enforcomenti were arriving for
Grant, and were being posted.
Grant's troops were distributed over line
nearly four mile long. Hi own head
quarter were at the log house of Mrs. Crisp,
two mile from Dover, it the head of Hick
man creek. It wus a little to the left of the
center of hi army, and between the divisions
or Lew Wallace and Gou. C. F. Smith.
So having arranged matters to suit bim,
Graht sat down iu tbo midst of bis blue cres
cent of soldier to starve out Fort Donelson.
On their part, the Confederate generals in
side the fort were quite uworo of their peril.
The night of the Mth Gens. Floyd, Pillow
aud Buckner held a council and resolved to
cut their way out of the fort rough the
Federal lines next morning. Ten thousand
troops wore set apart for this grand sortie.
The Confederates too had been re-enforced.
Brig. Gen. Floyd was the last to arrive, on
the morning of the luth, with 4,000 men.
THE GRAND SORTIE.
In the Confederate council the night of the
Mill it wus determined that the force in the
fort should attempt to cut its way out on the
Federal right,througb McClernand's division.
Driving this division back, it was to be made
to roll over upon Wallace's division in the
center, thus leaving tlie Wynn's Ferry road
rlenr. By tbut road the Confederate were
to escape to Charlotte, Tenn. Pillow, with
infantry and cavalry, was to make the attack
on the Federal extreme right, near tlie river.
EucUner was to follow immediately after,
and do for Lew Wallace's divisjou in the
center.
That was tho plan.
OE. BUCK N EH, C. B. A.
Pillow said be expected to "roll the enemy
(McClernand's division) in full retreat over
Usm Gen. Buckner, when, by nttuck in
flunk and rear, they could cut up the enemy
and put him completely to rout"
Pillow's attack wan sudden and furious.
Reveille wo just sounding in McClernand's
camp, und tbo troops were not under arms
when the onset was made. There was con
fusion, there whs danger tbnt the whole right
wing of tho Federal army would bo routed.
In a fow mtuutcs though, In scarcely more
time than it takes to wnt it, McClernand's
men, gun In bund, bad their faces toward the
foe.
The nccount of the fierce onset and shock,
and it reception by the Federal soldiers,
read like some of Ciesai's battles with the
Gauls. Gen. Oglesby, of Illinois, who com
manded a brigade on the right, received the
first tremendous attack. Hi men returned
Are till their ammunition gave out They
matched up tho cartridge boxes from the dead
ami dying and poured their contents into the
foe till that too gave out Then CoL W. H.
L. Wullace' brigade went to the rescue.
That at length quailed before the "trebly
thundering" attack. A lamented statesman,
who bos lately passed to the realm of the uu
ccn, distinguished himself gallantly here.
He was thou colonel of the Thirty-Hret Illi
nois and his name was John A. Logan. He
was here and tlwre and everywhere in that
battle, showering cloctrlo wonl , upon his
men, his dnrk fuco lit with excitement, bit
eye shining like on eagle'. By the magnet
Ism of his personal influence he prevented a
panic and a rout early in the day.
McClcniund's division, with Taylor's,
Dresser and McAllister's batteries of light
artillery, met the Confederate onset bravely
and well. To tbo right of Oglesby still was
Gen. McArtbur, nearest the river. Ho had
beeu ordered there the night before, with
troo) who hud bail no food all day. They
passed the night in the snow and sleet, with
out fires or shelter. Gen. McArtbur had had
uo time to Ismine acquainted with tho nature
of the ground. He only knew that he faced
Fort Donelson. The Confederate desigii was
to make a dash and get cavalry in hfa rear,
and then with cavalry to rear of him.iufantry
before, ho would be powei less.
Soldiers do not always Und it easy to fight
on a full stomach, but McArtbur' men had
fusted thirty-six hour. In this state of hun
ger tbey were when they beard at S o'clock in
Hie morning the Uring on Oglesby on their
left As soon as it was heard, without wait
lug for orders, McArtbur formed his empty
stomached men in line of battle. They took
a lively hand in the fight But presently a
worse troublo than empty stomachs con
fronted them, and that was empty rartrii W
boxes. Before that obstacle they were iu.l.-cd
powcrloss, and so the brigade fell back some
hundreds of yards to the rear aud took up a
now position. It is sufficient to say of tin-in
that toward night tin y got one square uieul
and then moved over to tho left of the Federal
forces to snptsirt the troops fi-hting thoro.
The morning progressed. It u-gan to look
nniewi as ir j iiiow was going to carry out h
his
uiivw, iu -iwi iuo enemy over." McArthu
urs
iriga.io uu.i cnmilil.il away. So bad
Oglesby's. McCli ruuud division was in tho
gravest danger. In the center, Lew Wallace,
with the Third division, was lying inactive
Hisordcrsw.ro to act on the defensive and
wotch the Confederate to prevent their es
caping bis way.
I illo' division, indep'.oying, spread wider
bm.1 wider, and more auj more toward Lew
V.'ullaco, Mi-Chniands division began to
wver. Three Confederate batteries, Mancy
Porw' and (SravtV, poured a steady fire into
It BucLiirr was advancing, too, with til
r
men, with Forrest's cavalry flitting about the
outskirts.
Tlie three Federal batteries had exhausted
their ammunition. Taylor's alone bad ttred
that morning 1,700 roumls. Buckner had or
dered an advance of three regiments before
noon. They had been met with a blinding
flro from Col. W. 1L L. Wallace's brigade.
Know flying in the nir confused tbem so that
they could not see their way besides, and
they fell back to their entrenchment in disorder.
But presently Buckner gaUiered his forces
and came gallantly ou igniu.
McClernaiid sent word to Lew Wallace to
aid bim. In the absence of jiositive orders
from hendquortcrs Wallace declined to move.
The place grew hotter and hotter. CoL
John A. Logan was wounded. MiKJlornand
again sent word to Wallace, and this time
Wallace ordered forward Col. Cruft's
brigade, the first in bis division. Hero an un
fortunate mistake occurred, and several regi
ment of Federal soldier tired into each
other, doing serious damage. Cruft's brigade
bxk the plucesof Mc Arthur's exhausted men.
Cruft's men fought gullautly, but at length
full buck some distance and took up position
near the hospital.
When Logan was wounded be suggested to
Col. T. E. G. Hansom, of the Eleventh Illi
nois, to take bis place with the Eleventh.
Raiswm, too, had been wounded, but bad hnd
bis wound dressed. Both' were heroes that
day. Logan's regiment was quite out of am
munition, therefore forced to fall liack, when
its commnnder went to have his wound
dressed. The Thirty-first marched back for
ummunitkm, leaving the Eloventh alono in
tho fray. But the Lleventh was attacked not
only in front, but on both flunks, and finally
broke and retreated.
Gen. Wulluce still waited, with bis division
iu line, for orders from Grant McClemaud's
second messuge bad been that his Hanks were
turned and his whole command was endan
gered. It was then that Col. Cruft's brigade
was sent to his relief. But the Confederate
billows still swept on. Fugitives from the
(klit scattered down the hill behind Wullace'
division. A mounted officer galloped by. He
bad lost bis bead completely, and shouted to
the general: "We are cut to pieces."
Then Low Wallace took the responsibility
of the order of buttle ujion his own shoulders.
Instantly he ordered up his third brigade, CoL
Tliuyer commanding, and threw it across be
tween the broken troops and the advancing
Confederates. Other regiments were liebind
os a reserve. Ho had Imivly got them in line
when Pillow und Buckner. combined, swept
down upon them. The brigade stood liko a
rock. Hera was some of the most splendid
fighting of tho war.
The First Nebraska regiment and Wood's
Chicago light artillery received the shock
first, and here at lust the Confederate billows
were thrown back. Theyhad struck a sea
wall, and could sweep no further. "They
withdrew," said Gen. Buckner, "in some con
fusion, but without panic, to tho trenches."
It was about noon. This was the end of the
sortie. Lew Wallace hud saved the duy ut
ut Donelson.
WHERE WAS GKANTf
It may have occurred to the reader that the
name of tlie general commanding, tho "boss"
so to speak, of them ull, has not been
mentioned. Iu tlie naval light 011 tho 14th,
Commander Footo had been severely
wounded. He sent a message to Gen. Grant
tbut as he, Foote, wus severely wounded, the
general might perhaps conn; and see him, and
bold a council on Isiard the flagship St. Louis.
Grant did so, starting early on Saturday
morning. After this consultation Footo started
buck to Cairo for n.ortur lioats.
Tho fleet lay several miles down the river
and Grunt did not pet buck till nlHiut 1
o'clock. The sound of cannonading that
pierced through the wxisguve uo idea of
the seriousness of t he sit nation.
The comnmmicr imiiH-dnitely rixlo from one
point to another Insisting matters. His
first thought, when he saw bus hat tered bat
talions was to fall back on the defensivo, und
wait till Footo came back with a fleet and re
enforcements. At 8 o'clock in the after
noon he called M'Cleinund and Wallace to
COMMANDER roOTI.
gether for counseL It was held with all three
generals on horseback. Grant seemed ex
cited, and as nearly nervous a Grant could be.
His face was very serious, almost overcast.
Uo held a handful of dispatches and seemed
in profound thought All at once a light
broke over the commander' face, and then
all was serene again. Of this moment he
told Gen. Sherman afterword:
"I saw that either side was ready to give up
if the other showed a IkiI.I front, und I deter
mined to do that very thing."
So the commander became strong and
screno again, us usual. Instantly there was
activity. Gen. C. F. Smith' forces on the
right of the Federal line had not yet
taken part iu the fight They were ordered
up. Gen. Smith himself, with long, gray hair,
a color liearer by bis side, rode along tho front
of bis lino, a striking, inspiring figure. He
told his men he himself would lead them, and
directed them when near enough ' to charge
Imyonet on tho rifle pits. Tbo signal was
given, the column moved forward and was
met by a roar of musketry from thoiiflo
pits.
CoL Tuttle was in the lend with his Second
Iowa recilllellt. The mlrn.w.l,,, li ,
u moment under the fire Hint mowed it down
ii... 1:.. . . ....
wen s.cmuiM aim went lrresistilily on. W hen
within ramre of tln.f
- . .j .1 1 i.r.vi. V.1J1,
Tuttle shouted to hi men, "Forward 1" Then
ineynmue the rattling bayonet charge. It
drovo tho Confed. mtra fill?., tlw.lr. ..-.-...I-, 1
bnuths men Ocrlni.-.l tln.m T., tl,
cheers aud shouts from the whole division the
ouirs and btripes were planted upon tho
works of Fort Donelson. Thtu it was all
over with the Confederate right
Over on tho Federal right McCTernnnd's di
vision hnd been swent from ..w,...i 1..
cupud in the morning. Although Lew Wal
laces men had checked tbo retreat there and
stopped tho sortie, yet the ground held by
McClernaiid in the morning had not been ro-
msen. urnut out, -ixsl Lew Wnllare to retako
it As soon as Oen. Sinitu'a division bean to
move, Wallace was to attack too. Thus the
Confederates would he eiii-ntl i.ii. ..:..u
and left Grant rodo down tho river to see
that Smith was cnrrvin'I..,! 1 , ,
.r a " i-iu uiucr UU MS
side: then be burned up to Hie right to watch
A allace s men exoeuto their command.
At noon it looked as if victory was perched
011 tlie Coufelei-ato standard. Tho Wvims
Ferry rood, wLkh had been oximied by Mo
C.i rnan.l. was o;vn Uv tho Confederate re
jce::t Buckurr h.id accomplished wb.it ho
had Us n ordered to do. TLc time jn t before
brant ordered the renewed ottiek in tho af
ternoon hud been tho golden moment f.T t
capo. It was lost L'udiUer had halted, wait
ing for hi artillery andrwf'
out of the IntiviK luuent. Vti '
graphod A. 8. Johnston: 0u of
soldier, the day i our," K
All at once Oen. Pillow trM t I
to come back und take up la
the works. He could only j
back with his men ho met GeTpi' I
was surprised, und asked wfajt i
He ordered Buckner to stay w N
bo, Floyd, could see Pmow. 7,'
more waiting. Finally Bm kne,
general, was ordertsl to eronto? '
Confederate right and stop (,?" j
was stormhiff the work V
Fix If
w mm
11 K BIlTry
"UNCONDITIONAL gOMtnrot..
CTil. Rogor W. Hanson, of tbeiw
federate Kentucky, led tlie ,iVu,
when they reached the right it w-4i
The Federal force were already J
Hanson was a brave and accompli
fedorate officer. It is interestiiij k
tbut he ond Buckner, both flsw
deemed the surrender of Fort'lid
necessity of tor that Hnnson ay, j.
port:
"I will take tlie liberty to add Uatt
time when we were ordered 1
trenches our success wus oonipift, k
escape secure.
"It is also my opinion that tlie m
of tlie men from lubor and loss of J
gether with the demoralization ran.
loss of our trenches on the right, rj
uie surrender unavoidable."
When night closed in Wallaoatnoi-J
tits won: regained the lost
cleared the hill. Just when tb(iti
and he was within a fow hundred fm
Confederate intrenchmcnts, be nw,
order from Grant to halt and fallbod
luce disolxvycd the order. He felt t,.
general did not know his movements
successful. So ho took his own h1
ond bivouacked on the field, just ,
was, close to me uomedwiitos, nat
morning to bo up and nttheni. fa
morning camo the sun's first raysiWi
a bugler, carrying a white flag frou-.E.
to Grant Bucknor's message prnpu,
opmiintnient of commissioiieistoa
terms 01 capitulation. Grant's repljL
come historic:
'lis'o terms will be granted exreptu
ditional and immedinte surrender. 1;
to move Immislint ly iqioii yourtrorfe
Buckner wrote biu'k: "The distrili
tho forces under my command, ia:;.
an unoxHcted chungo of couiniaai
the overwhelming foris) under je
mnnd, conixl me, iiotw.itlistau.lins i
Hunt success of tho Confederate nrau ;
day, to aci-ept tho iingeiKSOiis and c
rous terms which you pronose."
So on that Sunday morning, Feb. K
tho Confederate forces surrendeml to
and tho story of Fort Donelson was Uii
Buckner hnd good reason to boini
pleasant frame of mind that mornit:
midnight tbo night before, a council'.!
was bold between himself and Pili 1
Floyd. Buckner told them his men 0
stand more than half on hourt f.:
Hunger, cold and cxbuustion had dm
work at lust Besides, there wai n
ammunition. If his men tried to 1
three-quarters of them must bolwtli
tho olher quarter. Surrender was lb
tiling. '
Floyd and Pillow said they would
render, they would dio flret Then 1
handed over the supreme command 1
fort to Pillow, who in turn transffnw
Buckner, who surrendered tho fort, fi
with some of his immediate pemoul
mnnd, crossed tho river upon s ni
made good his escape. Two small to
from up the river came alxiut daylijbn
landing. They took Floyd and
men np the river. Forrest and bsw
escaped on horsobark. The two slimnm
taincd Conf jdorate re-cnforcement,wki
dumped out uisin shore. Then FWf
boordisl the Isjatsv The conduct of
and Pillow was regarded as unsold
was made, tho subject of a senrchiix
gation'from theConftslerato governm
an ofllcinl letter to tho Confederal n
of wnr, Pillow thought that, coiiFiito!
sncrifiecs he had made for the ConM'
ond "tho large ond deix-ndent fmti
grown up mi l uninnnied danghtcin
hands," ho had liecn very shabbily treat
Of the forces engnged in this pwt
there were of Coiifcslerntcs, all t.M.i
thing over 1!I,(KJ0; of Federals, 27,(U
best cstimnto of tho Confederate kill"
woimddl makes them about 2.000. I
Union forces the killed, wounded snd
ugsnvgntod 3.1!I.
The troops of Grant's ormy nt to
were mostly western men, nianv ol
from Illinois and Indiana. One renm
fact in tliis fight is the number of nin
afterward Ixx-ame distinguished tint
part in it. Hundred of men oftd
famous Ixith In military and civil lifcl
there on those fateful days.
BURIED WHERE TFIET FELL.
Immediately lifter the suiTen.k'r (
McCleiTiond and Wallace were m! 1
gencrnk GrHiit'scommission was .bte
l'i. nnd he was immediately placed i"(
of tho military district of west Tons
Numls-n of so'dicrs were buiiid"
field w liere they fell. Sonic of t!s irgnv
sliiltolxjFocn. But of tho earthcr
lines of fortifications nt Donelson 1
scarcely a trace. Even so from the
tho contestants that dav bavo faded "
traces of the lines which seinratl
Years oco Buckner forgave Grant
tho northern command' r was buriid-J
nnd a half ago. prominent onion? u
Is-arers, who wn'.keil with meusunU'
sido the bonorrd dead, were to be
soldierly figure and strong, line fa
Diukiii-r.
In r.r.-iar1n the itorv of Dore-lsoa.
hive Uvu i.n;h rr.t from" many nouns
rl illy 1 ruin oiuciil ikinim-nU pub!!,
lu.U-d i-tat. RiRt-rnojeut ti'om J1"'
lik. Tnirij Hcnrr to C'urin'ri." bei'
War i.i Ami-rk-a, k1 files . f The N '
ur sn l liarpcr i icusi.il lihtory J
1.f lihistruuoa are vhiedj trout Hi-
hiainry.j