Fort Donelson Victory

[Johnny Rube]

From The Philadelphia Inquirer
Wednesday, February 19, 1862

Particulars of the Last Day's fight
The Fort Donelson Victory!

Chicago, Feb. 18 -- The Tribune's special despatch from Fort Donelson says that the position of the ground occupied by our troops, in the attack upon Fort Donelson, was such that not more than one regiment could operate at the same time; while the Rebels could bring nearly their whole force to bear against us. The first regiment to receive the Rebels was the Eighteenth Illinois, which fought with desperate courage until their ammunition was exhausted, when they were forced to retire. They were replaced by the Eighth Illinois, who were also driven back after firing their last round. Meanwhile the other regiments were lending such feeble assistance as their positions would admit.

General Lew Wallace was then ordered to reinforce General McClernand, and he sent two brigades to the centre. The Thirty-first Illinois, General Logan, fought like veterans, defending Swartz's battery, under the most galling fire, until every horse at the battery was killed, together with all the officers who had charge of the guns, as well as the Lieutenant-Colonel, the acting Major, seven Captains, and a number of Lieutenants wounded. The regiment being nearly surrounded, Captain Cooke, who was left in command, drew off what there was left, not, however until their last round was expended, and they had commenced driving the rebels before them.

The Second brigade then came up and took the place of the retired one, and fought desperately, losing a great number of killed; but with the assistance of a portion of Wallace's division, the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Ohio, drove the Rebels back to their entrenchments -- gaining a portion of the ground lost. The object of the Rebels was evidently to cut their way through our troops.

The General Johnston taken is Bushrod Johnston, a Brigadier-General from Tennessee, and not A. Sidney Johnston, as generally supposed.

Further From Fort Donelson

A FIRE AT CLARKESVILLE -- SUPPOSED BURNING OF THE TOWN OR THE REBEL STEAMERS -- ARRIVAL OF PRISONERS AT CAIRO.

Cairo, Feb. 17. -- The steamer Memphis arrived from Fort Donelson this evening, bringing a Mississippi regiment as prisoners, and 50 or 60 wounded soldiers, who were left at Mound City. Eight or nine other boats are on their way with Rebel prisoners. The Rebels who have escaped, it is supposed, have gone to Nashville or Clarksville, where it is thought they will attempt to make another stand.

This evening a great light was seen for several hours in the direction of Clarksville, and it is supposed that the Rebels have either burned the town, or their steamboats in the river, to prevent them falling into our hands.

The Rebel officers admit that if we take Nashville, the rebellion in Tennessee is gone up.

The prisoners will probably be sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago.

Another Account of the Last Day's Fight

Cincinnati, Feb. 18 -- The following is an account of the fighting on Saturday, at Fort Donelson: --

On Saturday morning the battle was resumed with usual vigor and determination.

The First, Eighteenth, Twentieth and Thirty-first Illinois Regiments occupied positions above the fort. They were about preparing a little food for the days sustenance, when the Rebels opened on them a fire of musketry.

A line of battle was at once formed, and the storm of leaden hail returned, perceptibly thinning the Rebel ranks.

The Rebels, from their advantageous positions, showered upon our ranks most murderous volleys of musketry, grape and canister, killing and wounding our men, almost by companies at every round. Yet every man stood his ground bravely. These four regiments held their ground dealing death, and dying and fighting against appalling odds, and in the face of every disadvantage. The Eighteenth Illinois Regiment seems to have resisted the severest storm. Against their ranks the Rebels directed the heaviest fire; but instead of falling back they advanced to the face of the enemy, and there stood in the very jaws of death, with scarcely a prospect that a single one would escape.

For three hours these regiments, numbering scarcely three thousand men, held their ground against the whole Rebel garrison.

At one time, the Eighteenth, being partially flanked, was exposed to the cross fire of both musketry and artillery, but our right wing soon relieved them. At this critical moment, Colonel Lawler fell, Capt. Bush, acting Lieutenant-Colonel, then assumed the command, but was soon wounded; Captain Cruse was shot dead; Captain Lawler was mortally wounded; Lieutenants Munsford and Thompson were killed; Captains Dillon and Wilson, and Lieutenants Kelly and Scanlan, wounded; so that the daring "Egyptian Regiment" stood before the almost overwhelming force without officers.

They fell in heaps, dead and wounded. Companies were bereft of captains and lieutenants, and captains were almost bereft of companies; the other three regiments did their duty nobly. Colonels Oglesby, Marsh and Logan dashed along the ranks, waving their hats, and cheering their men on to the conflict. "Suffer death," cried Logan, "but disgrace never! Stand firm!" and well they heeded him. Many fell dead and wounded. Among the latter were Colonel Logan and Lieutenant-Colonel White.

Colonels Oglesby and Marsh's Regiments fought desperately, losing like the other regiments, an undue proportion of officers.

Colonel Oglesby displayed a coolness and courage that has elicited the highest praise, and served well in stimulating his men.

Never, perhaps, on the American continent, has a more bloody battle been fought.

An officer who participated and was wounded in the fight, says the scene beggars description. So thickly was the battle-field strewn with the dead and wounded, that he could have traversed acres of it by taking almost every step upon a prostrate body.

The Rebels fought with desperation, their artillerists using their pieces with the most fearful effect.

On either side could be heard scores of those in command cheering on their men. The four Illinois regiments held their ground full three hours. Nearly one third of them had been killed or wounded, and yet the balance stood firm. Finally, reinforcements arrived, and for an hour the slaughter continued.

About four o'clock our right wing turned the enemy's left, and the Rebels fell back into their fortifications, and our flag ws planted upon the position occupied by their left wing -- for a time the slaughter then ceased.

Dresser's and Schwartz's batteries were captured during the action, but the Eighteenth Illinois, with clubbed muskets, recovered Dresser's battery, while the Thirty-first recovered that of Capt. Schwartz.

Still Another Account

St. Louis, Feb. 18. -- The Fort Donelson correspondent of the Republican gives the following account of the fighting on Saturday: --

"Yesterday (Saturday) morning, just at daylight, a heavy sortie was made by the garrison from the left portion of their works. This attack was made upon the extreme right wing of the Union army where it was strongest. A part of General McClernand's division, under Colonel Oglesby, consisting of his brigade, was stationed there; also, Schwartz's and McAllister's batteries. The point was upon the ridge leading into the right redoubt, and situated just above the main fort. During the previous night the enemy could be heard busily at work, but it was impossible to tell at what, as the thicket and woods encompassed the Union troops on every side, obstructing the view in every direction.

At daylight a large body of the enemy suddenly appeared on the right wing of Colonel Oglesby's command, and opened a terrible fire with cannon from their redoubt, playing at the same time upon our forces from the guns which had been placed in position on the night previous.

The camps of the Twenty-ninth and Thirty-first Illinois were most exposed. The whole brigade at once formed into line as follows: --

The Eighteenth Illinois Regiment held the extreme right; the Eighth Illinois came next; then the Thirtieth Illinois, then the Twenty-ninth Illinois, supporting the right of Captain Schwartz's artillery, and the Thirty-first Illinois defending the artillery on the left.

From the firing of the first gun until nine o'clock, the battle raged unremittingly and with fearful loss on both sides. Again and again our troops drove the enemy back, but they were often reinforced, while our troops had, owing to the extended lines of the army, and also their position on the extreme right, to fight unassisted.

More gallant fighting never took place than that of the Union troops. Exposed to the terrible firing of triple their number, they stood their ground until, in some regiments, every officer was killed or wounded.

At last, and reluctantly, regiment by regiment, they slowly fell back, leaving Schwartz's battery and three of McAllister's guns in the Rebel hands. Retiring a few hundred yards they all then made a stand, and General Smith arrived with reinforcements, and at once drove the enemy again into their works.

In the first of the battle, also, Colonel W.H.L. Wallace's Brigade, comprising the Eleventh, Twentieth, Seventeenth and Forty-eighth Regiments, participated; also Colonel McArthur's Brigade -- all of which troops suffered severely. Opposed to these were twelve-thousand Rebels, supported by guns that had been properly positioned.

General Grant having, in command of the division, driven the enemy back with reinforcements and gained the lost ground, at once ordered an advance by General Smith on the left.

Charging under a hot fire up a steep hill on which was located the outer redoubt, our troops gained the high breastworks, and with hardly a pause went over them, planting the stars and stripes over the walls under a most galling fire.

They then formed, charged and drove the enemy back until he fell into a new position behind some batteries.

When evening came, the Union troops had been victorious at every point, having gained back the ground lost in the morning, and got within one part of the enemy's works.

Our troops held their position during the night repelling the repeated assaults of the enemy.

The scene within the captured fort after the surrender showed how terribly the Rebel garrison had suffered. Everywhere were lying fragments of shells and round shot, half buried in the earth; tents were torn to pieces, gun-carriages broken, and blood scattered around.

In the left redoubt, where the assault had taken place, the dead bodies lay thickly, and abundant evidence of a stern resistance and gallant attack was visible. On the extreme right, where the desperate sortie was made by the garrison, similar scenes were visible.

The gallantry of the Union troops has been well and severely tested, and they have proved more than equal to the task before them.

As the fleet approached the fort this morning, a salute was fired, and three cheers went up when the American flag was displayed.

No officer in the army had an idea of the extent gained and examined.

Several of our men, when out of ammunition, rushed forward, and although exposed to the full fire of the Rebel artillery, gallantly drove their foes back with the bayonet and captured their guns.

The following are the names of some of the officers captured: --

Colonel Ganit, Colonel Voorhees, Colonel Forrest, Colonel Brown, and Colonel Abernathy.

Latest from Fort Donelson

St. Louis, Feb. 18.-- The Fort Donelson correspondent of the Democrat, under date of the 17th, says: --

"It is impossible to state the precise extent of our captures, everything being in such confusion."

The Fifty-first and Fifty-seventh Virginia, and several Arkansas, Alabama and Texas regiments were among the forces which left with Pillow and Floyd.

The Federal and Rebel officers fraternize with the best feeling, and the views expressed in my despatch of yesterday, respecting the Union sentiment prevailing among the prisoners here, were much strengthened by subsequent inter course with them. The remark holds especially true of the Tennessee regiments. The best officers among them are those who yielded to popular madness at the eleventh hour. They say they are sick of this unnatural warfare.

Misled by their politicians first, and betrayed by their generals since, they have become most thoroughly disgusted with the bogus Confederacy, and desire to withdraw from it at once.

General Grant has issued energetic orders for a speedy forward movement to still greater victories.

The Rebel officers assert that Gen. Johnston will concentrate every available soldier in his command at Nashville, and make a desperate attempt to retrieve the misfortunes of the past.

The Rebel surgeons place their loss at between 300 to 400 killed and double that number wounded.

[blue_zouave]

My great-great-grandfather was one of the lucky Virginians who left Ft. Pillow before the capture. I'll dig out the regimental history of his unit and see if I can post some particulars.

Zou

[blue_zouave]

Oops, the late night caught up with Zou, that should have read Fort DONELSON not Fort PILLOW. I was enthralled with the other thread, obviously.

Zou

[pvt gauss]

Gen. Forrest
To a trooper that would not leave his comrades and escape: **** if I don`t love your loyalty, but I hate your judgement"
Forrest an 3000 escaped over Lick Creek[ Mile east of town towards clarksville]

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by pvt gauss

Gen. Forrest
To a trooper that would not leave his comrades and escape: **** if I don`t love your loyalty, but I hate your judgement"
Forrest an 3000 escaped over Lick Creek[ Mile east of town towards clarksville]

First I've noted that Forrest took as many as 3000 with him to Clarksville. More than I had figured. I believe my Greatgrand father of the 26th Miss Inf Regt was one of the infantrymen, Forrest rescued. He shows up later in the 32d Miss Inf Regt - a strong clue.

His father, my GGreatgrand father stayed with his Regt and died enroute to prison while in captivity. He was buried at St Louis.

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by DHPatrick

First I've noted that Forrest took as many as 3000 with him to Clarksville. More than I had figured. I believe my Greatgrand father of the 26th Miss Inf Regt was one of the infantrymen, Forrest rescued. He shows up later in the 32d Miss Inf Regt - a strong clue.

His father, my GGreatgrand father stayed with his Regt and died enroute to prison while in captivity. He was buried at St Louis.

Mr. Patrick, Sir, you have a fine collection of Southern regiments in your pedigree. My salute to you.You are fortunate to have ancestors in two different generations in this work. That simply increases your odds of finding information. If you haven't already done so, you'll find that Forrest was a very interesting individual. One of my gg grandfathers was wounded by an exploding shell in Atlanta on August 9, 1864. He made it back to his 63rd Virginia regiment prior to the advance into Tennessee. Arriving late for battle at Franklin, the 63rd was assigned ordinance duty and later sent to join Forrest and Bates at Murfreesboro which they did on December 6. My gg grandpa had great difficulty moving about and was doubtless under Forrest's wing at some point as they fought the rear guard action after Nashville fell all the way to Bainbridge and to some safety in northeast Mississippi before he went on to North Carolina. Forrest's travels and his relationship to the US Cavalry is quite an oddysey. I look forward to learning more about your Mississippi units and their relationship to the AOT. Welcome aboard!

[DHPatrick]

Larry,

Thank you for your kind post. I just joined the site yesterday and am looking forward to learning more about my ancestor's regiments and their role with same.

I think we do our ancestors a great honor by remembering them. You seem to have quite a few ancestors in Civil War regiments as well. Looking good. It is great that you have managed to capture and hold on to the information about your gg grandfather. He sounds like a dedicated patriot.

[larry_cockerham]

Don, I'm not familiar with the Alabama or Mississippi regiments you list at a glance. Were any of them associated with the TN campaign in winter 1864? If so, you may be interested in my 'book'. The ancestor with the 63rd VA was a nineteen year-old private from Washington County, VA. He was in Tenneesee after being wounded in Atlanta on August 9, 1864. Served til the end of the war. GG Granpa Cockerham age 31 at the time was a Union farrier with the 10th TN Cavalry. They crossed paths a couple of times in that conflict. N.B. Forrest, as you probably well know by now, was in the middle of the whole party. Both died of old age.

[DHPatrick]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

Don, I'm not familiar with the Alabama or Mississippi regiments you list at a glance. Were any of them associated with the TN campaign in winter 1864? If so, you may be interested in my 'book'. The ancestor with the 63rd VA was a nineteen year-old private from Washington County, VA. He was in Tenneesee after being wounded in Atlanta on August 9, 1864. Served til the end of the war. GG Granpa Cockerham age 31 at the time was a Union farrier with the 10th TN Cavalry. They crossed paths a couple of times in that conflict. N.B. Forrest, as you probably well know by now, was in the middle of the whole party. Both died of old age.

Off the top of my head, I'd have to say only two - 40th Ala Inf & 4th Ark Inf, were involved with AoT at that time. The bulk of them were with the AoNV. I'll have to take a harder look. I still have a lot to learn about my ancestor's units. Tell more about your book.

I suspect I just went off subject.

[larry_cockerham]

Going off topic is certainly not unprecedented around here, though not encouraged by those who worry about such things. Fort Pillow and Fort Donelson certainly involved N.B. Forrest and Forrest was a player in my 'book'. The catch is the time frame. I have focused on the period from January 1864 until war's end tracking two ancestors through the Nashville campaign and beyond. Most of my information has been posted on the couple of threads in the South and Western theatres forum under Chronology of the AOT 1864 and 1865. Part of my rambling has to do with the current locations and state of various sites where the two armies collided. Hence the 'title': Two Armies on the Same Road. I'll check on those two regiments to see how they relate.