ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16.
A special to the Democrat, dated in rear of Fort Donelson, Friday, says:
Last night was very severe on our troops, rain having set in, which turned to snow. It is freezing to-day, and old citizens say they have rarely known such cold weather in this latitude. The more I see of the fort the more convinced am I it cannot be reduced without a terrible battle. The rear seems almost impregnable. The outer works and bastions of the fort are located on ridges 150 to 200 feet high, covered with dense timber and undergrowth. Upon a similar gorge of hills outside these our army is drawn up in line of battle, completely encircling the enemy from the Cumberland, south to the fort, to the backwater of a stream which flanks the fort to the north.
Considerable skirmishing occurred during the night, both forces endeavoring in the darkness to crowd in upon the other. This morning it was discovered that the enemy had placed logs on the top of their breast works, leaving little spaces for them to shoot through, and much diminishing their risks from the unerring aim of our sharp shooters.
The casualties among our artillery thus far, were very small. The loss of the enemy as far as can be ascertained, is considerable.
Yesterday afternoon, after the storming party had retired and when the rebels had been thickly crowded together to rebel the assault, Capt. Taylor opened on them with shell with terrible effect. His practice was superb, creating the greatest consternation in the ranks and causing them to take refuge in their entrenchments.
The gun-boat assault was terrific, exceeding even the Fort Henry bombardment. It lasted about an hour and a half.
The enemy has fronting on the river two batteries, the lower one of nine, and the upper of four guns, besides a 10-inch columbiad.
The wooden gunboats Tyler and Conestoga were engaged in the fight. Com. Foot pronounces the engagement the hottest he ever witnessed. Seven of the nine guns in the lower tier of the enemy’s battery had been silenced, and everything was apparently progressing favorably, when the rudder chain was severed.
The Pittsburgh was damaged in her wheel so as to be unable to stem the current, and the pilot house was knocked away, killing the pilot, and slightly wounding several others, among them Com. Foote. The fleet were then obliged to retire.
One of our shells struck immediately under one of the enemy’s guns, throwing the gun and bodies of the gunners high in the air. A great number of dead and wounded could be seen carried up the hill.
Com. Foote’s wounds are slight.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862, p. 1
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