The Troops Engaged.
Daring Bravery of the Iowa Boys.
The 2d and 7th Iowa Charge at the Point of the Bayonet.
They are the First to mount the Enemy’s Works.
The Correspondence relative to the Surrender.
BATTLE-FIELD NEAR FT. DONELSON,
February 16.
A most bloody battle was fought yesterday on the right wing of our force in the rear of the enemy’s works, in which the first and second brigades of Gen. McClernand’s division were engaged. The fights commenced at daylight by the enemy firing some grape into the 31st & 29th Illinois regiments, which were encamped near the right. The west brigade, Col. R. I. Oglesby commanding, was immediately drawn up in line, after the following order – the 18th Illinois, Col. Lander, on the extreme right; 8th Ills., Lieut. Col. Rhodes commanding; 38th Ills., Lieut. Col. Dennis commanding, followed by the 29th, Col. Reardon, which supported the right of Stewart’s battery of light artillery, with the 31st, Col. John A. Logan, on the extreme left and supporting the left of Stewart’s battery – all Illinois regiments.
The second brigade, Col. W H. Wallace commanding, consisted of the 11th, Lieut. Col. Ransom in command; 20th, Col. C. Carroll Marsh, and 45th – all Illinois regiments – with McAllister’s and Taylor’s batteries, and four siege guns. The attacking force of the enemy was about 12,000 men. The position of the ground was such that not more than one of our regiments 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 18th, which fought with a desperate courage until their ammunition became exhausted, when they were forced to retire with a loss of officers and men, and were replaced by the 8th regiment, which fought with like bravery, but they, too, were driven back after disbursing their ammunition and in turn were replaced by the 18th, which also fell back in turn. Meanwhile the other regiments were lending such feeble aid as their position would admit.
Lew Wallace was then ordered to reinforce McClernand, and he sent two brigades of his division from the center.
The 31st regiment, Col. Logan, fought like veterans who never had any other occupation, and struggled, defending Capt. Schwartz’s battery, under the most galling fire of the enemy, until every horse at the battery was killed, with the officers who had charge of the guns, as well as Lieut. Col. White.
Capt. Rigby, acting Major, and seven Captains, and a number of Lieutenants, of the 31st had been killed, with Col. Logan wounded.
Being nearly surrounded by the rebels, Capt. Edwin S. Cook, who was left in command, drew the regiment, or what remained of it, off the field; but not until their last round was expended, and they had commenced to drive the rebels before them.
The second brigade now came up and took the place of the retired one and fought desperately, loosing a great number in killed and wounded, when, with the assistance of a portion of Wallace’s division, the 49th and 59th Ohio, with Taylor’s battery, which was stationed on a hill near by us, the rebels came up they opened fire upon them and drove a portion of them back into their entrenchments, while a large portion still occupied the ground they had gained. The object of the rebels was evidently to cut their way through our troops.
In the afternoon Gen. Grant saw that something should be done to restore the spirits of our disheartened troops, and ordered Gen. Smith to make an assault on the west wing of the enemy’s works. Gen. Smith, as quick as horse flesh could carry him, rode along his lines, and ordered his men to prepare for a charge, which caused shouts of joy to ring along his lines. Without a moment’s unnecessary delay, Col. Lauman’s brigade – the 2d and 7th Iowa, and the 11th and 25th Indiana – charged up to the enemy’s redoubt, driving the rebels before them at the point of the bayonet like frightened sheep, and gaining possession of their outworks.
Gen. Smith behaved like one inspired with the determination of gaining continual victories. He could be seen riding along the lines, with his hat swinging on the top of his sword, in the thickest of the fight, encouraging his men and cheering them on to victory, regardless of the deadly missiles flying around him.
The Colonel of the 2d Iowa was the first to mount the enemy’s works with his men close in his wake.
The storming was complete. Our troops gained a position inside of their works when they lay on their arms all night, prepared to follow up their success in the morning.
The 7th Illinois, Col. Cook, followed up as a reserve and part of his regiment got into the action, while the balance acted as skirmishers with the sharpshooters. After Gen. Smith had gained his position inside the entrenchments Gen. Grant sent word of his success to the right wing and ordered Gen. McClernand and Wallace to return their attack, when the 1st and 2d brigades, which had been in the bloody affair in the morning, with McClernand’s division and 2d brigade of Wallace’s division, made a fresh assault upon the enemy, regained the ground they had lost and pushed forward close to the left of their fortifications, and then lay on their arms prepared to act in concert with Gen. Smith’s column this Sunday morning, when a most desperate attempt will be made to carry the whole of the rebels batteries and fortifications.
We will either be in possession of the fort this noon, or suffer the most bloody defeat that ever befell an army. It is now six o’clock and yet I have heard no firing of any account this morning. There appears to be a lull that is not understood.
The following are among the killed and wounded. Killed – Lt. Col. Smith, 48th Illinois; Lt. Col. Cowan, 20th Illinois; Lt. Col. White, 31st Ill. Wounded – Col. John A. Logan, 31st Illinois, slightly; Col. M. K. Lawless, 18th Ill., slightly; Col. O. Carroll Marsh, 20th Ill, slightly; Col. W. R. Morrison, 49th Ill., slightly; Lt. Col. Ransom, 11th Ill., slightly.
SECOND DISPATCH.
FORT DONELSON, Feb. 16.
Fort Donelson is ours. The garrison, consisting of 15,000 men, and Gens. Buckner and Johnson, surrendered to Gen. Grant this morning. Our troops now occupy the fort.
Floyd and Pillow have escaped. Some say that Floyd was shot by his own men in attempting to do so. Particulars will follow this as soon as they can be obtained.
The number of cannon captured is 48 field pieces, and 17 heavy guns in position; also, and incalculable amount of quartermaster and commissary stores.
THIRD DISPATCH.
FT. DONELSON, Feb. 16.
The force of the rebels quartered here according to the statement of their Adjutant General, was 25,000. This whole force, with the exception of four regiments which escaped last night and those lost in action, have fallen into our hands.
The General Johnson taken is Gen. D. B. [sic] Johnson, of Tennessee.
The loss of the rebels in yesterday’s fight, according to their own accounts, range from 8,000 to 10,000.
As many of the prisoners as can be carried will immediately be sent to Cairo, in charge of Capt. W. S. [Hillyer], aid to Gen. Grant.
The following correspondence passed between Gen. Grant, commanding the Federal forces and Gen. S. B Buckner, commanding the Confederates:
GEN. BUCKNER TO GEN. GRANT.
HEADQUARTERS, FT. DONELSON,
Feb. 16.
SIR: – In consideration of all the circumstances governing the present situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the commanding officer of the federal forces the appointment of commissioners to agree upon terms of capitulation of the forces and post under my command, and in that view suggest an armistice until 2 o’clock to-day.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your ob’t serv’t,
S. B. BUCKNER,
Brig. Gen’l C. S. A.
To Brig. Gen’l U. S. GRANT, Brig. Gen’l U. S. A.
LETTER OF INSTRUCITON TO THE BEARER OF THE DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS, FORT DONELSON,
February 16th.
Maj. Crosby will take or send by an officer to the nearest picket of the enemy, the accompanying communication to Gen. Grant and request information of the point where future communication will reach him. Also inform him that my headquarters will be for the present in Dover.
S. B. BUCKNER.
P. S. Have the white flag hoisted on Ft. Donelson, not on the battery.
(Signed,)
S. B. BUCKNER,
Brig. Gen.
GEN GRANT’S REPLY.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD,
NEAR FT. DONELSON, Feb. 16.
To Gen. Buckner, Confederate Army:
Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and appointment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation, is just received. No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender will be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.
I am very respectfully, Your ob’t serv’t,
(Signed,)
U. S. GRANT,
Brig.-Gen. Commanding.
GEN. BUCKNER’S LETTER OF SURRENDER.
Headquarters, Dover, Tenn., Feb. 16.
Brig. Gen. Grant, U. S. A. – Sir: The distribution of the forces under my command incident to an unexpected change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your command, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Confederate arms yesterday, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms which you propose. I am, dear sir, your very ob’t servant.
S. B. BUCKNER,
Brig. Gen. C. S. A.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 19, 1862, p. 2
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