The following letter has been a long time in reaching us, but as it contanins some particulars not given both other correspondents, we publish it:
FT. DONELSON, Tenn., Feb. 18.
ED. GAZETTE: The standard of the second Iowa floats from the highest turret of Fort Donelson, though it has been done at the cost of some of the best blood of Iowa.
On Saturday the 15th of Feb., Fort Donelson was surrounded by fifty thousand troops, which were drawn out in a semi-circular line around the battlements, which included within their limits some three thousand acres of ground. The work of surrounding such a vast military enclosure was attended by difficulties which I have no power to describe – dense woods to be cleared, roads to be cut through, hills to be surmounted, valleys crossed, and an immense amount of cannon and military goods to be transported across the country. But all these were executed with an energy and determination which was an earnest of our ultimate success.
On the 14th, the 2d Iowa, together with some fifteen other regiments, landed about five miles below the fort, and immediately marched across the country, and took positions in the line. The 2d Iowa was stationed on the extreme left wing. About 9 o’clock in the morning, the gunboats commenced firing shell and round ball into the fort. At the same time the right wing opened fire with light artillery and musketry.
The enemy fought bravely, and repulsed our troops with the great slaughter. They charged upon one of our batteries, and carried one piece within their breast-works, when suddenly our forces made a rush towards their fortifications, and in the face of a most tremendous fire recaptured the piece, and brought it back in triumph to the battery. The enemy then withdrew within their entrenchments, and the firing ceased for the night. In the meantime the heavy siege guns of the fort had silenced our gunboats, and as the night closed around us the fortifications were not yet entered, and a hundred or more brave boys lay dead upon the field, and we began to think anxiously upon the events of the morrow.
That night the whole line, some three miles long, lay upon their arms. The night was extremely cold, the ground was wet from the recent melting of snow, and everything conspired to make our position uncomfortable. What transpired among our officers in command that night I know not, but there is reason to believe there were some grave consultations. Gen. Smith was reported to have said that they would enter the breast-works the next day if he lost every man in his brigade.
Early next morning the right wing again commenced skirmishing, through to little effect. Our forces on the left were beginning to be impatient of waiting and eager to be doing their share of the work, when suddenly Gen. Smith and Col. Lauman rode up and commanded the extreme left to prepare for action. Our regiment sprang to their arms, and were soon in line of battle. Every face beamed with joy and hope, and as Gen. Smith rode by he was greeted with cheers from the Iowa Second, when the General raised his hat and said, “Boys, there has got to be a desperate charge made, and I shall depend upon the Iowa Second to do it; now boys, show what you are made of.” When he had finished, Col. Lauman (acting Brigadier General) waved his sword and said, “Boys, remember Belmont.” We were ordered to take the breastworks at the point of the bayonet, and the regiment moved forward on quick time. The road we were to travel was up a steep hill covered with fallen trees and brush, which the enemy had strewn there to impede our progress. The boys rushed forward like mad men, yelling and shouting “forward boys, we will soon be in the breastworks.”
What difficulties we encountered in ascending that hill I cannot describe; our line was broken by the trees and brush, so that the left wing of the regiment was several paces in advance of the right. The enemy did not open fire upon us until we were within a few paces of their breastworks. The two companies from Davenport were first to climb the works and enter, when they were met by a tremendous volley of balls from the 2nd Kentucky. Then commenced the work of carnage; the balls whistled by our ears, and one by one, in quick succession, our brave comrades fell around us. Our brave Captain turned to his company and, waving is sword shouted “Forward, boys! forward!” The words had scarcely escaped his lips, when he was pierced through the groin by a rifle ball, and fell dead before his company. His last words were “Forward, boys! forward!” Soon after Capt. Cloutman, of Co. K, fell dead, pierced through the head. Our company was maddened by the sight of their dead Captain, and sent volley after volley of musketry at the enemy who fled before us. The firing continued some three quarters of an hour. The rest of the brigade came up to reinforce us, though their movements were not as rapid as we could have wished. After we had driven the enemy far within their works, we rallied behind the breastwork, and the artillery came up to our support. When the breastworks were secured we commenced the heart-sickening work of carrying off the wounded from the field. As we bore off our brave young Captain the boys gave vent to their feelings in tears of anguish, which showed how dearly they loved him. You will be furnished with a list of the killed and wounded as soon as it can be made out.
Next morning, after some consultation, the fort was surrendered unconditionally, and the Second Iowa marched in at the head of the whole column of sixty thousand troops, and planted our colors on the highest battlements.
I intended to write more but the boat starts in a few moments.
I remain yours, &c.,
CHARLIE HILDRETH.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 1, 1862, p. 2
