February 16, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Special Correspondence.
PADUCAH, Ky., Feb. 8, 1863.
From some reason or other best known to themselves the professional correspondents – with a score of which the army of General Grant is now blessed – were none of them present at the late battle at Fort Donelson. They had other matters to attend to – and perhaps more important matters, in their estimation. But the public has so long been in the habit of having their accounts of all that transpires, that it feels lost when left to depend upon the meagre particulars afforded by the telegraph. Thus far the telegraph has been the sole and only chronicler of the second battle of Fort Donelson. Knowing these facts, and thinking that perhaps a late account would serve where an early one could not be had, your correspondent left his snug quarters at Cincinnati the other day, and after enjoying the luxury of a protracted ride and some snow, some rain, and a great deal of mud, arrived this morning at Paducah. Here I have accidentally met an officer in the navy who witnessed and participated in the conclusion of the fight, and who, from observation and conversation with general officers, was enabled to give me a tolerably correct and connected narrative of the affair. A battle where two hundred rebels were slain, in which a fort was defended for six hours against seven thousand rebel troops by a force of less than six hundred federals, should not pass unrecorded. The future historian, if no other inquiring individual, will demand this much of me.
THE APPEARANCE OF THE ENEMY.
It was early upon the 3d of February that information was brought to Fort Donelson to the commander of the post, Colonel Harding, of the Eighty-third Illinois regiment, that a force of rebels had been discovered not far distant, apparently marching in his direction. This information was directly telegraphed to Colonel Lowe, commanding the three forts, Heiman, Donelson and Henry, his headquarters being at the latter place, and his advice asked. The answer was: “Send out scouts; learn the force of the enemy, and their intentions.” This was done. A despatch was sent about noon telling Colonel Low that the rebels numbered seven thousand, had several guns and they were coming to capture the fort. Indeed, at the house of a widow lady by the name of McGhee, where Generals Wheeler and Forrest had passed the previous night, they had made their boasts that ere the setting of another sun Fort Donelson would be in their possession. When the widow complained that the rebel leaders ate up her provisions, destroyed her furniture and dirtied her house, these gallant gentlemen retorted that the next day she could come to the fort where she would be paid in greenbacks, and her larder restored from the full stores of the Lincolnites. When the same officers, late that night, returned the same way, in quick haste, the widow lady asked them: – “What about her pay; whether they were going to remain at Donelson.” &c., &c. They curtly answered that had changed somewhat since last they saw her, and evidently illy pleased at the smiling manner which the widow bade them a too willing adieu, they went on their way not rejoicing, but rather the opposite, cursing somewhat.
The intention of the rebels was to take possession of the fort, hold it and at once put an end to the transportation of reinforcements or supplies to the army of the Cumberland. They knew that a large force and quite a fleet of steamers were even then on their way up the river, and that unless they performed their task quickly they would not be enabled to complete it at all. Hence they moved rapidly down upon the devoted, but not entirely unprepared garrison. They had not the least idea that the handful of Union troops there posted would dispute the possession of the fort longer than to make a decent show of defence. Judging from the example their own troops had set for imitation at Arkansas Post, they should not have been a very long time in reoccupying Donelson. But Colonel Harding was in command there. He was backed by about six hundred of the Eighty-third Illinois regiment and Flood’s battery. The men of the Eighty-third have never been in a battle, but they were made of the stuff that soldiers are made of, and well did they preserve the reputation of their State and the name of Illinois volunteers.
It was not until two P. M., that the rebels made their appearance in close proximity to the fort. During the intervening time Colonel Harding had asked Colonel Lowe to send him reinforcements. That officer telegraphed back word that his force was nearly all out in scouting parties, but he had advices that if the garrison could hold the fort until dark that evening aid could have time to get there. The kind of aid was not specified. Colonel Harding telegraphed back word that he would Fort Donelson until night.
THE REBELS ATTACK.
It was shortly after two when the rebels revealed their force and planted their batteries on the eastward of the fort. Colonel Harding received their preparations with a vigilant eye – it must be confessed, his mind rather uncertain as to his ability to hold out long against such overwhelming numbers. Not a word but of encouragement did he address to his brave companions in arms. The only cannon of any size that could be brought to bear upon the enemy aside from Flood’s battery was an iron thirty-two-pounder pivot gun. This was quickly turned about, and the first gun was from the defenders of the fort. The charge produced great havoc and confusion among the rebels. They had calculated that all the long range guns were stationary, and hence could not be brought to bear upon them. This was not the only case in which they were deceived, as the sequel will show. Finding that it would not do to mass too many men at one point, the rebel leaders dispersed their brigades in sections, and the infantry, under the fire of their batteries, made a simultaneous charge upon the works. They rushed up to the embankments with great impetuosity. They faced our bayonets bravely; they poured the contents of their small arms upon the devoted but determined men inside; but all to no purpose. Having economy of ammunition – of which material of war Colonel Harding knew he had but a small supply – in view, orders were given to reserve fire, and the rebels thought they were not to have an attempt at defence as they clambered up the embankments and delivered their volleys with sure effect. Flood’s battery also waited. When the enemy had massed a pretty good force the word was passed and both battery and infantry poured in upon them a most scathing and bitter fire. It was too much for them. They wavered, fired a few shots and retired. The aim of Colonel Harding’s men was excellent, as was proven the ensuing day, when many of the dead picked up were found to have been hit in the head and breast.
THE BATTLE CONTINUED.
It will be recollected that the battle commenced at two o’clock. To the mind of Col. Harding it appeared an interminably long time from that hour until night. Could he hold out? Could he successfully repel the assaults that were to be made upon him? And in case he could, was it certain that he would have assistance, and if so whence was it to come? These matters passed rapidly through the officer’s mind. His resolution was unshaken. He had said that he would hold out, and he was not the man to break his word, once passed. “It must – it shall be done,” was the mental asservation. We shall see how that will – that courage under difficulties – supported by as cool and as brave a set of men as ever faced an enemy – carried Col. Harding through that dreadful trial.
Again was a determined charge made upon the ranks. Again the cannon of the enemy poured into the enclosure and iron hail of solid shot and shell. Once more the officers led their men to the embankment, and again the federals stood their ground. More than this, they repulsed the fire at the point of the bayonet, and then from the top of the works sent down upon them a shower of rifle bullets that they could not stand. They retreated a second time, with many lost in killed and wounded. Meantime the heavy gun was pouring death and destruction among the rank and file at a distance. In this manner – the rebels charging and being repulsed, charging again and being repulsed again – the afternoon worn away, and so did Colonel Harding supply of ammunition. The rebels noticed this. They redoubled the fury of the attack. They came nearer. They rushed in serried masses upon the works, but still the Eighty-second was not quite out of cartridges, had a few more left, and their courage undiminished. Again, but with a certain languor, they were quick to perceive the rebels were driven off.
Finally, by a movement which could not be prevented, the rebels surrounded the fort on all sides, excepting the river front. This was observed by Colonel Harding, yet he did not falter.
FLAGS OF TRUCE.
At this juncture a flag of truce was sent by General Wheeler, of the rebel force, to demand a surrender of the place. Colonel Harding returned an answer that he had not time to attend to surrendering forts – his business was to hold them. The party left, and the attack was renewed with redoubled fury. A few rebels rushed over and into the works, but in a hand to hand contest they were as quickly hurled back among their comrades. Presently another flag of truce came out and the firing for the nonce was stilled. This time General Wheeler came to Colonel Harding in person. He said it was impossible for the federals to hold out much longer, and he desired to avoid bloodshed on both sides. Col. Harding was still unconquered, and refused to surrender.
“But,” said Gen. Wheeler, “You will soon have to give up! I am going to compel you to do so. You have not seen one half my force yet. Will you surrender now, or will you be annihilated?”
The General was evidently very much in earnest. Although time might be gained by bandying words. Col. Harding did not like the company, and determined to be rid of them. He sat, for the moment, rolling a quid of tobacco in his cheek as calmly as though in some lawyer’s office discussing a point in politics, and casting a roguish look upon General Wheeler, said:
“You say we must surrender. You say we have not seen one-half your force. I guess, General, you’ll have to show your men.”
Finding the commandant incorrigible, the rebel flag of truce withdrew, and the battle raged again.
THE ATTEMPT UPON THE THIRTY-TWO POUNDER.
The rebels were now fairly infuriated. They had then far been foiled in every attempt. Their demands for a surrender had been coolly negatived, and they were more than ever convinced that the place would not be taken by words alone. They had also been convinced that there was evidently a great disparity in the number of killed and wounded in the two combating forces. While their dead encumbered the ground they could see that the six hundred had been but little diminished in number. This was certainly sufficient to make cowards brave. It made these men reckless.
An order was given to capture, if possible, and silence the thirty-two pounder gun, from which the rebels had received so many unhealthy compliments. The attempt was made. It was approaching to the hour of dusk. The storm of snow and sleet that during the fore part of the day had been falling had blown past, and the sky was clear. The sun was setting. A party of the bravest men, led by an officer on horseback, had been selected to stop the carnage made by that gun. A detour was made, and an attempt to flank the prize put in execution. For once the artillerymen working the prize paused in their labors. They had at once understood what the movement meant. They double shotted the gun with grape and canister. The rebels approached. They had still been under the impression that this gun could not change its range, and not knowing that it swung upon a pivot or table. They marched boldly up to the northern side, clambered some of them upon the bank, but the greater number remained below, while the officer on horseback, somewhat in front, hailed the officer of the squad, sitting astride his horse, one hand clutched in the animal’s mane, the other securing his hat.
“Why in hell don’t you surrender, you Yankee curses? You know you are whipped. Surrender or no surrender, we are going to have that gun, damn you.”
The rebels advanced slightly. The gun was quickly swung about, its muzzle as quickly depressed, and, in a second more its discharge was heard. It is horrifying to describe the havoc made by that single jerk of the lanyard of that cannon. A dozen men fell dead in their tracks pierced through and through. The officer on horseback was literally blown in pieces. It was found the next day that a hole had been made in his chest larger than his two fists; his arm and leg were broken, his side cut through, and one leg fractured and mangled terribly in two places. Of course he never breathed after receiving the shot – his soul entering, all unprepared, to its Maker. The horse had fifty bullets in it. When that officer was laid in the grave, on the 4th, his death grasp had tightened upon the mane of the horse, and could not be loosened. It was cut away, and he was interred clasping the hairs in his clenched hand.
Of course no second attempt was made to take that gun.
NIGHT AND ITS ASSISTANCE.
Night had at last come on space, and still the devoted garrison had received none of the promised reinforcements. The rebels were preparing, Col. Harding saw, for a final attack. There was but little ammunition left. The enemy were forming – their right resting upon the cemetery at the hill top, their left upon the riverbank. They had undoubtedly received some fresh troops from some place, and were now to put them to use. At this point – to render what followed perfectly plain – […..] let us leave the fort and descend to Smithland, where a force was waiting from which Col. Lowe’s promised aid must come.
THE REINFORCEMENTS.
On the morning of the 3d General Beard’s reinforcements for General Rosecrans, consisting of some five or six thousand men, loaded upon forty- two river steamers, were lying calmly at Smithland, awaiting some necessary preparations for departure. This fleet was in convoy of a fleet of light draught gunboats, under the command of Captain Leroy Fitch, of Indiana, the flagboat being the Fairplay. The wooden gunboat Lexington was also along. The following steamers and commanders comprised the remainder of the flotilla: St. Clair, Captain J. S. Hurd of Kentucky; Brilliant, Captain Chas. G. Perkins, of Cincinnati; Silver Lake, Captain Robert Reilley, of Pennsylvania, and Robb, Captain Joshua Gandy, of Cincinnati. These boats were needed, it was thought, for the safe conduct of the men and stores to the army of the Cumberland. While the fleet was lying at Smithland the pilot of the St. Clair, who was on shore for some purpose, noticed dogging his footsteps an aged and white haired man, who evidently desired to speak with him; this the pilot finally allowed, and during the conversation the old man endeavored to learn the destination of the fleet and the time of departure. Being upon his guard the pilot told him they were not to leave there until the next day. This apparently satisfied the interrogator, and he departed. It was a providential circumstance that the pilot told this person a falsehood. For among the dead on the battle field on the ensuing day he came upon this same gray headed aged man. He was stark and stiff in death. He was undoubtedly a spy, as upon his person were found a parole and papers from different federal commanders in the vicinity to pass and enter their lines. He had undoubtedly conveyed the information of the intended departure of the transports, and the rebels had hastened to capture Fort Donelson, that they might also hold it, and, perhaps, be enabled to take the transports also, or sink them, at least delay the arrival of supplies and men at General Rosecrans’ rendezvous.
The fleet of gunboats and transports left Smithland during the day, and passed into the vicinity of the fort. When about twenty miles from that place they were met by a despatch boat, bearing a request from Colonel Lowe that the gunboats would hasten to Donelson, and, if possible, give aid to Colonel Harding, who was reported sorely pressed by a large force of rebels, and could hardly hold out until evening.
THE GUNBOAT FLEET.
Captain Fitch was no wise slow in complying with this request. Leaving the transports to come on as fast as they could, he ordered all the gunboats to put on as much steam as allowable and make all possible speed to the fort.
THE HELP COMES.
It was eight o’clock in the evening when the gunboats came within sight of the scene of conflict. They did not wait for the rebels to flee, but at once took position in which we left them, and just about to make a final charge upon the weakened, almost defenceless, but not disheartened, garrison. It was a most sublime spectacle that ensued. The rebels continued their fire upon the federals within the enclosure, and in fact made a weak attempt to answer the gunboats. But the shot, shell and shrapnel from the latter was rained in upon them in a perfect torrent; and in the first few discharges from the Fairplay, which commenced the ball, and the Lexington which followed, their men were falling rapidly, some killed, but more terribly wounded and disabled. This would not do. The rebels had kept up an attack from two to eight, had fought hard, had been continually repulsed, had suffered great loss, and now to have ten gunboats come in just as they were to reach the realization of their wishes, and the fort was about to be surrendered to them, was past human endurance. But these dark-sided moving batteries were inexorable as fate. They were there, and, what was more to the point, they were at work in earnest. Colonel Harding had, at the commencement of the cannonade, ordered his wearied men to crowd together among the buildings inside the fort and occupy as little space as possible – his position having been signalized Capt. Fitch, that they might not be injured by their fire. This was done. For a few minutes – but not for any length of time – the rebel force stood their ground. Then the panic seized them, and they broke ranks and scattered like sheep before a hungry pack of wolves. They carried their wounded only with them, leaving their dead uncared for upon the field. The battle was won, Colonel Harding and his gallant garrison were saved, and saved in time.
THE DEAD OF THE REBELS, ETC.
Among the dead rebels, two hundred of whom were buried by our forces on the following day, were found a great number of paroled prisoners. The gray haired spy alluded to was hurled with the rest. The son of a prominent Nashville banker, who had but recently taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, was also killed, and the paper found upon his corpse.
The killed in Col. Harding’s force was but eleven. His wounded numbered forty or fifty. The rebel loss in wounded can only be speculated upon, but may be placed at two hundred. This disparity in numbers argues well for the part taken in the fight by the troops and the gunboats. Some thirty of the bodies of the rebels were found in a position where no fighting had occurred with the land forces, and they must have met their death from the projectiles from the gunboats. The several commanders are unanimous in their praise of the pluck and courage of Col. Harding and his men; and the latter are free to confess that had not their allies appeared just at the proper moment, Fort Donelson must have passed again into rebel possession.