DESCRIPTION OF THE FORT.

259

when they would teach rebels how freemen could strike for the land they loved.

The works before them were but imperfectly known to the officers, though it was certain they were of the most formidable character. On the river side were two batteries-the lower one mounting eight thirty-two-pounders and a ten inch columbiad-the upper, thirty feet above this, two thirtytwo-pound carronades and a thirty-two-pound rifled gun, which completely commanded the river. The main fort was in the rear and occupied a high ridge, cut on the south by a deep gorge. In front of it run a line of rifle pits, protected in turn by fallen trees and brush, cut and bent over breast high, making an almost impassable obstruction. The cannon mounted on the hights behind these, swept the whole country for miles. Establishing a line parallel to the enemy's, Grant gradually extended his wings to the right and left towards the river, so as to completely encircle them.

While the process of investment was thus going on, Foote on the fourteenth advanced to the attack with his gun boats. With his four iron-clads in front and two wooden ones in the rear, he moved steadily up towards the batteries, and as soon as he came within range, opened with his heavy bow guns. But little fear was felt for the vessels, for the Carondelet had gone up the day before on a reconnoissance, and single handed engaged all the batteries, maintaining her ground till she had fired over a hundred shots, and receiving but little damage, except from one enormous shot which happened to enter one of her forward ports, wounding eight

men.

The boats therefore moved without hesitation into the fire, steering straight for the batteries. When they got within close range the fire became terrific. The enemy's guns were well served, and their heavy metal smote the advancing boats with tremendous force. The water was plowed

260

A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

up in every direction, and the air filled with the screaming, bursting shells; yet the pilots, steady to their work, kept the vessels' bows on to the volcano in front, and the slowly revolving wheels carried them nearer and nearer, while the smoke rolled away from them in huge, white clouds.

They thus fought and advanced for an hour and a half, the flag-ship alone having received fifty-nine shots. Under the horrible fire that smote it, Foote saw that the pilot was getting nervous, and advancing, laid his hand on his shoulder and spoke encouragingly, when at that moment a shot struck the poor fellow, leaving him a mangled corse. Foote himself was wounded in the foot, but still limped around on his deck, giving his orders coolly as though taking soundings. He had now got within four hundred yards of the batteries, and their fire began to slacken under the heavy rain of shells that momentarily exploded in their midst, and the victory seemed about to be won, when a shot carried away the wheel of the Louisville. There was a tiller aft which the pilot instantly seized, but he had hardly fetched the bow back to its place as it was swinging off before the swift current, when an accidental shot from her own consort, the Tyler, smote it, knocking it into fragments. The helpless boat then swung backward, and began to drift out of the fire. The wheel of the flag-ship St. Louis was also shot away, and she became unmanageable, while the other two boats were seriously disabled, and soon floated down the current with the rest.

Fifty-four on our side had been killed and wounded in this desperate fight, while no perceptible damage had been inflicted on the enemy. The water battery, it is true, had been pretty effectually silenced, but the guns on the bluff above were too high to be reached from the decks of the boats, and it was evident if the place was to be captured it must be done by the land forces alone.

A REBEL CONSULTATION.

261

The comparative ease with which the gun boats had disposed of fort Henry, had created the utmost confidence in their power to demolish, at least, the river batteries of fort Donelson also. But for the singular accidents that befel the St. Louis and Louisville, rendering them totally unmanage able in the swift current of the Cumberland, Foote believed that in fifteen minutes more he would have accomplished this. Be this as it may, the attack by water had failed, and the disabled boats could not be put in condition for a second attempt for many days. Grant then determined to complete the investment, and wait till they should be ready to co-operate with him. With his superior numbers he could do this, and in time starve out the garrison, and this was what they feared. Floyd was in chief command of the fort, and Pillow and Buckner next in rank. The former immediately called a consultation of the officers to determine under the circumstances what course it was best to take. After full deliberation, it was resolved that only one was left open. to them offering any chance of success, and that was, to break through our lines up the river, and so escape to the open country towards Nashville.

CHAPTER XX.

FEBRUARY, 1862.

FORT DONELSON-THE ENEMY ATTEMPT TO CUT THEIR WAY

OUT-PARTIAL SUCCESS-PREVENTED BY GEN. WALLACE-GRANT ARRIVES ON THE FIELD -A GENERAL ASSAULT DETERMINED UPON-SUCCESS OF WALLACE'S DIVISION ON THE RIGHT-GALLANT EXPLOIT OF SMITH ON THE LEFT-THE NIGHT-BRAVERY AND ENDURANCE OF THE TROOPS-SURRENDER OF THE FORT-JOHNSTON RECEIVING THE NEWS NEAR NASHVILLE-IT REACHES THE CITY AT CHURCH TIME-TERROR OF THE INHABITANTS-SCENE PILLAGE-FLIGHT OF THE REBELS

OUT OF MISSOURI.

SOUTHWARD-CURTIS

OF

DRIVES PRICE

N pursuance of the plan adopted, Floyd concentrated his main force upon his left on Friday night, and placed it under the command of Pillow, with orders to attack McClernand, who commanded our right wing, early in the morning. Buckner in the mean time was to fall on Gen. Wallace, who held the center, and open, if possible, the "Wynne road" that led back into the country. Only a small force was left to watch General Smith, who commanded our left wing, which, resting on the river below the fort, completed our semicircular line of investment.

CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON.

Friday had been a cold, bleak day, and the ground was covered with snow, but Saturday dawned damp and chill, and the soldiers as they were roused from their wintry couch moved stiff and shivering to their places in the ranks. But in a few moments, snow and frost were alike forgotten as the heavy roar of the enemy's guns broke over the wooded fields. Seven or eight thousand strong, the enemy moved out of their works at daylight, and in separate columns, sup

OUR LINES BROKEN.

263

ported by numerous artillery, advanced straight on McClernand's encampment. His division consisted of three brigades, all Illinoisans with the exception of one Kentucky and one Wisconsin regiment. As they came on in splendid line of battle, McClernand prepared to receive them. The Kentucky regiment, stationed near the river, attacked by overwhelming numbers, broke and fled, but the brave Illinoisans. met the shock with undaunted bravery. The enemy flung themselves forward in such masses that our advance regiments had to contend against fearful odds.

It was a strange battle field, made up of hills, hollows, and ravines, all covered with a dense forest, through which the roar of battle swept like a tornado. On every commanding eminence cannon were placed, which dropped their shot and shell incessantly into the troops massed below. But little concert of action could be had among the different regiments, for the woods swallowed up the contending lines, and one could tell only by the advancing or receding roar of musketry, or the columns of smoke rising above the leafless tree tops, how the battle was going. Backward and forward it surged through the forest, leaving it strewed with the dead and wounded; but at last the enemy by suddenly concentrating an overwhelming number on a single point, broke through McClernand's lines, and threatened to sweep the entire field. McAllister's battery of twenty-four pounders, that all the morning had made havoc with the rebel ranks, had by ten o'clock fired away the hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition with which it had entered into action. While he was trying to obtain some more from the rear, a single shot from the enemy passed through three of his horses-a second tore the trail off one of his guns-while a third smashed the wheel of another. Only one gun was left unharmed, and hitching six horses to this, he endeavored to drag it off the field; but after getting it a little way it be