My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field

le another division, accompanied by the gunboats, should go up the Cumberland and attack the fort from that direction. Commodore Foote informed the General th

rland, he ordered the two divisions to march. General Lewis Wallace was left at Fort Henry with a brigade, while six regiments of his division, the

lains, and descends into the ravines. There are but few farm-houses, for the soil is unproductive and the forests remain almost as they have been for hundreds of years. The few far

d leaves into heaps and made them beds. They saw the pigs in the woods. Crack! crack! went their rifles, and they had roast sparerib and pork-steaks,-delicious eating to hungry men. The forest was all aglow with the hundreds of fires. The men told stories, toasted their toes, looked into the glowing coals, thought perhaps of home, of the dear ones there, then wrapped their blankets about them and went to sleep. Out towards Fort Donelson the pick

Arthur's, and Colonel Morrison's. Colonel Oglesby had the Eighth, Eighteenth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first Illinois regiments. Colonel Wallace's was composed of the Eleventh, Twentieth, Fort

r's, and McAllister's batter

er the command of Colonel Cook, was composed of the Seventh Illi

nd, Seventh, Fourteenth, and Twenty-eighth Iowa regiments, the Fi

l Morgan L. Smith, was composed of the

hed to this division, composed of three full batteries,-C

ree or four companies of cavalry w

ch man carried a whistle. They had signal-calls for advancing, or retreating, or moving to the right or the left. They glided through the forests like fleet-footed deer, or crept as stealthily as an Indian along the ravines and through the thickets. They were tough, hearty, daring, courageous men. They thought it no great hardship to march a

runs all round the top with many angles. At the foot of the hill are two other embankments, fifteen or twenty feet above the water. There are seventeen he

imed at a gunboat in the river. They all point straight down stream, and a concentrated fire can be poured upon a singl

Dover. Beyond the village a creek comes in. It is

-huts, where the Rebel troops have been encamped through the winter. A stream of clear ru

ine of rifle-pits outside of the field-works. You begin at the northwest angle of the fort, face to the southwest, and walk along the field-work which is on the top of a sharp ridge. The embankment is about four feet high. There are a great many angles, with embrasu

f breastworks, is nearly two miles. Going back once more to the northwest angle of the fort, you see that the slope of the hill is very steep outside the works. You go down the slope, planting your feet into the earth to keep from tumbling headlong. When you reach the bottom of the ravine you do not find a level piece of ground, but ascend another ridge. It is not as high as the ridge along which

Don

General McCler

General Lewis W

. 9 General Sm

10 General Gran

ts. 11 G

teries. 12

bottom, and it is covered with fallen trees. You think it almost impossible to climb over such a hedge and such obstructions. You see a cleared field at the base of the hill, and a farm-house beyond the field

al Floyd had the Third, Tenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirtieth, Thirty-second, Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-Eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first, and Fifty-third regiments of Tennessee troops, the Second and Eighth Kentucky, the First, Third, Fourth, Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-sixth Mississippi regiments, the Seventh Texas, Fifteenth and Twenty-seventh Al

round, or the fortifications, or of th

spareribs and steaks, and marched towards the fort. The cavalry swept the country, riding thr

works, but upon the hills within the intrenchments dark masses of men could be seen, some busily at work with axes and shovels.

rsd

diers thought that the winter was over. The sky was cloudless. All the signs promised a pleasant day. The troops were early awake,-replenishing the

iming at the camp-fires of Colonel Oglesby's brigade. Instantly the camp was astir. The men f

nto two parts,-those west of the town and those west of the fort. The road from Fort Henry to Dover crosses the valley in a southeast direction. As you go

llowed by nearly all of the division. The batteries moved along the road, but the troops marched through the woods west of the road. The artillery came into position o

a gun, but it did not disturb him. He took deliberate aim, and sent shell after shell whizzing into the fort. Another shot fell just in rear of hi

zeal. Through the forenoon the forests echoed the terrific cannonade, m

securely posted. General McClernand decided to attack it. He ordered Colonel Wallace to direct the assault. The Forty-eighth, Seventeenth, and Forty-ninth Illinois regiments were deta

but a steady movement. Men begin to drop from the line, but there is no wavering. They who never before heard the sounds of battle stand like veterans. The Rebel line in front of them extends farther than their own. The Forty-fifth Illinois goes to the support of Wallace. The Rebels throw forward reinforcements. There is a continuous roll of musketry, and quick discharges of cannon. The attacking force advances nearer and still nearer, clo

work their way still nearer to the trenches. The bushes blaze. There are mysterious puffs of smoke from the hollows, from stumps, and from the roots of trees. The Rebel gunners are compelled to let their guns remain silent, and the infantry d

r old fort?" shouts a sharpsho

in?" is the answer f

rds!" says the v

ke the fort?" is the resp

rain began to fall. The roads were miry, the dead leaves slippery. The men had thrown aside their overcoats and blankets. They had no shelter, no protection. They were weary and exhausted with the contest. They were cold, wet, and hungry. The rain increased. The wind blew more furiously. It wailed through the forest. The rain changed to hail. The men lay down upon frozen beds, and were covered with icy sheets. It grew colder. The hail became snow. The wind increased to a gale, and whirled the snow into drifts. The soldiers curled down behind the stumps and fallen trees. They built great fires. They walked, ran, thumped their feet upon the froze

id

a sleepless night, were in their places behind rocks and stumps and trees. Neither army was ready to recommence the struggle. General Gr

? How long could the half-frozen, exhausted, hungry men maintain their ground? Where were the gunboats? Where the transports? Where

eneral Wallace at Fort Henry to hasten over with his tr

fort, and we intend to do

stream below the fort, steamed up against the current, and tossed a shell towards the Rebels. The deep boom of the columbiad echoed over the hills of Tennessee. The troops answered with a cheer from the depths of the forest. They could see the trailing black banners of smoke from the steamer. Th

farm, three miles below the fort. A road was cut thro

commanded the first brigade, composed of the Thirty-first and Forty-

the third brigade, commanded by Colonel Thayer. The third brigade was composed of the First Nebraska, the Sixteenth, Fifty-eighth, and Sixty-eighth Ohi

-quarters, on the road leading from Fort Henry to Dover. It took all day to get the troops into position

er-batteries. Commodore Foote repeated the instructions to the commanders and crews that

s to a raking fire from the batteries, while Commodore Foote could only use the bow guns in reply. The fort on the hill was so high above the boats that the muzzles of the guns could not be elevated far enough to hi

into the batteries, cutting the embankments, or sinking deep in the side of the hill and bursting with tremendous explosions, throwing the earth upon the gunners in the trenches. Steadily onward moved the boats, pouring all their shells into the lower works. It was a continuous storm,-an unbroke

h wet paper. Another shot splintered the helm of the Pittsburg, and that boat also became unmanageable. A third shot crashed through the pilot-house of the St. Louis, killing the pilot instantly. The Commodore stood by his side, and was sprinkled with the blood of the brave, unfortunate man. The shot broke the wheel and knocked down a timber which wounded the Commodore in the foot. He sprang to the deck, limped to another steering apparatus, and endeavored with his own hands to keep the vessel head to the stream; but that apparatus also had been shot away. Sixty-one shots had struck the St. Louis; some had passed through from stem to stern. The Louisville had received thirty-five shots. Twenty-six had crashed in

nful, but he thought not of his own sufferings. He frequently asked how the wounded men were getting along,

Lord, belongs the glory,' yet I feel bad at the result of our attack on Fort Donelson. To see brave officers and m

place his army in position on the hills surrounding the fort, throw up intrenchments, and wait till the gunboats co

red, and till he had received reinforcements. He thought that the whole available force of Union troops would be hurried up by steamboat from St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Cairo; and that when they arrived a division would be marched up the river towards Clarksville, above Dover, and that they in the fort would be starved out and forced t

kner, with the other half of the army, was to push out from the northwest angle of the fort at the same time, attack General Wallace, and force him back upon General McClernand, which would throw the Union troops into confusion. By adopting this plan he hoped to win a victory, or if not that, he could open

urd

st Virginia. McCousland's brigade was composed of the Thirty-sixth and Fifty-sixth Virginia; Davidson's brigade was composed of the Seventh Texas, Eighth Kentucky, and Third Mississippi; Colonel Drake's brigade was composed of the Fourth and Twentieth Mississippi, Garve

counting towards the left. Schwartz's battery was on the right and Dresser's on the left. Wallace's brigade was formed with the Thirty-first Illinois on the right, close to Oglesby's left flank regiment, then the Twentieth, Forty-eighth, Forty-fifth, Forty-ninth, and Seventeenth Illinois. McAllister's battery was between the Eleventh and Twentieth, and Taylor's be

sharp crack of the rifles was heard in the thickets on the extreme right. Then the artillery opened. Schwartz's, Dresser's, McAllister's, and Taylor's men sprang from their blankets to their guns. It was hardly light

ed, and the wild uproar o

ng diagram how the troops stood at the beginning of the battle. There is McArthur's brigade with Schwartz's battery, Oglesby's brigade with Dresser's battery, Wallace's brigade with McAllister's and Taylor's batteries,-all facing the t

ck on Mc

brigade. 4 Cr

igade. 5 Pillo

e's brigade. 6 Bu

you remember, are on the right of Oglesby's brigade. The men are cold. They have sprung from their icy beds to take their places in the ranks. They have a scant supply of ammunition, and are unpr

conspirators in Congress, when they were about to secede from the Union, that the men of the Northwest would hew their way to the Gulf of Mexico with their swords, if they attempted to close the Mississippi. H

are sent back in confusion, but the onset has been so fierce and the charge so far in the rear, that McArthur is compelled to fall back and form a new line. The Rebels have begun to open the door which General Grant had closed against them. The br

e of land. They load their muskets, rush up to the crest of the hill, deliver their fire, and step back

ifth, and half of the Forty-ninth round towards Pillow's brigades, leaving the other half of the Forty-ninth and the Seventeenth to hold the line towards the Fort Henry r

bloody contest. The snow becomes crimson. There are pools of clotted blood where the brave men lie down upon the ground. There are bayonet-charges, fierce hand-to-hand contests. The Re

rnand sees that he is contending against overwhelming numbers, and he sends a messenger in haste to General Lewis Wallace, who sends Cruft's brigade to his assistance.

e has lulled for a moment, but now it rolls again louder than before. The Rebels dash on, but it is like the dashing of the waves against a rock. Cruft's men are unmoved, though the Rebels advance till

em. In a few minutes they will pour their volleys into the backs of his men. You remember that the Seventeenth and part of the Forty-ninth Illinois regiments were left standing near the road. You hear from their m

batteries, but are repulsed. Reinforced by new regiments, they rush on again. They shoot the gunners and the horses and seize the cannon. The struggle is fierce, but unequal. Oglesby's men are overpowered, the line gives way. The Rebels push on with a yell, and s

d,-Colonels Logan, Lawler, and Ransom are wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel White of the Thirty-first, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith of the Forty-eighth, Lieutenant-Colonel Irvin of the Twentieth, and Major Post of the Eighth are killed. The men of Ogl

qually powerful is coming up on your right hand, and that a third is giving heavy blows upon your left shoulder, almost in your back. Pillow, with one half of his br

ot flee. They change front and march a few rods to the rear, come into line and fire a volley at the advancing Rebels. Forest's cavalry dashes upon them and cuts off a few prisoners, but th

uns and rush wildly to the rear. An officer dashes down t

you scoundrel!" sh

, expecting to see the enemy in overwhelming numbers. General Wallace

the brigade repeats the order. The men break into a run towards the front along the road. Gen

ge-boxes, we will stop them." He says it so coolly and deliberately that it astonishes General Wallace. It reassures h

l, just where the road begins to descend into the ra

mmands the battery, leads it along the road. The horses are upon the gallop. The teamsters lash them with t

n the road, and two on each side,

, and work in their shirt-sleeves. They ram home the cartr

-eighth Illinois. On the left of the battery is Captain Davison's company of the Thirty-second Illinois, and beyond

ck, and their regiments are reforming in the woods west

Clernand, rifling the pockets of the dead and robbing the wounded. General Pi

f a soldier, th

me to perfect his line. Willard's battery, which was left at Fort Henry, has just arrived. It gallops into

cess, and are confident of defeating General Grant. General Floyd has changed his mind; instead of escapin

ond Eng

with Wood's battery

d's brigade

their grape and canister, shrapnel and shells, into the gray ranks which are vainly endeavoring to reach the top of the hill. The Rebels concentrate their fire upon Wood's battery and the First Nebraska, but those hardy pioneers from beyond the Missouri, some of them Rocky Mountain hunters, cannot be d

hey have lost courage. Their officers rally the wavering lines. Again the

so successfully in the morning, has failed at noon. General Pillow's telegram was sent too soon by a half-hour. The Rebel

t then he could plant his batteries so near that, under their fire, he could get into the fort. General Smith's division had not been engaged

attempt great deeds for their country. The Rebels

ross the brook, drive the Rebels back, and then assault their works. A large

nth Indiana, for each wanted the honor of leading the assault. The Eleventh yielded to the Eighth, with the understanding tha

ed in line of battle to the right of Colonel Smith. They crossed the brook. It was a dark and bloody ravine. The Rebel dead and wounded were ly

of the enterprise. He told his men what they were t

" were their answers. They could see the Rebel lines on the hill. The Re

rough brush and over stony ground. A line of skirmishers sprang out from the Eight

ing, picking off an opponent, then

alf-way up the hill, when a line of

annihilated Colonel Smith's command. Up they rose, and rushed upon the enemy, pouring in their volleys, falling when the fight was hottest, rising as soo

works, when an officer dashed down the line

to make a feint of attacking the fort. Major Cavender brings his heavy guns into position, and opens a furious cannonade, under cover of which Colonel Lau

pour their fire upon the advancing columns. Colonel Hanson's men lie secure behind the trunks of the great forest oaks, their rifles thrust through between the logs. It is fifteen or twenty rods to the bottom of the s

ves up on the left and commences the attack. The soldiers hear, far d

of Lauman

igade. 4 Rebe

gade. 5 Rebe

batteries,

rigade is in solid column of regiments, the Second Iowa in front, then the Twenty-fifth Indiana, the Seventh and Fourteenth Iowa,-four firm, unw

loud explosions and terrifying shrieks from the flying fragments, men drop from the ranks, or are whirled into the air torn and mangled. There are sudden gaps, but not a man flinches. They look not towards the rear, but towards the front. There are the fallen trees, the hill, the line of two thousand muskets poised between the logs, the cannon thundering from the height beyond. There is no whisp

e terrible than the fiercest winter blast, sweeps down the slope into their faces. There are lightning flashes and thunderbolts from the hill above. Men drop from their places, to lie forever still among the tangled branches. But their surviving comrades do not falter. On,-on,-creeping, crawling, climbing over

rra

eating foe. Stone's battery gallops over the meadow, over the logs, up the hill, the horses leaping and plunging as if they, too, knew that victory

ings through the forest, do

"We are inside!" shouts an of

singing. They forget all their hardships and sufferings, the hungry days, the h