commended the deliberate aim of the marksman, by 
a message through his speaking-tube. When the 
balls felfsbort, bo expressed his dissatisfaction in 
such words aa ‘“a little further, man; you are fulling 
too short.” During a part ol the action he was on 
the gun-deck, superintending the cure of the 
wounded. The Captain of the St. Louis displayed 
urea' courage and coolness also; too much com¬ 
mendation cannot be bestowed on him. The same 
may be said ol every captain in the fleet. 
KILLED AND WOUNDED. 
Killed. Wonnded. 
On the St. Louis....._.1 9 
“ Carondelet ,_ 4 29 
n Fittaburg_0 2 
“ Louisville. 4 5 
Total. .9 4.5 
Two of the wounded having since died, changes 
the above to 11 killed and 43 wounded. 
MOVEMENT OF TBB LAND FORCES. 
Wednesday was quietly consumed in moving from 
Fort Henry, and getting into position before the 
rebels, a mile and a half from the Cumberland and 
the Fort against which we were meting. 
Most of Gen. McOlernand's division bad crossed 
the slough of despond, which encircles Fort Henry, 
in the forenoon, and in the afternoon Gen. Smith's 
division began their transit across the river at, a. 
seasonable hour, and by uine o’clock the entire 
army, about 18,000 strong, were on the move to the 
eastward. 
DEPARTURE OF GF.N. GRANT. 
The army being well started, Gen. Grant and 
staff left their headquarters, on the steamer Uncle 
Sam, about ten o’clock, and followed rapidly after a 
division which had taken the ridge, or more south¬ 
erly route. The roads, after once getting beyond 
the’ low grounds in the immediate viunity of the 
fort, were admirable. 
FROM FORT HENRY TO THE ENEMY. 
The route for the most part led along the high 
land of the ridges, through a i ensely wooded coun¬ 
try, with signs of a human habitation, or even culti¬ 
vation, but rarely visible. 1 might, hero stale that, 
all of the section between Forts Henry and Donel- 
son is of this character—a mere succession of hills 
and valleys, thickly wooded with oak and “ second 
growth,” and with’ here and there a cluster of pine 
groves, whose evergreens contrasted prettily with 
the barren vegetation surrounding. The ridges 
vary from one hundred to three hundred teet. in 
height. Through most of the valleys are nine 
streams ol water, which, as they approach the Ten¬ 
nessee and Cumberland, to which they are tribu¬ 
taries, gradually assume, on account of the back¬ 
water from them, the magnitude of large streams, 
which in no small degree annoyed our Generals in 
the manoeuvring ot their commands. 
THE ENEMY. 
Receiving information that the enemy had been 
seen on the ridge in front of ns, General Grant, 
immediately ordered the hills to be occupied by our 
forces, moving in line of battle order. It was finely 
executed — Hie men pushing forward with even 
front through the brush, over brooks and fences, 
until the desired point, had been reached. In the 
meantime, when this order was being carried out, 
sharp musketry firing was heard up the hill over 
which the road led, and occupied by Gen. 0 lesby's 
Rrigade. It. was but brief however, and upon going 
forward it was ascertained that a small advance 
force of the enemy had been met by the 8th Illinois, 
under Lieut.-Col.' Frank Rhodes, and after a slight 
skirmish, driven back with the loss of a few killed 
and wounded on their side, and four wounded of 
the 8th, 
The 8th. 30th, and 3Isf Illinois were drawn up on 
the road in line of battle, and in the front Oapt. 
Schwartz had got a couple of his guns in position, 
ready for any emergency. Gen. Grant here gave 
orders for a still further advance to the next ridge 
to the north and left of us, and then returned to 
further the advance of the brigades behind. Retro¬ 
grading to the open field. Gen. Smith was met, who 
stated that hid division was close behind, and would 
soon be up to support any advance which might 
be made. 
A GAMP OF THE ENEMY DISCOVERED, 
After considerable scouring of the woods to the 
north, it was discovered that what rebels were to 
be seen were on the road to the front of us. Our 
advance soon after discovered their encampment on 
u barren hillside, directly in front of us, and on the 
main road leading to the Cumberland. A further 
movement on the part of Gen. Oglesby’s division 
discovered more forces posted on a high ridge lead¬ 
ing west of this encampment, and as our regiments 
swept around from their respective positions on the 
road to the right ami left, and gradually coming 
round with n face to the mo th, there we were face to 
face with the enemy. The encampment of the 
enemy very naturally was the chief point of attrac¬ 
tion, and toward it, having got his troops in proper 
position. Gen. Grant first directed his attention. 
But few troops were visible about it, and at first 
it was difficult to ascertain where the rebel forces 
had been distributed. One of the 12-pound rifled 
James' cannon of Dupre's battery was ordered to 
stir them up a little, but although he throw a shell 
with much accuracy, not a response could be got, 
and wore it not, lor indications of a large force 
posted on the ridge to the west of the camp, it 
would have seemed their chivalry had repeated 
their Fort Henry achievement, ana had decamped 
on our approach. Thus were matters at half-past 
three o’clock P. M., when Oglesby’s brigade, which 
occupied the road on the hill.’ were ordered to 
advance. They filed down the hill, anticipating an 
immediate opening of the fight, with a determina¬ 
tion and confidence most inspiring. Some were still 
smoking their pipes with easy n ouch a lance, while 
all went forward with a spirit and will which well 
foreshadowed the gallant deeds subsequently per¬ 
formed by them. The 18th, 8th and 3<ith leaching 
the bottom of ihe hill, filed out into an open field to 
the left, and formed in line of battle. Other regi¬ 
ments went on the ridge still further to the west 
Then it was ascertained that we were at the rear ol 
the fort, outside of their redoubt anti breastworks, 
extending on either side on the summits of the 
ridges to the right and left of us. By this time the 
day was nearly at an end. Our heavier artillery 
was not yet in position, and the General concluded 
that it was advisable to make no assault, upon them 
that night. So, giving orders for placing the artil¬ 
lery in proper position, and providing against, their 
retreat, he quietly awaited the approaching dawn. 
Biillation. At a quarter to two o’clock a signal was 
hoisted from the St, Louis, for the fleet to start, and 
in a lew moments we were under way. We formed 
the line of buttle aftei we had got about a quarter 
ol a mile further up the river. The flag-ship took 
the extreme right, with the Louisville, Pittsburg 
and Carondelet at the left, four abreast.; the Goties- 
toga and Tyler, not being iron clad, remained in the 
rear about a quarter of a mile. The fleet proceeded 
at a good rate of speed, until,at, twenty-five ininnles 
to three o’clock, we reached the terminus of a long 
range of woods to the right, and came in sight of 
the lort. 
FORT DONELSON. 
This' fort takes its name from the Andrew Jackson 
Donelson family, of Tennessee. Its construction 
was commenced in May last,. No better position for 
defence could have been selected at any point on the 
Cumberland as yet passed by us. It* is on a fine 
slope a hundred and fifty feet high, in a very slight 
bond, on tboright hand side, of the Cumberland, 107 
miles from the mouth of the river, and nearly 2(H) 
from Cairo, It mounts IG guns. There are three 
batteries —the first about twenty feet above the 
water, consisting of six guns, 32 and G4-pounders: 
scene about Donelson, was cold, damp, and cheer¬ 
less. Our troops, however, had but little lime to 
cogitate upon the weather, or any other subject, ere 
they' were called upon to attend to more’serious 
matters. The enemy, during thp night, had trans¬ 
ferred several ot their batteries to portions of their 
works wilhin a few hundred feet of which our 
extreme right wing was resting. IJ|on the first 
iddenly opened on 
1 vance, Simiilta- 
coming of dawn, these batteries su 
Oglesby's brigade, who had the ad_, _ 
neon sly with the opening ol the batteries, a force of 
about 12 000 infantry and a regiment of cavalry, was 
hurled against the brigade. 
Sudden and unexpected as was the sally on the 
part, of the enemy, it did not find the gallant Illi- 
noisians unprepared to meet them. The’ attack was 
made in columns of regiments, which poured in 
upon the little band from no less than three different 
directions. Every regiment of the brigade found 
itself opposed to three, nnd in many cases to no less 
than four different regiments. Undismayed, how¬ 
ever, by the greatlv superior force of the enemy, and 
unsupported by adequate artillery, the brigade not 
only held theirown. but upon two occasions actually 
drove the rebels fairly into their intrench in ents, but 
only to be pressed back again into their former 
position, until at last, having expended every round 
of their ammunition, they were obliged to retire and 
give way to the advancing regiments of Colonel 
VV. H. L. Wallace’s brigade. 
Here spin was the battle continued with re¬ 
doubled vigor, now one side and now another giving 
way. Our troops fought with the coolness of vet¬ 
erans. 1 would not diminish the gallantry of our 
own troops by saying lhat. the enemy did hot fight 
i i i.They did both. An exact state- 
varying fortunes of the field for the 
Colonel Launmn was apprised during the night 
that the rebels were about to surrender, by a negro 
who escaped to our lines. Soon after daylight, an 
officer, Major Cash by. appeared, bearing a whilo 
flag and a note from General Buckner to General 
Grant, pro;losing a cessation of hostilities, and the 
appointment of commissioners. 
Hkadqitxrvkks, Foot Ponklson, Feb. 16. 
Sir: In consideration of all the circumstances 
governing the present situation of affairs, I propose 
to lie commanding officer of the Federal forces the 
appointment ol commissioners to agree upon terms 
of capitulation of the ibices at this post under my 
command, and in that view I suggest an armistice 
until 12 o'clock to-day. 
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
8. B. Buckner, Brig. Gen. C. S. A. 
To Brig. Ges. U. S. Grant, Commanding U. S. 
forces. 
IlKADVCIAKTKIia ON TUB FlKI.D, ) 
Kr. 1 >oski.son, Feb. l(i j 
To Gen. 8. B. Buckner .— Sir: Yours of this date, 
proposing an armistice and the appointment of com¬ 
missioners to settle terms of capitulation, is just re¬ 
ceived. No terms except unconditional and’ imme¬ 
diate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move 
immediately upon your works. 
I am, sir, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
U. Grant, Brig. Gen. Commanding. 
ItRADQI-ARTKRS, DOVER. Tctlll. 
_ Trig. Gen, Grant, IT. 8. A .•—Sir: The distribu¬ 
tion oi forces under my command, incident, to an 
unexpected change of commanders, and the over¬ 
whelming force under your command, compel me, 
notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Con¬ 
federate arms, to accept the ungenorous.and unchir- 
alrou terms which you propose. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant 
S. B. Buckner, Brig. Gon. C. S. A. 
The victory was won, and Fort Donelson was 
ours. With its seventeen heavy guns, its forty- 
eight field pieces, its fifteen thousand soldiers, its 
twenty thousand stand of arras, its tents and ammu¬ 
nition-all were unconditionally ours. 
Wild were the cheers, loud were the salutes from 
the fleet and from Taylor’s battery, when the Stars 
and Stripes, the glorious old flag,’was flung to the 
breeze upon the ramparts of Fort Donelson. 
I cannot give yon (ho sights or the incidents. 
You must imagine them. Neither have 1 time to 
tell of the appearance of the rebels. 1 made myself 
at home among them, talked with them freely, heard 
their indignant utterances against Flovd, who had 
sneaked away with his Virginia regiments — the 
BGth, 50th, and 51st and a host of stragglers—officers 
many of them—who did not hesitate to desert their 
men in the hour of adversity. They went away at 
midnight, alter an angry altercation, as I was 
Informed by a secession officer, between Pillow, 
Floyd, and Buckner. I am also informed that 
about, five thousand rebels escaped, (lie boats being 
loaded to the guards. Forest's Louisiana cavalry 
escaped on their horses along the crock. But. the 
great bulk of the army is ours. Fifteen thousand 
prisoners! What shall we do with them? We have 
indeed drawn an elephant. 
TYttlUlt DDUlMaUU^ l-M »?l j \ gillie?, *VIIU U'l'JBJUIlunit 
the second about equal in strength, located about GO 
feet above this, and the third on the summit of the 
hill, mounting four 12S-p0undur8. The trenches in 
the vicinity of each battery are unusually deep. 
The earth works are not less than six feet thick, 
braced by heavy logs. The rebel camp is behind 
the hill, and cannot be reached from the gunboats 
by shot or shell. Altogether, Fort Donelson is per¬ 
haps tho best military work on the Southern rivers. 
THE FIRING. 
At twenty-two minutes to three the first Fhot was 
fired by the rebels from the water battery. We 
were then a mile and a, half distant from the fort. 
The ball struck the water about one hundred yards 
abend of us. Two minutes later another l/all. a 
64*pouilder, from the same battery, wap fired at ns, 
but dropped ahead, about One hundred and fifty 
yards. At seven minutes to three the St, Louis 
opened the battle for our fleet, by the discharge of 
her eight-inch shell gun. The'shot tell into tin* 
water, within a few yards of the lowest battery of 
the fort. Our fleet tired slowly at first, but with 
good effect—a great number of blir shells bursting 
within the enemy’s fortifications. We advanced on 
the fort slowly, but, steadily — the four gunboats 
maintaining their line of battle admirably, 
At a quarter past three the firing increased in 
rapidity on both sides. Shell alter shell was sent 
from our boat, at intervals of less than live seconds, 
The enemy’s tire had by this time become terrific. 
They were using 32-pound ball principally, and 
firing more frequently than we. and with great accu¬ 
racy. Our fleet used twelve gnus, each iron-clad 
boat working its three bow pieces. 
About three-quarters of an hour after tho com¬ 
mencement ol the engagement, the boats had 
steamed within three hundred yards of tho fort, and 
the hottest of tho battle took place. Our gunners 
ha<l by this time got the range of the. rebel batteries 
much better than at first, and their shot and shell 
were made to full within the breastworks and 
entrenchments with great effect. The water-battery 
was silenced, and the guns deserted by the enemy. 
From the decks of the gunboats the rebel’soldiers 
could l»e seen running up the hill to seek shelter in 
the entrenchments of the upper batteries. At half- 
past three a shell from one of our boats struck the 
rebel flag-staff, breaking it off close to the ground. 
An officer of the fort immediately ran out and 
erected it near its former site. 
ALL THE FLAGS CUT DOWN. 
Scarcely had the rebel ensign been displaced, 
when ft 32-pound ball struck the flag-staff of the St. 
Louis, carrying it away close to the ship’s deck. It 
had no sooner fallen than one of our brave men 
jumped before the mouth of a eaunon just about to 
be tired, and seizing the spar, placed it in an upright 
position, and coolly remained a mark fur the enemy 
while he secured it to the ship's deck with a rope 
A few moments after this the flag-staff of the Louis¬ 
ville was carried oft': that of the Carondelet went 
next, and that of the Pittsburg followed soon after. 
DAMAGES TO THE BOATS. 
As we neared the fort, the enemy commenced 
pouring *• plunging shot ’’ into us with great rapidity. 
Their guns were well pointed, and did great execu¬ 
tion. A 32-pound ball struck the pilot-house of our 
bravely and well. 
ment of the . I _IM.._ 
three or four hours following the first attack, it is 
impossible at present to definitely present. Suffice 
if to say. our troops fought, and not only fought, and 
(ought courageously, but fought coolly and scien¬ 
tifically. 
The battle, for the most part, was fought in a 
forest, with a thick undergrowth beneath, and regi¬ 
ments acted mostly on the principle of bitting a head 
wherever it could he found. Swarming on all sides 
ol them, they were not at a loss to find them. One 
regiment was only driven from before them when 
another sprung up to take its place, and there is 
hardly a regiment of the force engaged hut was 
opposed to triple its numbers. Thus went the tide 
of battle for five boors now gaining a little, but 
upon the whole obliged to retire. Officers and men 
dropped Upon all sides. Field officers were borne 
killed and wounded from the field, and their next in 
command coolly took their places and continued the 
light Lt.-Col. W bite of the 31st.. LU-Col. ■Smith of 
the 48th, Lt-Col. Irvin of tne 20th, and Major Post 
of the 8th, Illinois, and peoies of company officers, 
were all killed, gallantly leading on their men. 
Cols. Logan. Lawler, and Ransom were wounded, 
but firm in their determination never to yield. 
Still, with unyielding courage, tho gallant Illi- 
noisians and Indianians would not acknowledge 
themselves vanquished. When the last cartridge 
had been expended, and orders were given to retire, 
for other regiments to take their place, soldiers, 
grim with smoke and powder, would angrily in¬ 
quire, for what, and beg to la* allowed to use the 
bayonet. But it was not in the power of mortal 
men. occupying the position ours did, and exposed 
to such a raking artillery fire as tho enemy sub¬ 
jected them to. to maintain their ground against tin* 
overwhelming force which the rebels continued to 
push against t.lwui. 
Oglesby’s, W. II. L. Wallace’s, and McArthur’s 
brigades, were successively obliged to retire; a por- 
lion of Swartz’s and McAllister's batteries had been 
lost and gained, and lost again; and it was not until 
the advancing enemy had reached Craft’s brigude, 
and Taylor’s and Willard’s batteries could be 
brought into action, that we were able to stem the 
tide. These batteries outdid themselves. Grape, 
canister, and shrapnell, and an uninterrupted 
musketry fire from the 1st Nebraska, 48th and 58th 
Ohio, proved too much lor the so far victorious foe, 
and they at last were obliged to retire. 
By this time it was noon. Gen. Grant bad just 
returned from the landing, where he had had a con¬ 
ference with Commodore Foote. That officer had 
informed the General Unit it was impossible for him 
to put his gunboats in a condition to make another 
attack, tor several days at least. Not withstanding 
this, upon being informed of the severe repulse our 
troops had met with iu the morning, he saw that 
some immediate action on Our part was necessary to 
retrieve the day. Lie immediately gave orders to 
his generals of divisions to prepare for an immedi¬ 
ate and general attack along the entire lines. The 
regiments which had suffered most severely in the 
morning were withdrawn. Gen. Lew. Wallace was 
given a division composed of two regiments of his 
own brigade (the 8th Missouri and lltli Indiana) and 
several other regiments whose lose in the action of 
the morning bad been but slight, and was given the 
job of clearing the ground we had lost in the morn¬ 
ing; while Gen. Smith, commanding the left, re¬ 
vel' yed orders to storm the works under which liis 
division was lying. 
GEN. SMITH’S ASSAULT. 
Gc-n. Smith is ; emphatically, a fighting man, and, 
as may be imagined, the events of the morning had 
tended to decrease in no measure his pugnacity.— 
All the arrangements were complete by three o’clock, 
and his column was put in motion soon after. 
The force under his command was as follows: 
Col. Cook’s Brigade—7;b Illinois, 50th do., 12th 
Iowa, 13th Missouri; 52d Indiana. 
Col. Lauman'a Brigade—2d Iowa, 7th Iowa, 14th 
Iowa, 25th Indiana, 56th Indiana. 
Under cover of Capt. Stone's Missouri battery, 
this force begun the assault. It was a formidable 
undertaking, which, under a less brave and skillful 
commander than Gen. Smith, might have proved a 
disastrous failure. The hills at this point are 
among the most precipitous of those upon which the 
enemy were posted. Selecting the 2d and 7lh Iowa 
and the 52J Indiana for the storming party, Gen. 
Smith deflected the main portion of his division to 
the right, and having Succeeded in engaging the at¬ 
tention of the enemy ut this point, himself headed 
the storming party, ’and advanced upon the works 
from his extreme left. It was a must magnificent 
sight. 
Steadily, with unbroken line, the gallant Hawk- 
eyes and tmliuuiuns advanced. ’The enemy’s grape 
and canister came plowing through their ranks, 
but not. a shot was tired in return. Closing up the 
ranks as one after another of the brave fellows 
dropped to the earth, and animated by the fearless 
example ol their undaunted leader, they pressed 
steadily on. The works gained, one tremendous 
volley was poured into the astonished enemy, and, 
with fixed bayonets, a charge was made into their 
ranks which there was no withstanding. They fled 
in confusion over the hills, and at last we had pene¬ 
trated the rebel Sebastopol, and tilt* misfortunes of 
the morning were retrieved. Capt Stone’s battery, 
which, in the meantime, had been doing tremendous 
execution iu the rebel ranks, was promptly advanced 
to the position gained, and instantly, supported by 
the remainder of his division, the point was secured 
against any force the enemy could bring to bear 
against it. 
gen. lew. Wallace’s attack on the right. 
In the meantime. Gen. Lew. Wallace had com¬ 
pleted his preparations for an attack on the enemy 
occupying the position they had wrested from us iii 
the morning, some two miles and a half to the right. 
Just as his column was being set in motion, a mes¬ 
senger arrived with the joyful tidings that Smith 
was inside the intrenchments. Wi th a cheer the irre¬ 
sistible 8th Missouri and Illh Indiana, which occu¬ 
pied the front, advanced on the double-quick into 
the encounter they lmd so long been seeking. These 
two regiments, from their superiority in drill and 
lighting capacities, have been considered a u crack 
corps,” ana most nqbly did they uphold to the let¬ 
ter their enviable reputation. 
They did not tarry long to bother with powder 
and ball, but with a shout of itself terrific enough 
to appal their foes, gave them the cold steel with a 
will which will long be remembered. Shell and 
round shot, grape aud canister, were hurled at them 
in vain. Still onward they pressed, aud regiment 
after regiment lied before them. Valiantly sup¬ 
ported by the 1st Nebraska, 13th Missouri, and other 
impossible at present to definitely present 
!t „ ___ __a__ x* i i ,• 
Department of Missouri. 
Gen. Halleuk has issued an order, that incon¬ 
sequence of the recent victories won by the Federal 
forces, and of the rapidly increasing loyally of the 
citizens ot Missouri, the senteneesof the eight bridge 
burners heretofore condemned to death are pro¬ 
visionally mitigated to close confinement in the mil¬ 
itary prison at Alton. However, in case rebel spies 
again destroy the railroad and telegraph lines, and 
thus render it necessary to make severe examples, 
original sentences against these men will be carried 
into execution. 
No further assessment will he levied or collected 
from any one who may now take the prescribed oath 
of allegiance. Boards of Commissioners will be 
appointed to examine the cases of prisoners of war 
who will apply to take the oath of allegiance. On 
their recommendations, orders will be issued for 
their release. 
Headquarters Department Missouri, > 
St. Louis, Be bur-ary HA 1862. 5 
The Major-General commanding the Department 
congratulates Flag-officer Foote, Brigadier-General 
Grant, and the brave officers and men under their 
command, ou the recent brilliant victories on the 
Tennessee and Cumberland. The war is not ended. 
Prepare for new conflicts and victories. Troops are 
concentrating from every direction. We shall soon 
have an army which will bo irresistible. The 
Union flag must be restored everywhere, and the 
enthralled Unionists in the South must be set free. 
The soldiers and sailors of t he great West are ready 
and willing to do this. The time and place have 
been determined on. Victory and glory await the 
brave. By command of Maj.-Gen. Hai.leck. 
N. II. McLean, Ass’t, Adj. Gen. 
About 5,000 infantry, two or three batteries of 
artillery, and a large number of rnules and wagons, 
and an immense quantity of stores, &c., left St 
Louis on the 19lh, for Cumberland. Gen. Pope and 
staff left in the evening for Cairo. 
The following dispatch has been sent from head¬ 
quarters: 
To Major-General McClellan, Washington: 
The flag of the Union is floating in Arkansas. 
Curtis Lias driven Price from Missouri, and several 
miles across the Arkansas line, cutting' up Price’s 
rear, and hourly capturing prisoners and stores. 
The army of the Southwest is doing its duty nobly. 
H. W. Hai.leck. 
Brig.-Gen. Edward Price, son of Sterling Price, 
Col. Phillips, Major Cross and Capt. Crosby were 
captured near Warsaw, on the 16th, and brought to 
Seduliu. These prisoners were captured by Capt. 
Stubbs, of the Eighth Iowa regiment. They had 
some 500 recruits for Gen. Price in charge, who had 
just crossed the Osage river, but as Capt. Stubbs 
had but a small force he did not follow them. 
The St. Louis Bepublican's Cairo dispatch says 
that the last advices from Fort Donelsou report that 
the gunboat St. Louis, Capt, Paulding, proceeded up 
the Cumberland to Clarksville, and found the enemy 
abandoning that place iu a panic. Two large flat 
boats laden with munitions of war were captured at 
Rolling Mill, just below Clarksville. The rebels 
were moving everything to Nashville where the 
next rebel stand is to be made. Everything at Fort 
Donelson is progressing satisfactorily. Our army 
is encamped in the captured works of the enemy, 
living comfortably in tho log huts and touts of the 
late rebel soldiers. Our army is very enthusiastic, 
and anxious to inarch against Nashville. With tho 
exception of severe colds consequent upon their re¬ 
cent exposure, tho army was well. 
The actual number of prisoners taken is 13,300. 
Among them is General West, who has not previ¬ 
ously been mentioned. 
Gen. Balleck has received dispatches from Fort 
Donelson, Btating that 1,000 more prisoners had been 
taken. They came down the river to re-enforce the 
vessel, piercing the inch and a half iron and the 
fifteen inch oak. In striking the iron plate it was 
broken. A number ol large fragments scattered 
within the pilot-house, mortally wounding one of the 
pilots, F. A. Riley, of' Cincinnati, striking the flag- 
officer, Commodore Foote, in the ankle, and slightly 
injuring two other men. Immediately after this, ‘a 
shot entered our deck in the starboard side, and 
passing lb tough it glanced downward to the shell- 
room. striking the ship’s cook, Charles W. Baker, of 
Philadelphia, in the head, literally tearing the skull 
off. Several heavy balls now glanced over the 
pilot-house, piercing the chimneys, and carrying 
away the chimney guys. These were followed by a 
couple of shots which struck our vessel just above 
water-mark. 
It was now discovered that the wheel had been 
injured by the shot which hail killed the pilot. Two 
of the spokes were broken, and the vessel did not 
respond well to her helm. An attempt was made to 
steer her by the relieving tackle, tint it was found 
that the current was too strong. The Commodore, 
fearing lest the ship should turn a broadside to the 
enemy, ordered her to drop down slowly. The 
other boats w«*. found were suffering quite as severely 
as the flag ship. 
One of the guns of the Carondelet bursted during 
the latter part of the engagement; the tiller-ropes 
of the Louisville were cut away, rendering it 
almost impossible to steer correctly; the Pittsburg 
received a number of shots below water-mark, caus¬ 
ing her to leak rapidly, These two latter accidents 
happened almost simultaneously with the injury to 
the flag-ship, rendering » withdrawal absolutely 
necessary. The order was then given for the entire 
fleet to drop beyond the range of the fort. 
Though feeling that the condition of our boats 
demanded this movement, it was with great reluc¬ 
tance that the Commodore reconciled himself to it. 
The enemy had almost ceased firing, having been 
driven from the lower forts, and compelled to seek 
refuge behind guns that bore but poorly upon us. 
Quick, however, to notice our disabled’condition, 
wo had no sooner commenced to retire than they 
again ranto the lower batteries, and opened a brisk 
and effectiv e lire. The first of these shots entered 
the port bow of the Carondelet, cuttiugoff two men’s 
heads, and wounding two other men.' 
The boats retired slowly to the point whence they 
started lor the scene of action, about two miles from 
the fort. The fire of the enemy kept pouring in 
upon ns from thirteen guns, while our position in 
the river prevented us from using more than half 
that number. As we floated slowly down the cur¬ 
rent. the rebels took courage and’ boldlv sallied 
forth from their entrenchments. Hitherto the entire 
space within the lort appeared one sheet of untrod¬ 
den snow; but live minutes did not elapse, after the 
stoppage of our engines, when the whole scene was 
changed, as if a whirlwind had swept over the hill 
and removed nearly every trace, of the storm of 
Thursday — the enemy's forces, wild with enthu¬ 
siasm, had rushed down to the lower batteries in 
such numbers. 
The battle lasted one hour and seventeen min¬ 
utes. The last shot was fired by the St. Louis. It 
tell within a few feet of the river battery, causing 
earth and water to fly into the fort. At ibis, about 
a hundred started as if to run up the hill; they, soon 
found, however, that we had withdrawn, aud 
returned to open an effectual lire Upon our disabled 
[When the first side of present issue was sent to 
press, ddtails of the capture of Fort Donelson were 
received very slowly, and we supposed (hat our 
paper would be completed before the finale of the 
account would come to hand. Having obtained the 
whole report, however, and knowing the anxiety 
with which a complete record would be looked for 
by our readers, we give it entire, although to the 
exclusion of othor matters.— Eds.] 
OPERATIONS OF THURSDAY. 
Thursday opened as clear and serene as the day 
before it. Upon the first coming of the dawn our 
skirmishers had descended into the valley, and our 
artillery, posted on the hills, had opened an experi¬ 
mental lire, which being occasionally returned by 
the enemy, gave us some information in regard to 
the position of their batteries. The night before we 
were in possession of hut little information in regard 
to the character of their fortifications, and although 
it was generally supposed we were in front ot some 
rather formidable works, I do not think even our 
Generals were prepared for the disclosures which 
the operations of the morning had made known to 
them. Instead of an outer ’work to temporarily 
impede our approach, it was soon ascertained that 
we were directly in front of the rear of the fort 
itself. These works beerift ou the Cumberland, at 
the southerly side of Hover, and the main lort 
runs around on the top of the high ridges helore 
us to the head of the back-water on the north, here 
and there with bastion works of a formidable char¬ 
acter, and at all points with formidable batteries 
sweeping the more available approaches. These 
ridges vary from one hundred and fifty to three 
hundred feet in height, and are covered with the 
most dense timber and undergrowth, concealing in 
a great measure the character of the enemy’s de- 
ienses, the few balls which they were induced to 
fleet. 
It. took ns about half an hour for our flpet to retire 
beyond the range of the guns. The withdrawal was 
managed with great skil i. The St. Louis was struck 
61 times in the engagement; the Pittsburg 47; the 
Carondelet 54, and the Louisville about 40. The 
enemy fired about 5()0 shots, Our fleet fired a little 
more than 300, about 75 of which were eight-inch 
shells. 
COM. FOOTE AND THE OFFICERS. 
The Commodore’s demeanor during the engage¬ 
ment is the subject of admiration on the part of 
every man in the fleet,. IDs countenance was as 
placid and his voice as mild in the heat of the action 
as if he were engaged in a social conversation. He 
stood in the pilot-house for a long time, watching 
the effect of every shot from our ships. When he 
saw a shell burst inside of the l'ort, he instantly 
