A NEW ENGLAND TRIBUTE. 203 dressed. It was dressed and he went back, and disposed of his ammunition to the best advantage, and after two or three days came again to have his wound looked after, and continued in duty. my Young Bullard, of the 8th, was shot in the breast by a minie ball, bleeding internally as well as externally. He was carried to a hospital. When he knew he must die in a few hours he clung to life, but said to the lady who cared for him, "If I could only see mother-if I could only see my mother-before I die, I would be better satisfied." Said she, "You die in a good cause-you die for your country. "Yes," said the brave boy as the gleam of glory lighted up his wan face; "Yes, I am proud to die for my country." A New Englander, reading the three following dispatches, wrote the accompanying lines: "McClernand's division, composed of Oglesby's, Wallace's, and McArthur's brigades, suffered terribly. They were composed of the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-first, Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Forty-fifth, Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Regiments." "The Eighth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, and Thirty-first Illinois regiments occupied a position above the fort." "The four Illinois regiments held their ground full three hours. Nearly one-third had been killed and wounded. Yet the balance stood firm." "O gales that dash th' Atlantic's swell Along our rocky shores! Whose thunders diapasons well New England's glad hurrahs "Bear to the prairies of the West The prayer that springs in every breast: "Oh! awful hours, when grape and shell "It came at last, 'Now, lads, the steel;' 'Charge, boys!'-the broken traitors reel- "In vain thy rampart, Donelson, The living torrent bars; It leaps the wall, the fort is won, Up go the Stripes and Stars. "Gen. G. W. Culium, Chief of Staff, Department of Missouri: “GENERAL:—I am pleased to announce to you the unconditional surrender, this morning, of Fort Donelson, with twelve to fifteen thousand prisoners, at least forty pieces of artillery, and a large amount of stores, horses, mules, and other public property. "I left Fort Henry on the 12th instant, with a force of about fifteen thousand men, divided into two divisions, under the command of Generals McClernand and Smith. Six regiments were sent around by water the day before, convoyed by a gunboat, or rather started one day later than one of the gunboats, with instructions not to pass it. "The troops made the march in good order, the head of the column arriving within two miles of the fort at twelve o'clock м. At this point the enemy's pickets were met and driven in. "The fortifications of the enemy were from this point gradually approached and surrounded, with occasional skirmishing on the line. The following day, owing to the non-arrival of the gunboats and reinforcements sent by water, no attack was made; but the investment was extended on the flanks of the enemy, and drawn closer to his works, with skirmishing all day. The evening of the 13th, the gunboats and reinforcements arrived. On the 14th, a gallant attack was made by Flag-Officer Foote upon the enemy's works with his fleet. The engagement lasted probably one hour and a half, and bid fair to result favorably to the cause of the Union, when two unlucky shots disabled two of the armored gunboats, so that they were carried back by the current. The remaining two were very much disabled also, having received a number of heavy shots about the pilot-house and other parts of the vessels. After these mishaps, I concluded to make the investment of Fort Donelson as perfect as possible, and partially fortify and await repairs to the gunboats. GRANT'S REPORT. 205 This plan was frustrated, however, by the enemy making a most vigorous attack upon our right wing, commanded by General J. A. McClernand, with a portion of the force under General Lew. Wallace. The enemy were repelled after a closely contested battle of several hours, in which our loss was heavy. The officers, and particularly field officers, suffered out of proportion. I have not the means yet of determining our loss even approximately, but it cannot fall far short of one thousand two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. Of the latter, I understand through General Buckner, about two hundred and fifty were taken prisoners. I shall retain enough of the enemy to exchange for them, as they were immediately shipped off and not left for recapture. “About the close of this action the ammunition in the cartridgeboxes gave out, which, with the loss of many of the field officers, produced great confusion in the ranks. Seeing that the enemy did not take advantage of this fact, I ordered a charge upon the left— enemy's right-with the division under General C. F. Smith, which was most brilliantly executed, and gave to our arms full assurance of victory. The battle lasted until dark, giving us possession of part of their intrenchments. An attack was ordered upon their other flank, after the charge of General Smith was commenced, by the divisions under Generals McClernand and Wallace, which, notwithstanding the hours of exposure to a heavy fire in the forepart of the day, was gallantly made, and the enemy further repulsed. At the points thus gained, night having come on, all the troops encamped for the night, feeling that a complete victory would crown their labors at an early hour in the morning. This morning, at an early hour, General S. B. Buckner sent a message to our camp under a flag of truce, proposing an armistice, &c. A copy of the correspondence which ensued is herewith accompanied. "I cannot mention individuals who specially distinguished themselves, but leave that to division and brigade officers, whose reports will be forwarded as soon as received. To division commanders, however, Generals McClernand, Smith, and Wallace, I must do the justice to say that each of them was with his command in the midst of danger, and was always ready to execute all orders, no matter what the exposure to himself. "At the hour the attack was made on General McClernand's com mand, I was absent, having received a note from Flag-Officer Foote, requesting me to go and see him, he being unable to call. "My personal staff-Col. J. D. Webster, Chief of Staff; Colonel J. Riggin, Jr., Volunteer Aid; Captain J. A. Rawlins, A. A. General; Captains C. B. Lagow and W. S. Hillyer, Aids, and Lieutenant-Colonel V. B. McPherson, Chief Engineer-all are deserving of personal mention for their gallantry and services. "For full details and reports and particulars, reference is made to the reports of the Engineer, Medical Director and commanders of brigades and divisions, to follow. "I am, General, very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General." It is proper to answer the question, What part had Illinois troops in this glory? In giving in part the answer, there is no disposition to undervalue the heroic achievements of the men of sister States, but simply to speak of Illinois troops from the specific character of this work. The First Brigade of the First Division was commanded by Colonel W. H. L. Wallace, a gentleman, a brave soldier, a noble leader. It was composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Ransom's (the 11th), Col. Marsh's (the 20th), Col. Jno. E. Smith's (the 45th), Col. Haynie's (the 48th), and Col. Dickey's (the 4th Cavalry) regiments with Captain Taylor's and McAllister's batteries. Col. Haynie's was detached with the 17th and 49th, 3d Brigade, on the 13th, to make an assault on the enemy's middle redoubt, Colonel Haynie, as senior, leading. They marched straight at their works, delivering their fire as coolly as on parade ground. Headley, who criticises the order, says: They mounted with the coolness of veterans the steep hight on which the redoubt stood. The enemy, screened behind their embankments, poured in a terrible fire of musketry, still the brave Illinoisans steadily advanced. But at this critical juncture it was found that the line was not long enough to envelop the works, and the 45th was ordered to their support. While these movements were carried out, the enemy threw forward strong reinforcements of men and field artillery, which swept the advancing line with murder HARD FIGHTING. 207 ous effect. But onward pressed those undaunted regiments, leaving their dead and wounded strewing the slope, till they came to the foot of the works where a fringe of long poles and brushwood presented a tangled wall of jagged points, through which no troops under heaven could force their way in such fire. Braver officers never led men to death, but they found they had been sent to accomplish an impossible task and gave the reluctant order to fall back. Col. Morrison commanding the 49th was wounded, and many brave officers fell in this attempt, which is certainly open to criticism.” Again and again was this brigade, in whole or in part in the deadly fray, and nobly was upborne the dignity and glory of the State. It reported a loss of 123 killed, 461 wounded and 103 missing. The first brigade, 1st division, was commanded by Col. Richard J. Oglesby, and included the 8th Ill., Lieutenant-Colonel Rhoades; the 18th, Col. Lawler, the 29th, Col. Reardon; 30th, LieutenantColonel Dennis; 31st, Col. John A. Logan with Swartz's and Dresser's batteries, Stewart's, Dollins', O'Harnett's and Carmichael's cavalry. The 49th was with the third brigade. On Friday these regiments endured a fearful assault and waged terrific battle. The 45th and 12th met the plunging charge of not less than three thousand men. After a time they withdrew, the 8th and 9th coming to their relief. The Louisville Journal narrates this incident: "A private in the 9th Illinois was shot in the arm. He went back a short distance to the hospital, had the wound dressed, and returned to his place. Soon a bullet struck his thigh and prostrated him, passing through the fleshy part. His comrades offered to take him to the hospital. 'No,' said he, 'I think I can get along alone.' With his musket for a crutch and the air around him filled with the whistling of bullets, he hobbled to find the surgeon. After his wound was dressed, and he received some refreshment, he said, 'I feel pretty well. I think I will go and join my comrades again. He was soon actively engaged as a skirmisher. As he was stooping to take aim a shot entered his neck, and passed lengthwise through his body, while at the same instant four or five other balls struck his head, and he fell lifeless. The name of such a hero should have been preserved." Oglesby led his brigade wherever |