The Daily Gazette Davenport, Iowa Tuesday Morning September 9, 1862 Part 3 The Attack on Fort Donelson Iowa has a life interesting Fort Donelson, won by the gallant charge of the Second Regiment and the scarcely less eminent bravery of the Seventh, and Fourteenth, at the attack which subjugated that Tennessee rebel stronghold to Federal authority. Our readers will therefore be especially interested in the following extract from a letter written to the Cincinnati Commercial, by a. L. McKinney, Chaplain of the 71st Ohio, in which he recounts how the rebels sought to recapture the fort-but did'nt (sic) quite do it. The Federal force at the fort was 155 men in all, of the 71st Ohio, and these were surprised on the 25th ult., by a summons to surrender by a force of 750 rebels under Col. Woodward, who had succeeded in getting a few of his men within the Federal lines by a skillful ruse, capturing eight of the pickets and with one field piece appeared in front of our unprepared forces. The letter says: The first warning we had of their approach was their appearance in force not to exceed half a mile from our camp. The 'long roll' sounded, and the men were in line in a few moments. A flag of truce was sent in by the rebels, and a surrender demanded. Major J. H. Hart commanding our forces, said that they should have a reply in thirty minutes. The commissioned officers were then called into headquarters, and the question put: Shall we surrender? The unanimous and firm reply was, 'No!' 'We fight.' This reply was made known to Lieut. Col. Martin, the bearer of the flag of truce, who returned to the rebel lines. In less than ten minutes another flag was sent in , accompanied by Col. Woodward, who again demanded the surrender of the fort, offering the most honorable terms (?) and protesting his reluctance to hurt us. On being asked by Major Hart if we might have the privilege of verifying his statements as to the strength of his forces, he very promptly and politely answered 'ye! s.' Capt. McConnell was accordingly deputed to pass along his lines and ascertain the facts and report; twenty minutes being given to make the 'reconnaissance.' The Captain, after as thorough examination as time would permit, reported that the enemy, in his opinion, did not number of 400 or possibly 500, and one small cannon, (which was captured from our boys at Clarksville) and that we could whip them. Col. Woodward, however informed him that he had part of his forces posted south of our camp, but that the twenty minutes were nearly up; hence no time was left to ascertain the fact. The rebel regimental flag was partially concealed form our view, and as we supposed it would be employed as a signal by them, we sent a flag of truce demanding that their colors be placed where they could be plainly seen by us. They complied and planted them in full view. We tied our flagstaff to the forward wheels of a howitzer resolved not to strike it without a desperate struggle. At about th! ree o'clock P. M. the rebel cavalry raised the yell and charged in fine style down the hill, lying east of our entrenchments into the ravine and up the hill, and a portion of them up Main street, north of our position, which brought them in range of our musketry, when a terrible fire was opened on them by our boys, unhorsing a number, killing and wounding a number of horses and men. It was during this heavy musketry that col. Woodward's horse fell dead under him, struck by three bullets. The chivalrous colonel did some fine crawling for about twenty feet to escape the shot directed toward him. A bullet broke the skin slightly on the side of his head. Notwithstanding their leader was down, on dashed those of the charging column yet in their saddles till they reached Spring street when they wheeled to the left at right angles still coming at a furious speed and receiving our fire at every opening between the houses till they reached College street, down which they essayed to m! ake a charge directly upon our earthworks, but the second platoon of company B, Capt. McConnell's, poured into them such a galling fire, that they were again repulsed and scattered in the wildest confusion. I saw more than a score of riderless horses careering over the hills and through the ravines." "from the time the enemy made the attack till he was repulsed and entirely driven off, was about one hour, thought the sharp firing did not continue more than thirty minutes. The rebel loss from all that we can gather, as information is constantly coming in, will not fall short of thirty killed and wounded. We took no prisoners as it was imprudent for any of our troops to leave the earth works, as our force was too small. Not a man among us was hurt. This is accounted for in the security of our entrenchment." Work having been sent to Fort Henry for re-inforcements (sic), Col. Lorre, of the 5th Iowa cavalry arrived at Donelson the next morning with 130 men, started in pursuit of the enemy, overtook him at Cumberland Iron Works a distance of seven miles, attacked them in strong position, charged a battery and drove the rebels from their cannon and rendered it useless before retiring. After waiting a renewal of the fight for an hour, Col. Lorre retired, having lost fifteen or twenty men killed and wounded. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IAGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES