ery regiment suffered severely before reachg the boats. The troops all displayed the eatest bravery. The following is Gen.

ant's official report:

CAIRO, Nov. 12, 1861.

elve miles from Columbus.

appearance again, and attempted to surround us. Our troops were not in the least discouraged, but charged on the enemy again and defeated him. Our loss was about 84 killed, 150 wounded-many of them slightly-and about an equal number missing. Nearly all the missing were from the Iowa regiment, who behaved with great gallantry, and suffered more severely than any other of the troops.

To my

Colonel killed, and the Colonel and Major were The Seventh Iowa regiment had their Lieut. severely wounded. The reports to be forwarded will detail more fully the particulars of our loss. Surgeon Brinton was in the field during the entire engagement, and displayed great ability and efficiency in providing for the wounded and organizing the medical corps.

On the evening of the 6th inst., I left this ice with two thousand eight hundred and fifty n of all arms, to make a reconnoissance vard Columbus. The object of the expedition s to prevent the enemy from sending out re- from sub-commands, but will forward them as I have not been able to put in the reports orcements to Price's army in Missouri, and o from cutting off columns that I had been soon as received. All the troops behaved with ected to send out from this place and Cape Coolness and presence of mind of the officers, gallantry, much of which is attributed to the rardeau, in pursuit of Jeff. Thompson. Knowthat Columbus was strongly garrisoned, I particularly of the colonels. Gen. McClernand ked Gen. Smith, commanding at Paducah, was in the midst of danger throughout the en., to make demonstrations in the same di- gagement, and displayed both coolness and tion. He did so by ordering a small force to judgment. His horse was three times shot. yfield and another in the direction of Co- My horse was also shot under me. abus, not to approach nearer, however, than staff, Capts. Rawlins, Logan, and Hilyer, volelve or fifteen miles. I also sent a small unteer aids, and to Capts. Hatch and Graham, I am much indebted for the assistance they ce on the Kentucky side with orders not to proach nearer than Ellicott's Mills, some gave. Col. Webster, acting chief engineer, also accompanied me, and displayed highly solThe expedition dier-like qualities. der my immediate command was stopped Twenty-second Illinois Volunteers, was three Col. Dougherty, of the but nine miles below here on the Kentucky times wounded and taken prisoner. re, and remained until morning. All this ved to distract the enemy, and led him to nk he was to be attacked in his strongly tified position. At daylight, we proceeded vn the river to a point just out of range of rebel guns, and debarked on the Missouri ire. From here the troops were marched by ak for about one mile toward Belmont, and n drawn up in line of battle, a battalion also ving been left as a reserve near the transTwo companies from each regiment, e skeletons in number, were then thrown out skirmishers, to ascertain the position of the emy. It was but a few moments before we t him, and a general engagement ensued. The balance of my forces, with the exception the reserve, was then thrown forward-all skirmishers-and the enemy driven foot by ot, and from tree to tree, back to their enmpment on the river bank, a distance of two iles. Here they had strengthened their potion by felling the timber for several hundred ards around their camp, and making a sort of batis. Our men charged through this, driving he enemy over the bank into their transports quick time, leaving us in possession of every aing not exceedingly portable. Belmont is on ow ground, and every foot of it is commanded y the guns on the opposite shore, and of course ould not be held for a single hour after the nemy became aware of the withdrawal of their troops. Having no wagons, I could not move any of the captured property: consequently, I gave orders for its destruction. Their tents, blankets, etc., were set on fire, and we retired, taking their artillery with us, two pieces being drawn by hand; and one other, drawn by an inefficient team, we spiked and left in the woods, bringing the two only to this place. Before for four nights without shelter during the most getting fairly under way, the enemy made his inclement weather known in that latitude. On

rts.

.

Walker and Stemble, U. S. N., commanding,
The gunboats Tyler and Lexington, Capts.
conveyed the expedition and rendered most
efficient service. Immediately upon our land-
ing they engaged the enemy's batteries, and
protected our transports throughout.
I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient
U. S. GRANT,
servant,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
In January, 1862, Gen. Grant being still in
command at Cairo, turned his attention to
operations on the Cumberland and Tennessee
rivers, and obtained permission from the War
Department to move up those rivers, and to
act in concert with the gunboats. Early in
February, our forces moved up the Tennessee.
At the capture of Fort Henry, Feb. 6, 1862,
General Grant commanded the land forces,
acting in concert with the gunboats, under
command of Flag-Officer (now Admiral) Foote.
From Fort Henry, he proceeded, on the 12th,
with his army, to invest Fort Donelson, on the
Cumberland river. The attack began on the
morning of the 13th, and was continued on
the 14th and 15th, the troops being exposed

the morning of the 16th, the rebel commander, Gen. Buckner, sent in a flag of truce, proposing an armistice, and appointment of commissioners to settle terms of capitulation, to which Gen. Grant replied that "no terms other than unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted;" and added, “I propose to move immediately on your works." The post was at once surrendered. Gen. Grant made the following report to Gen. Halleck, dated Fort Donelson, Feb. 16, 1862:

"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 twelfth inst., 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.

termining our loss even approximately, but it
cannot fall far short of one thousand two hun-
dred killed, wounded and missing. Of the
latter, I understand through Gen. Buckner,
about two hundred and fifty were taken pris-
oners. 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 ammu-
nition in the cartridge-boxes gave out, which,
with the loss of many of the field officers, pro-
duced 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 Gen. C. F.
Smith, which was most brilliantly executed,
and gave to our arms full assurance of victory.
The battle lasted until dark, giving us posses-
sion of part of their entrenchments. An attack
was ordered upon their other flank, after the
charge by Gen. Smith was commenced, by the
divisions under Gens. McClernand and Wallace,
which, notwithstanding the hours of exposure
to a heavy fire in the fore part of the day, was
gallantly made, and the enemy further re-
pulsed. 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 a very early hour,
Gen. S. B. Buckner sent a message to our
camp under a flag of truce, proposing an ar-
mistice, etc. 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 were with their commands in the midst of danger, and were always ready to execute all orders, no matter what the exposure to themselves."

"The troops made the march in good order, the head of the column arriving within two miles of the Fort at twelve o'clock M. 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 re-enforcements 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 thirteenth, the gunboats and re-enforcements arrived. On the fourteenth, 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 The occupation of Savannah by Gen. Grant of heavy shots about the pilot-house and other parts of the vessels. was made about the middle of March, and After these mishaps, I concluded to make the investment of Fort Sherman's division pushed on to Pittsburgh Donelson as perfect as possible, and partially Landing. Gradually his whole army advanced fortify and await repairs to the gunboats. to Shiloh, to await the arrival of Buell's diThis plan was frustrated, however, by the visions before assailing the enemy, under enemy making a most vigorous attack upon our right wing, commanded by Gen. J. A. Johnston and Beauregard, entrenched at CorMcClernand, with a portion of the force under inth. Sherman's division had the extreme Gen. L. Wallace. The enemy were repelled advance left wing, supported by Gen. Prentiss; after a closely contested battle of several hours, McClernand held the centre; Wallace, of Illiin which our loss was heavy. The officers, and particularly field officers, suffered out of nois (commanding Gen. Smith's forces), held proportion. I have not the means yet of de- the right; Hurlbut's brigades forming the re

For his ability and gallantry displayed at the capture of Fort Donelson, Gen. Grant was promoted to a Major General, his commission being dated Feb. 16-the day of its surrender to our forces.

"It becomes my duty again to report another battle fought between two great armies, one contending for the maintenance of the best government ever devised, the other, for its destruction. It is pleasant to record the success of the army contending for the former principle.

"On Sunday morning our pickets were driven in by the enemy. Immediately the five divisions stationed at this place were drawn up in line of battle, ready to meet them. The battle soon waxed warm on the left and centre, varying at times to all parts of the line.

"The most continuous firing of musketry and artillery ever heard on the continent was kept up until nightfall, the enemy having forced the entire line to fall back nearly half way from their camps to the landing. At a late hour in the afternoon, a desperate effort was made by the enemy to turn our left, and get possession of the landing, transports, etc. This point was guarded by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, Captains Gwinn and Shirk, U.S. N., commanding, four 29-pounder Parrot guns, and a battery of rifled guns. As there is a deep and impassable ravine for artillery or cavalry, and very difficult for infantry, at this point, no troops were stationed here except the necessary artillerists, and a small infantry force for their support. Just at this moment the advance of Major General Buell's column (a part of the division of Gen. Nelson) arrived, the two Generals named both being present. An advance was immediately made upon the point of attack, and the enemy soon driven back. In this repulse, much is due to the presence of the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, and their able commanders, Captains Gwinn and Shirk. During the night, the divisions under Generals Crittenden and McCook arrived.

"Gen. Lew. Wallace, at Crump's Landing, six miles below, was ordered at an early hour in the morning to hold his division in readiness to move in any direction to which it might be ordered. At about 11 o'clock, the order was delivered to move it up to Pittsburgh, but owing to its being led by a circuitous route, did not arrive in time to take part in Sunday's action. During the night all was quiet, and feeling that a great moral advantage would be gained by becoming the attacking party, an advance was ordered as soon as day dawned. The result was a gradual repulse of the enemy at all points of the line, from morning until probably 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when it became evident the enemy was retreating.

"Before the close of the action, the advance of Gen. T. J. Wood's division arrived, in time to take part in the action. My force was too much fatigued from two days' hard fighting, and exposed in the open air to a drenching rain during the intervening night, to pursue immediately. Night closed in cloudy and with heavy rain, making the roads impracticable for artillery by the next morning. Gen. Sherman, however, followed the enemy, finding that the main part of the army had retreated in good order. Hospitals of the enemy's wounded were found all along the road, as far as pursuit was made. Dead bodies of the enemy and many graves were also found. I enclose herewith the report of Gen. Sherman, which will explain more fully the result of the pursuit. Of the part taken by each separate command, I cannot take special notice in this report, but will do so more fully when reports of division commanders are handed in.

"General Buell, coming on the field with a distinct army, long under his command, and which did such efficient service, commanded by himself in person on the field, will be much better able to notice those of his command who particularly distinguished themselves, than I possibly can.

"I feel it a duty, however, to a gallant and able officer, Brigadier General W. T. Sherman, to make a special mention. He not only was with his command during the entire of the two days' action, but displayed great judgment and skill in the management of his men. though severely wounded in the hand the first day, his place was never vacant. He was again wounded, and had three horses killed under him.

Al

"In making this mention of a gallant officer, no disparagement is intended to the other division commanders, Major Generals John A. McClernand and Lew. Wallace, and Brigadier Generals S. A. Hurlbut, B. M. Prentiss and W. H. L. Wallace, all of whom maintained their places with credit to themselves and the cause.

"Gen. Prentiss was taken prisoner in the first day's action, and Gen. W. H. L. Wallace severely, probably mortally wounded. His Assistant Adjutant General, Captain William McMichael, is missing-probably taken prisoner.

"My personal staff are all deserving of particular mention, they having been engaged during the entire two days in carrying orders to every part of the field. It consists of Col. J. D. Webster, chief of Staff; Lieut. Col. J. B. McPherson, chief engineer; assisted by Lieutenants W. L. B. Jenny and Wm. Kossac, Capt. J. A. Rawlings, A. A. General W. S. Hillyer, W. R. Rawley and C. B. Lagow, aides-de-camp, Col. G. G. Pride, volunteer aid, and Capt. J. P. Hawkins, chief commissary, who accompanied me upon the field.

"The medical department, under direction of Surgeon Hewitt, medical director, showed

GEN. PAINE.

ELEAZER A. PAINE was born in Geauga his command, and by giving it a more thorough county, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1815. Was appointed organization, and perfecting its discipline, became deservedly popular with his officers and men.