-
[8]
General Lewis Wallace's command, 212.
-- attack on the water batteries, 213.
-- the Confederates prepare for a sortie, 214.
-- severe battle on the National right
-- General Lewis Wallace hastens to McClernand's assistance, 215.
-- the tide of battle turned by Wallace, 216.
-- Grant on the battle
-- field
-- his order for another attack, 217.
-- struggle on the National left
-- victory for the Nationals, 218.
-- the Confederates in council
-- Conduct of their cowardly leaders, 219.
-- terms of surrender, 220.
-- surrender of Fort Donelson, 221.
-- effect of the fall of Fort Donelson, 222.
-- Floyd and Pillow disgraced, 223.
-- the Army mail
-- service, 224.
-- the Army mail at Washington, 225.
-- a voyage on the Cumberland River, 226.
-- visit to Fort Donelson, 227.
-- Nashville, 229.
The fall of
Fort Henry was followed by immediate preparations for an attack on
Fort Donelson, on the
Cumberland River.
Preparatory to this was a reconnoissance up the
Tennessee River.
Lieutenant-Commander S. L. Phelps was sent up that river on the evening of the day of battle,
with a detachment of
Foote's flotilla, consisting of the
Conestoga, Tyler, and
Lexington, to reconnoiter the borders of the stream as far toward its upper waters as possible.
When he reached the bridge of the railway between
Memphis and
Bowling Green, he found the draw closed, its machinery disabled, and some Confederate transports just above it, escaping up the river.
A portion of the bridge was then hastily destroyed, and the work of demolition was completed the following day by
Commander Walke, of the
Carondelet, who was sent up by
General Grant for. the purpose.
The fugitive transports were so closely pursued that those in charge of them abandoned all, and burned two that were laden with military stores.
1 In this flight an officer left papers behind him which gave an important official history of the
Confederate naval preparations on the western rivers.
Onward the little flotilla went, seizing Confederate vessels and destroying Confederate public property as far up as
Florence, in Alabama, at the foot of the
Muscle Shoals.
When
Phelps appeared in sight of that town, three Confederate steamers there, loaded with supplies, were set on fire, but a part of their contents, with other property on shore, was saved.
A delegation of citizens waited upon the commander to ask for kind treatment for their families, and the salvation of the bridge that spanned the
Tennessee there.
He assured them that women and children would not be disturbed, as he and his men were not savages; and as to the bridge, being of no military account, it should be saved.
Returning,
Lieutenant Phelps recruited a number of loyal Tennesseeans, seized arms and other Confederate property in several places, and caused the
