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The great struggle at Fort Donelson--Nashville, &c.

The telegraph yesterday very much diminished our losses at Fort Donelson, and showed the Federal reports to have been extravagant, as they usually are. The grand struggle at that point was the most prolonged and hotly contested of the war, and shears lustre upon our arms. Never was there a greater display of bravery and firmness than was made by our army, resisting the overwhelming forces so rapidly thrown upon the field by the steamers of the Cumberland river from Paducah and Cairo.

Our telegraphs are yet not very clear; but we may feel assured that our loss in prisoner is but a fraction of the large number claimed by the Yankees. We have yet an army at Nashville, which, so far from capital, is to be defended.

That every nerve must be exerted by our Government and people, is evident. This is necessary to resist the invasion by the immense Northern horses which threaten us. But there is no reason for despondency. A civilized people, inhabiting such a country as that of the South, cannot be conquered. It is impossible. But the enemy has as yet made no headway in the South since last off of the water. On the water his numerous iron-clad floating batteries or gunboats have given him an advantage. But the gunboats cannot come on the land, and the period of low waters is not far off, when their operations in the rivers will be greatly ourtalled. The enemy must, sooner or later, penetrate the country and meet our forces in the open field. When he does that, if our men do not give a good account of themselves we shall be wonderfully disappointed. There is a great deal yet to win by the enemy, and as much for us to lose, before there is reason for despondency. The next six months will no doubt tell of some exiting events. What a cure people and disease will do for our restless invaders in that time, we shall

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Fort Donelson (Tennessee, United States) (2)
Paducah (Kentucky, United States) (1)
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