r from being completed. There were
many points on the river or on the opposite bank, from which a
well-directed artillery fire would make them untenable. The
Confederate commander, Gen. Tilghman, fully appreciated this fact,
and, at the approach of the gunboats, had sent four-fifths of his
garrison across the country to Fort Donelson, being determined to
sacrifice as few men as possible in the defence of so untenable a
position. While Grant and Foote were examining the works through their
field-glasses, the sullen boom of a great gun came over the waters,
and a heavy rifled shot crashed through the stateroom of Capt. Porter
on the "Essex." The two commanders concluded that the Confederate
gunners, though new to war, understood something of artillery
practice; and the "Essex" was accordingly taken down the river, out of
range.

The following night was chill and rainy; and the Union forces,
bivouacking on shore, grumbled loudly over their discomforts. The
morning dawned dark; but soon the sun came out, and the preparations
for battle were begun. The troops were first despatched on their
cross-country march; and, as they departed, Commodore Foote remarked
coolly, that his gunboats would have reduced the fort before the land
forces came within five miles of it. This proved to be the fact.

The gunboats formed in line of battle, and advanced up the river. The
four iron-clads led, steaming abreast. About a mile in the rear, came
the three wooden vessels. The fort was soon in range; but both parties
seemed anxious for a determined conflict, and no shot was fired on
either side as the gunboats came sullenly on. How different must have
been the feelings of the two combatants! Tilghman, with his handful of
men, hardly able to work eight of the eleven guns mounted in his fort,
and knowing that his defeat was a mere question of time; Foote, with
his iron-clads and supporting gunboats, his seventy-two guns, and his
knowledge that six thousand men were marching upon the rear of the
Confederate works. On the one side, all was absolute certainty of
defeat; on the other, calm confidence of victory.

When the flotilla was within a third of a mile of the fort, the fire
began. The gunners on the ships could see the muzzles of the
Confederate guns, the piles of shells and cannon-balls, and the men at
their work. The firing on both sides was deliberate and deadly. The
Confederates were new to the work, but they proved themselves good
mar