THE WESTERN FLOTILLA

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THE GUN-BOATS AT FORT DONELSON (FEBRUARY 14, 1862) —THE LAND ATTACK IN THE DISTANCE.

AFTER A SKETCH BY REAR-ADMIRAL WALKE.

Our gunners kept up a constant firingwhile we were falling back; and the warn-ing words, “ Look out! ” “ Down! ” were

often heard, and heeded by nearly all the gun-crews. On one occasion, whilethe men were at the muzzle of the middle bow-gun, loading it, the warningcame just in time for them to jump aside as a 32-pounder struck the lowersill, and glancing up struck the upper sill, then, falling on the inner edge ofthe lower sill, bounded on deck and spun around like a top, but hurt no one.It was very evident that if the men who were loading had not obeyed theorder to drop, several of them would have been killed. So I repeated theinstructions and warned the men at the guns and the crew generally to bowor stand oft from the ports when a shot was seen coming. But some of theyoung men, from a spirit of bravado or from a belief in the doctrine of fatal-ism, disregarded the instructions, saying it was useless to attempt to dodgea cannon-ball, and they would trust to luck. The warning words, “ Lookout! ” “ Down! ” were again soon heard; down went the gunner and his men,as the whizzing shot glanced on the gun, taking off the gunner’s cap and theheads of two of the young men who trusted to luck, and in defiance of theorder were standing up or passing behind him. This shot killed another manalso, who was at the last gun of the starboard side, and disabled the gun. Itcame in with a hissing sound; three sharp spats and a heavy bang told thesad fate of three brave comrades. Before the decks were well sanded, therewas so much blood on them that our men could not work the guns withoutslipping.

We kept firing at the enemy so long as he was within range, to preventhim from seeing us through the smoke.