General MeClernand to General McClernand, February 18, 1862
Fort Henry, February 18, 1862.
SIR:
On the morning of Saturday, February 15, the Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteers left their bivouac near the enemyâs lines and marched to the attack on Fort Donelson.
By order of General MeClernand, we first took position near the battery (which was afterwards
assaulted by the rebels) In this position the enemy’s shot passed over
our heads. Shortly afterwards we were ordered forward into line with
our brigade (First). As we marched past the enemyâs breastworks we
received a heavy fire, wounding some of our men. We took our position on the left wing of our brigade, in front of and in range of the
enemyâs guns. They were invisible to us, while we were exposed to their
view. “There was part of a regiment of Union troops (Colonel Logan) on
the slope of the hill between us and the enemy. Colonel Logan came
to our lines and requested we would not fire, as it would endanger his