GLORIOUS VICTORY OF THE FLEET!

“Well, well, go on!” exclaimed the crowd

To him who thus much read aloud.

“That's all,” he said. “What! nothing more”

“Enough for a cheer, though — hip, hurrah!”

“But here's old Baldy come again —”

“More news!” — And now a different strain.

( Our own reporter a dispatch compiles,

As best he may, from varied sources. )

Large re-enforcements have arrived —

Munitions, men, and horses —

For Grant, and all debarked, with stores.

The enemy's field-works extend six miles —

The gate still hid; so well contrived.

Yesterday stung us; frozen shores

Snow-clad, and through the drear defiles

And over the desolate ridges blew

A Lapland wind.

The main affair

Was a good two hours’ steady fight

Between our gun-boats and the Fort.

The Louisville's wheel was smashed outright.

A hundred-and-twenty-eight-pound ball

Came planet-like through a starboard port,

Killing three men, and wounding all

The rest of that gun's crew,

( The captain of the gun was cut in two );

Then splintering and ripping went —

Nothing could be its continent.

In the narrow stream the Louisville,

Unhelmed, grew lawless; swung around,

And would have thumped and drifted, till

All the fleet was driven aground,

But for the timely order to retire.

Some damage from our fire,‘ tis thought,

Was done the water-batteries of the Fort.

Little else took place that day,

Except the field artillery in line

Would now and then — for love, they say —

Exchange a valentine.

The old sharpshooting going on.

Some plan afoot as yet unknown;

So Friday closed round Donelson.