Daily Ohio Statesman

FORT DONELSON, Feb. 20.
C. P. Buckingham, Adjutant-General of Ohio:

Dear Sir:—The 58th Ohio regiment was the first regiment on the enemy's battery; the flag presented by the ladies of Columbus the first planted on the battery; the band the first playing the national air, "The Star Spangled Banner." We took upwards of 2,000 prisoners ten cannon, one 12-pound howitzer, (the day previous, Saturday,) and 1,000 boxes of ammunition. We were seven hours in the fire, guarding our advance batteries; lost but two men, seven wounded, among them two officers, when at the same moment the rebels lost heavily. In our front we found nine of them within one hundred yards of our right column, dead and dying. They now report freely that the fire from our regiment was the most disastrous, and proved too strong for them to secure all the dead and wounded, and consequently the nine were left on the field. We found hundreds piled in near the fort, where we made our last attack. Our regiment was ordered to squat when the enemy made their charge, and a little ravine made our protection, the fire of our enemy literally covering our troops with brush and tree tops, generally aiming too high. The commander here has granted to us, for this valuable service, and because our troops made the last decisive charge, has allowed us four cannon, for which we need an artillery camp, which I hope you will aid us in obtaining. I desire to do good service; am confident I have used my every energy to aid in the great victory, and trust to have your regard when I have no other person's. —I desire to remain in this country, and hope ardently that this war may soon close, and the American citizens live in peace and harmony, connected in one general interest, united in one cause, to sustain liberty. I have found in Columbus many good friends, who have aided me in the purpose for which I came here—to sustain liberty. I shall never forget those. I feel under particular obligations to you. Lieutenant Colonel Kemper, the bearer of these lines, was by my side during all the attacks, never flinching, ever ready to carry out my orders with promptitude and dispatch. He can verbally give you every information which may be of interest to you. I have some 4,000 muskets, revolvers, bowie-knives, etc., now under guard, and thousands of tents, provisions of enormous bulk, in fact, everything of war implements. Hundreds of horses and mules. Our company officers walk no more; they are supplied with secesh saddles, horses and mules and happiness beams from their eyes and lips.

So good bye, and my best regards to Gov. Tod and others who remember me.

(Signed) BAUSENWEIN,
Col 58th regiment, O. V. Infantry.