February 1862, the Lafayette papers carried many articles about the war, northern and southern news. Lafayette had started to receive prisoners of war here. Many of our young men had enlisted and were enlisting every day.
General McClellan was in trouble, reports in the papers outlined his meekness in war. Doubtless, local families with sons in the fight wished a general in charge that would take our advantages and press them. Some may have thought his gentlemanly view of war was a good approach, others wanted the war done. Now. President Lincoln ordered him to become more aggressive by Feb. 22, Washington’s birthday. Both houses of Congress were starting investigations into his lack of success against Robert E. Lee.
General Lew Wallace, from Indiana, was a great hero in the taking of Fort Donelson. (link) This was the first major win of the Union army. For those in Lafayette with southern sympathies, this win was not good news.
Losses were heavy for northern forces, but Grant prevailed in rallying them.
In Cincinnati a plan was devised to charter a steamboat to go to Fort Donelson with doctors and nurses to help those wounded soldiers in need. Several wealthy subscribers donated $150 each toward this need, others donated at a lower amount of $50 each. There was great hope that a sufficient amount could be raised.
Prisoners from this battle were sent north to St. Louis, Indianapolis and Lafayette, among other locations. Not all ill prisoners were wounded by the fighting, some were ill with measles or pneumonia. Several were placed in a hospital in Indianapolis to address this need.
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