prisoners as comfortable as possible. He then ordered the chief of his staff to accompany the Confederate officer back to the fort to settle the terms of capitulation with General Buckner, and at the same time gave orders to his own surgeons to attend to the Confederate wounded generally. The surrender of the fort was to take place that day before four o'clock. "If not completed at that hour, the bombardment would be immediately recommenced, and the fort razed to the ground." These words, spoken in a decisive tone of voice, did not fail to have due effect upon the Confederate officer. Whilst they were on the point of leaving, General Grant inquired how it came that General Buckner was charged with settling the capitulation, instead of either Generals Floyd or Pillow, both of whom held superior rank to him. On being informed in reply, that they both had escaped with a considerable portion of their troops during the night, he was fairly staggered at the unwelcome intelligence, and for the moment was compelled to lean for support against a table.

"What, Floyd escaped!" he exclaimed, as he struck the table furiously with his clenched fist. "Floyd escaped! the very bird I wished to catch!" It will be seen by this outburst of disappointment, that Floyd was not far wrong when he fancied that the United States Government was very anxious to have the pleasure of seeing him safe at Washington, when they would no doubt have clapped him in a very pretty cage. Finding that his coveted prey was lost, General Grant turned sulkily away, and ordered the chief of his staff to settle the terms of capitulation with General Buckner as speedily as possible.

At 1 P. M. the stipulations of surrender were so far settled that a Michigan regiment-a fine set of fellows-was allowed to enter the fort with drums beating and colors flying, then to assume the duty of sentinels. The Confederate troops assembled gradually, and, under the personal command of General Buckner, marched out. Once again the poor fellows

crossed the battle field, where many a frozen patch of blood denoted the spot where their fellow comrades and themselves had struggled so manfully, though so unsuccessfully, in the great sortie. As they marched past in no cheerful mood, a cold winter sun shed its pale rays through a veil of clouds upon the scene.

At a given signal the Confederate flag was hauled down from the flagstaff of the fort and the remaining portion of the Confederate garrison laid down their arms. A salute of cannon then announced that the flag of the United States was about to be hoisted on the fort, and when the banner floated majestically in the air, the bands of the various regiments struck up "Hail Columbia," amidst the cheers of the Federal soldiers, proclaiming that Fort Donelson had fallen.

LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

JOHN MORGAN, THE GUERILLA CHIEFTAIN.

General Johnston, hard pressed by General Buell, retires to Nashville-Secret evacuation of Nashville-Fear and anxiety in the town-A general flightGeneral Floyd makes his appearance with the remnant of his troops-Entrance of the Federal troops-Order restored-John Morgan, the guerilla chief.

THE surrender of Fort Donelson placed the whole of the State of Kentucky and a great part of Tennessee in the enemy's power. This was a most serious blow to the Confederate Government, as, independent of the great loss that thus ensued to the State, it left General Johnston opposed to the whole of the Federal forces under General Buell, who was advancing with 40,000 men to attack him. Johnston was, consequently, obliged to abandon his ground at Bowling Green; he took up a position opposite Nashville, there to await reinforcements and to watch the enemy's movements. But Nashville was as good as lost; on the day following his arrival he was obliged to fall back on Murfreesborough.

A scandalous scene now took place at Nashville, not easily paralleled in modern history. General Johnston, with the object of getting away with his troops unperceived, had quietly marched out in the night from that town. This sudden and unexpected departure created great consternation and confusion amongst the inhabitants; the tumult reached its climax when Governor Harris galloped through the streets announ

cing that the enemy was at hand, and that every man who was capable of doing so should save himself by flight. All the offices, courts of justice, house of legislature, where the members were holding a session, broke up; the whole population, in fact, was in a state of the most feverish excitement, and every one prepared to leave the town. The members of the State Government, and others high in office, were the first to take to flight. The hasty departure of the members of the Government to Memphis, and the retreat of General Johnston to Murfreesborough, added to the fear that the enemy would make reprisals, caused almost as great a panic as if an earthquake had taken place. Women and children ran wailing through the streets. Trunks, boxes, and furniture were thrown out of the windows, and lay scattered about the pavement. It was as if the whole population had gone stark mad. Every one was shouting and running about not knowing wherefore. In the midst of this scramble and hubbub a shout suddenly arose. "The enemy; the enemy is coming!"

On the heights above the town a body of troops was really in sight. They advanced slowly and cautiously, and entered the town. But these were no hostile troops; the newcomers proved to be Floyd with the remnants of his brigade. As cautious as an old fox who feared his snare, he made his approach. The noise and confusion, and the number of persons taking to flight had arrested his attention, and dictated prudence. As soon as it was known in the town that the troops which had entered were not those of the enemy, but Confederates, with the brave General Floyd at their head, the despair of the population was turned into the most ridiculous rejoicing. The Confederates were welcomed as victors; provisions and wine were brought out for their use; children danced in the streets, and many of the inhabitants, who had returned to the town, gathered round them to implore their protection. But when the soldiers, after having refreshed themselves with the good things laid before them, began to

saddle their horses to proceed farther on their march, the astounded population discovered that these were not troops sent to protect the town, but that they were men who, themselves, were escaping from the enemy. Fort Donelson had fallen, and the enemy was advancing in great force on Nashville. Deep curses were uttered against Floyd and his men, and the population sought to make up for the time they had lost. The rabble of the town, who only awaited an opportune moment, now began the work of plunder and robbery. All the shops that contained food or drink were broken into; a regular scene of looting ensued. Women and children, laden with stolen goods, were running about in all directions, and gangs of drunken scoundrels rolled about the deserted streets. The black population streamed into the town to have their share in the general pillage, and, though more than one had his brains knocked out for his pains, many had the opportunity of making a large booty. Several adherents of the Union, who resided at Nashville, were in imminent danger of their lives, as they dreaded an attack from the mob. Millions of dollars worth of goods were destroyed or carried off during the night; and the stock of provisions which the Confederates had for months stored up here was sacrificed. In fact the total destruction of Nashville was imminent, if the Federal troops did not soon make their appearance to save it from so deplorable a fate.

In the night the news spread that the enemy's troops had arrived outside Nashville. All the peaceful citizens who had remained in the town looked anxiously forward for their entrance. Pistol shots were heard, and a detachment of United States dragoons galloped into the town, sabring right and left all whom they met in the streets. The rioters and pillagers fled in every direction, leaving the town in the possession of the troops and of the honest citizens who had not fled. A few hours afterward, large bodies of troops under General Grant entered Nashville, and soon restored order and