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A CONSULTATION BY THE ENEMY.

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tion one half hour against an assault of the enemy, and said the enemy would attack him next morning at daylight. The proposition was then made by General Pillow to again fight our way out. General Buckner said his command was

tered the enemy's fortifications. Cloutman was instantly killed, and Slaymaker died gallantly shouting to his men to go forward and consummate the work." In this successful assault of the Iowa and Indiana volunteers, sixty-one were reported killed, three hundred and twenty-so worn out and cut to pieces and deone wounded, and one missing.

moralized, that he could not make another fight; that it would cost the command three quarters of its present number to cut its way through, and it was wrong to sacrifice three quarters of a command to save a quarter; that no officer had a right to cause such a sacrifice. General Floyd and Major Gilmer I understood to concur in this opinion. I then expressed the opinion that we could hold out another day, and in that time we could get steamboats, and set the command over the river, and probably save a large portion of it. To this General Buckner replied that the enemy would certainly attack him at daylight, and that he could not hold his position half an hour. The alternative of these propositions was a surrender of their position and command. General Floyd said that he would neither surrender the command, nor would he surrender himself a prisoner. I had taken the same position. General Buckner said he was satisfied nothing else could be done, and that, therefore, he would surrender if placed in command. General Floyd said he would turn over the command to him if he could be allowed to withdraw his command. To this General Buckner consented.

The issue of the day was sufficiently dispiriting to the defenders of the fort. They had staked all upon one decided movement, into which their whole available strength had been thrown; the contest had been long and severe, and had ended in their repulse, with the gain of several important positions commanding their works by the besiegers. General Pillow, to whom the main sortie on their left had been assigned, bears witness in his report, to the readiness of the Union troops to meet his fire in advance of their encampment. "The enemy did meet me," says he, "before I had assumed a line of battle, and while I was moving against him, without any formation for the engagement. I was much embarrassed in getting the command in position properly to engage the foe. Having extricated myself from the position, and fairly engaged him, we fought for nearly two hours before I made any decided advance upon him. He contested the field most stubbornly. He did not retreat, but fell back fighting us, contesting every inch of ground." The command of General Buckner, which was expected to gain an important advantage on the right, was found by GenThereupon General Floyd eral Pillow at noon, "massed behind the turned the command over to me. I ridge within the works, taking shelter passed it instantly to General Buckner, from the enemy's artillery." Subsequent- saying I would neither surrender the ly, General Buckner joined his forces command nor myself a prisoner. I diwith those of General Pillow, and main- rected Colonel Forrest to cut his way tained a stubborn, though, as it proved, out. Under these circumstances Genfruitless conflict. In this condition of eral Buckner accepted the command, and affairs, a consultation of general officers sent a flag of truce to the enemy for an was held within the fort, when General armistice of six hours to negotiate for Buckner, as we learn from the report of terms of capitulation. Before this flag General Pillow, "gave it as his decided and communication were delivered, I reopinion that he could not hold his posi-tired from the garrison."

propose.

It fell to the lot of General Lewis ous and unchivalrous terms which you Wallace first to take possession of the town on the surrender. On the morning of Sunday, the 16th," about daybreak," says he, in his report, continuing the narrative which we have already given from his pen, "Lieutenant Ware, my aid-de-camp, conducted Colonel Thayer's brigade to the foot of the hill. Lieutenant Wood's battery was ordered to the same point, my intention being to storm the entrenchments about breakfast time. While making disposition for that purpose, a white flag made its appearance. The result was, that I rode to General Buckner's quarters, sending Lieutenant Ross with Major Rogers, of the 3d Mississippi (rebel) regiment, to inform General Grant that the place was surrendered, and my troops in possession of the town, and all the works on the right."

Thus on Sunday, the 16th of February, Fort Donelson was surrendered. Agreeably with the prudent resolution of the senior Generals, some five thousand of the garrison had been withdrawn by steamers on the river, leaving about twice that number in the works prisoners of war, with vast quantities of military material. The prisoners were transported to the military camps at Illinois and Indiana, and elsewhere, and held for exchange. A St. Louis journal chronicled the arrival of ten thousand in ten steamers, on their way to their destination. By a table published in the Nashville Patriot, the month following the battle, it would appear that the Confederate loss at Donelson, was 237 killed, and 1007 wounded. The Union loss was estimated, 446 killed, 1,745 wounded, and 150 prisoners.*

General McClernand, in an order issued the day after the victory, paid a glowing tribute to the merit of his division, which had so faithfully endured the labors and encountered the hazards of the week.

The communication on the morning of the 16th, of General Buckner, to General Grant, read as follows:-"Sir: In consideration of all the circumstances governing the present situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the commanding officers of the federal forces, the appointment of commissioners to agree upon "Officers and men of the 1st division terms of capitulation of the forces and of the advance forces.--You have conpost under my command, and in this tinually led the way in the Valley of the view, suggest an armistice until twelve Lower Mississippi, the Tennessee and the o'clock to-day." To this General Grant Cumberland. You have carried the flag replied:"Yours of this date, proposing of the Union further South than any an armistice and appointment of commis- other land forces marching from the insioners to settle terms of capitulation, is terior towards the seaboard. Being the just received. No terms, other than an first division to enter Fort Henry, you unconditional and immediate surrender also pursued the enemy for miles, capcan be accepted. I propose to move turing from him, in his flight, six field immediately upon your works." This pieces, many of his standards and flags, decided denial called forth the following a number of prisoners, and a great quanletter of surrender from General Buck- tity of military stores. Following the ner:-"Sir: The distribution of the enemy to this place, you were the first forces under my command, incident to to encounter him outside of his intrenchan unexpected change of commanders, ments, and to drive him within them. and the overwhelming force under your Pursuing your advantage, the next day, command, compel me, notwithstanding in the night, you advanced upon his lines the brilliant success of the confederate in the face of his works and batteries, arms yesterday, to accept the ungener- * New York Herald, Record of the Rebellion, for 1862.

CONGRATULATORY ORDERS.

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and for the time silenced them. The quartermaster's and commissary stores. next day, skirmishing all along his The death knell of the rebellion is left, you daringly charged upon his re- sounded. An army has been annihildoubts, under a deadly fire of grape and ated, and the way to Nashville and canister, and were only prevented from Memphis is opened. This momentous taking them by natural obstacles and the fact should, as it will, encourage you to accumulated masses which hurried for- persevere in the path of duty and of ward to defend them. The next day, glory. It must alleviate your distress you extended your right in the face of for your brave comrades who have fallen newly erected batteries quite to the Cum- or been wounded. It will mitigate the berland, thus investing his works for grief of bereaved wives and mourning nearly two miles. The next day, after parents and kindred. It will be your standing under arms for two days and claim to a place in the affection of your nights, amid driving storms of snow and countrymen, and upon a blazoned page rain, and pinched by hunger, the enemy of history.' advanced in force to open his way to escape. By his own confession, formed in a column of ten successive regiments, he concentrated his attack upon a single point. You repulsed him repeatedly, from seven o'clock, to eleven, A. M., often driving back his formidable odds. Thus, after three days' fighting, when your ammunition was exhausted, you fell back until it came up, and re-formed a second line in his face. Supported by fresh troops, under the lead of a brave and able officer, the enemy was again driven back, and by a combined advance from all sides was finally defeated. His unconditional surrender the next day consummated the victory. Undiverted by any attack for near four hours from any other part of our lines, the enemy was left to concentrate his attack with superior numbers upon yours. Thus, while you were engaged for a longer time than any other of our forces, you were subject to much greater loss. The battlefield testifies to your valor and constancy. Even the magnanimity of the enemy accords to you an unsurpassed heroism, and an enviable and brilliant share in the hardest-fought battle, and the most decisive victory ever fought and won on the American continent. Your trophies speak for themselves. They consist of many thousands of prisoners of war, forty pieces of cannon, and extensive magazines of all kinds of ordnance,

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General Lewis Wallace, in a congratulatory order to the troops of his division, warmly commemorated their services. "You were last to arrive before the fort; but it will be long before your deeds are forgotten. When your gallant comrades of the 1st division, having fired their last cartridge, fell back upon your support, you did not fail them; you received them as their heroism deserved ; you encircled them with your ranks, and drove back the foe that presumed to follow them. And to you, and two gallant regiments from the 2d division, is due the honor of the last fight-the evening battle of Saturday-the reconquest by storm of the bloody hill on the rightthe finishing blow to a victory, which has already purged Kentucky of treason, and restored Tennessee to the confederacy of our fathers. All honor to you."

In a general order on the 17th, Gen. eral Grant congratulated the troops of his command, "for the triumph over rebellion gained by their valor. For four successive nights (he added) without shelter, during the most inclement weather known in this latitude, they faced an enemy in large force in a position chosen by himself. tory achieved is not only great in the effect it will have in breaking down rebellion, but has secured the greatest number of prisoners of war ever taken in any battle on this continent.”

**The vic

A portion of the troops forwarded to General Grant, by General Halleck, from Missouri, were from the forces assigned to Major-General David Hunter, then engaged in mustering an army for the department of Kansas, to which he had recently been assigned. General Hunter cheerfully relinquished the men at the call of his brother officer, and when they had proved their value in the field, the service was handsomely acknowledged. "To you," wrote General Halleck, “more than any other man out of this department, are we indebted for our success at Fort Donelson. In my strait for troops to reinforce General Grant, I applied to you. You responded nobly, placing your forces at my disposition. This enabled me to win the victory. Receive my most heartfelt thanks." In such a spirit of mutual good will, without rivalry beyond the effort to serve the country best, these honorable gentlemen administered the affairs with which they were entrusted by the nation. For his 'gallant and meritorious conduct in the capture of Fort Donelson," Brigadier-General Grant was appointed Major-General of Volunteers.

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Nor were the merits of the soldiers, "the unknown demigods," who win the battles which give reputation to their commanders, likely to be forgotten. Governor Yates, of Illinois, visited the camps in Tennessee, after the battle, to look after his brave regiments. "It is sincerely to be hoped," he wrote in his subsequent report to the people of the State, that not a single name of those gallant men, whose prowess has reflected such imperishable lustre upon the state and country, shall remain unrecorded. No battle had been, or can be fought which shall more signally tell upon the rebellion than this; and no historic page can record, or will ever record, more patriotic daring, or brighter achieve*Major-General Halleck, Headquarters Department of

Missouri, St. Louis, to Major-General D. Hunter, Commanding Department of Kansas, at Fort Leavenworth, Feb. 19th, 1862,

ments. Wherever it is possible, the remains of every Illinoisan, who fell in that terrible conflict, should be brought home to the State, and ever-enduring monuments erected to their memory. Every one of them was a true hero. By their dauntless valor the State of Illinois occupies the proud eminence of having done more to suppress the rebellion, and to preserve the Union, than any other State; and by every consideration of gratitude and patriotism, the State should neglect no means of testifying its grateful remembrance."*

The surrender of Fort Donelson was severely commented upon by President Jefferson Davis. In his message, a few days after the event, to the Confederate Congress at Richmond, he said of this affair: "The hope is still entertained that our reported losses at Fort Donelson have been greatly exaggerated, inasmuch as I am not only unwilling, but unable to believe, that a large army of our people have surrendered without a desperate effort to cut its way through the investing forces, whatever may have been their numbers, and to endeavor to make a junction with other divisions of the army." Subsequently, in transmitting the reports of Generals Floyd and Pillow to the Confederate House of Representatives, in the following month, he pronounced them "incomplete and unsatisfactory. It is not stated that reinforcements were at any time asked for; nor is it demonstrated to have been impossible to have saved the army by evacuating the position; nor is it known by what means it was found practicable to withdraw a part of the garrison, leaving the remainder to surrender; nor upon what authority or principles of action the senior generals abandoned responsibility by transferring the command to a junior officer." As a practical conclusion, from these circumstances, he added, "I have directed, upon the exhi

* Report of Governor Yates, Executive Department, Springfield, March 7th, 1862.

PANIC AT NASHVILLE.

bition of the case, as presented by the senior generals, that they should be relieved of command, to await further orders whenever a reliable judgment can be rendered on the merits of the case."

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reached the town in the forenoon of the Sunday on which the surrender took place, while many of the people were on their way to church. The effect of the ill tidings was enhanced by the pre

The fleet of Commodore Foote imme-vious bulletins which had been sent by diately followed up on the Cumberland General Pillow, with assurances of victhe advantage gained by the surrender tory. "Instantly every consideration of Donelson. On the evening of the gave place to the thought of personal 16th, the gunboat St. Louis ascended the safety. Every means of transportation river to the Tennessee Iron Works, six at hand was employed to remove furnimiles above Dover. There was no force ture and valuables; the depots were to defend the works, and there being thronged with men, women, and chilabundant evidence of their employment dren, anxious to leave the city; train by the Confederate government, the after train was put in motion; governestablishment was set fire to and des- ment stores were thrown open to all who troyed. Mr. John Bell, the recent can- chose to carry them away, and negroes, didate for the Presideney of the United Irish laborers, and even genteel looking States, was one of the owners of this persons, could be seen 'toting' off their property. On the 19th, Commodore pile of hog, clothing, or other property Foote, with the gunboats Cairo and belonging to the army, though, by order Conestoga, reached Clarksville, where of the military authorities, much of this the forts commanding the town were was recovered on the ensuing day. In a found to be abandoned. The Union flag single word, the city was crazy with a was hoisted on the works, and numbers panic. Governor Harris is said to have of citizens having fled in alarm, at the ridden through the streets at the top of suggestion of the Hon. Cave Johnson, his speed, on horseback, crying out that Judge Wisdom, and the Mayor of the the papers in the capitol must be recity, Commodore Foote issued a pro- moved; and, subsequently, with the legclamation, announcing "to all peaceably-islature, which had at once assembled, disposed persons, that neither in their left the city in a special train for Mempersons nor property shall they suffer molestation by me, or by the naval force The flight of the broken armies of under my command, and that they may the Confederacy was well calculated to safely resume their business avocations strengthen these disastrous impressions. with assurances of my protection." At On this very terror-stricken Sunday, bethe same time, he required that all mili- sides the arrival of the fugitives with tary stores and army equipments should Floyd and Pillow, the rebel army of be surendered, and forbade the exhi- General A. S. Johnston from Bowling bition of any "secession flag or man-Green, in full retreat before the advance ifestation of secession feeling." Brigadier of General Buell's forces, worn and harGeneral C. F. Smith was placed in command of the city.

The important city of Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, next fell into the hands of the Union army. The fall of Donelson, on which it had relied for its defence, threw the citizens into a fearful panic. The news of the loss of the fort

* Message of Jefferson Davis, March 11, 1862.

phis."*

rassed by their forced march of eighty miles, passed through the city. General Johnston had abandoned Bowling Green a post which he had adroitly maintained by ingeniously "magnifying his forces "-with 14,000 effective men; the fatigues of the march had reduced this

* Nashville Correspondent of the Richmond Despatch; Squier's Pictorial History, vol. i. p. 319.

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