Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-26

I Der
haps never before occurred upon this continent
We took about 300 prisoners aud a large nambe.
OF arms. We bad fought this battle 20 omen tiu
way for out army and relieve as from an invest
ment, which would necessarily reduee Ms snf
the position BY famine We ned occupisd al,
whole day to accomplish our object and before
We could prepare to leaye, after taking in the
wounded and the dead, the enemy had thrown
around Us again in the right an Immense force
OF Hesn troops, and re0ccUpied his original posi-
non IN the iine of Investment, thus again cut-
ting off our retreat. We had only about 1900
troops all told, OF these large proportion we
had lost IN the three battles. The command had
been IN the trenches night and day for i've days.
exposed TO the snow, sleet, mud and ice water
without shelter, and without adequate COVERING
and without sleep.
Ia TINS conairon the general officers held a
I consultation to determine what We should do.
Cen Buckner gave it as his decided opinion
that he could nos hold his position one half an
/ hour against an assault # the enemy, aud said
the enemy would attack him nexl morning at
/ day light The proposition then was made
/ py tne undersigned to again hight through
! the enemy's line and cut oar way out General
Buckner said ais command was so worn out and
cut to pieces and demorahzsd. that be could not
make another hght that it would cost the com
mand three-quarters Of its present numbers, to
cut us way through aud ditNas wrong 20 sacrifice
ttree-q uarters OF d command to save one quarter;
that no officer had right to cause such a saeTi
tlce Gen. Floyd and Maj. Giln6 / understood
to concur in this opinion
then expressed the opinion that we could
ho'o out another day, and in that time we could
ger steamboats, aud set the command over the
IIveT' and probably a large portion of it,
10 this Cen Buckner replied that the enemy
would certainly attack him at daylight. and that
ne could not hold his position halt an hour. The
alternative OF the propositions was sur
render Of Their position aud command Gen
Floyd said that be would neither surrender the
command, nor would he surrender himself q
prisoner bad taken the same position. Gen.
BackneT said he was satisfied nothing else could
5e done, aud thar, therefore, be would surrender.
II placed il command. Gen Floyd said that he
would tnrn over the connaiand to him If he could
De allowed to withdraw his command; 10 this
Gen- BHckner consented. ThereuDOn Gen
Floyd turned The command over to me, / pass
ing II instantly to Gen. Backner, saying / would
neitner su render the command nor myself
prisoner l directed Col. Forrest to cat his way
out Under tuese cireumsia8ces Gen. Bueknef
accepted the commend, and scat Gag OF truce
10 the enemy tor an arInisiee 0f six hours to ne
gotlaie ioT terms Of capitulation. Before thus
nag and communication was delivered 1 retired
fron the garrs6u.
Before closing my report Of the opersaons Of
the amy at Donelson, 1 must, in justice to the
officers ami forces under my inlniediate com
nand, say thet harder lighting 0f more galiaui
Conduct ~ officers aud mea I have never W.T.
RessrH IN the absence of official reports al
brigade AMI Teglmentssi Commanders, tai which
1 aal deprived D. tae eiicJmsts.siess delailed ia
t1ls repeIt), i may ne. 0s a0is % do Justice 10
the diiieTent corps. viii say however that ths
forces under my immediate command bore them
selves most gailantiy thr0ugaous tAe long and
bloody conh.c5.
speak with special eommeadatlon Of the bri- /
gades Commanded by Coils BALDWIN, Wharton,
sleCansiand, Sinlonl0u ana Dfske. aud Captains
Nancy and Greene, who fought their guus un-
der the constant and aRnoylag ire Of the enc
my 3 shsrp-sbOolers. aud the concentrated IRE
Hom his bed batteries from which both COM I
mands suffered severely Capt Nancy biac5elf /
was wounded and bad several heuosnanls aud I
many Of hls company killed and wounded so I
did Capts. Potter and Graves Il 1 should +
hereafter receive tbe reports Of regimen
TAI ana brigade commanders giving me
leLa,ied information OF the conduct and bearing
of ofHeers sad men viii make supplemental
report. The absence OF official reports depfiveg
mo OF tue means Of giving lists Of the killed
aAa wounded 0f the different Commands / am
satisfied that ia sueha series Of conflicts cur loss
vas heavy 1 know what the enemy was from
passing over the battle field with Gen oyd IN
ne evening Immediately after the battle His
oss N killed aud wounded was terrible, exceed
a anything have ever seen on a battle Geld
Jur iofce Ia the nsld did not exceed Ten thousand
men, White ircm what I saw OF the ensmy'
ofcs ana from .nforma ion derived from prson-
rs we are sure he rad from thirty to forty thou
ana on the heid must acknowledge my OBJ /
fTlar 4t.ar9a f-s -.
la and Yaiuahie services rendered me n laying
u the works, and the energy displayed by him |
n directing their construction, and for his coun-
el ana advice. likewise acknowledge my /
Obligations 70 Col John c. Bureh, nv aid-ds- {
amp, to Capt Gus. A, Henry, Major Field. /
lent, Nicholson, Lieut. as Z. Martin. and I
loi- bEandon, my volunteer aids-de-oamp, to
aa)or Hays, nay assistant c0mmissagy. Meior t
uhes' my assistant quaft4rmaster, for she >
r9hPt manner IN which they ezecaled my /
fdels under trying eireums anees throughout / 9
le long ana eon.inued conflicts, and 10 Major :
dimer, who accompanied me throughout .he :
1tiTe day Alse 20 Capt Parker, Of my staff. S
nom l assigned 20 the command Of Capt g
-osss heid battery with new recruits az gun &
ers and who fought and served them we'll 2
ol. Brandon was severely wounded early In the q
stion. Colonel Baldwin command constituted q
le 'front.' OF the attacking force, sustained inn b
otsie'elJ py Sti- " 0aiion 3. These two br5- q
AIDES deserve especial eonmendaton for the Il
anner in which they sustained the first shock Of
attic, ami under CIRCUMSTANCES of great en- b
trrassment threw themselves into position aud
lowed up 1he conflict throughout the dsy. b
BENG mostly wish these two brirades I can Ia
'eak trom personal kuowelge Of their gallant q
'afiug 1 must also Acknowledges my obliga- d
Dns 70 Brig Gen. Johnston, who assisted me in re
'mmaud Of the forces VITA which 1 attacked
e enemy, aud who bore himself gaIansly o'
roughout the eogfict bat having received no re
nelsi reports from hiia / cannot give detailed 70
leTations OF his command I have pleasure Ia r.
aug able to say that Col. F5rrest-whose com to
and greatly distinguished ifs commander as a
"a and gallant leader, and releeted dslin- to
hshed honor upon itsslf-passed safely through
2 enemy line OF investment, and trust it viii Fl
{ van other honors in defense of our rights
ID the just cause of oHr country.
GID. J. PlLLLOW, Brighten. c. s. A.