Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-03-19
; - cattle Of FORT poNELsoN.
Il a. correspondent Of the Memphis Appeal who
gives an account Of the battle of Fort Donelson,

Il a correspondent Of the Memphis Appeal, who
gives an account Of the battle Of Fort Doneison,
says: pa
ITO have attempted to cut our way through the
enemy's lines with but ten thousand men in tins,
condition, having fifty.two thousand opposedto US,
twelve thousand of whom were fresh troops-wouiu
simply have resulted in the loss of three fourths OF
the entire command. Had our men been fresh ane
able to march we might have had some nope Oh es
cape; but we would have then mad the seVerest
task of all-narching over frozen roads distance
offorty miles-with the certainty that he would. by
the means of transports, land his troops ABOVE anu
cut off our retreat on GAINESVILLE. can safely say,
from having walked part of the way myseil, euas
no portion of the force coudhav marched ten miles
without being completely exhausted and disabled
The question of surrender resolved itself into just
this Shall the remnant of this gallant little army,
after defeating the enemy of the hardest fought bat
ties in our countrys history and covering Itself with
glory be sacrificed to avoid the humiliation OF q
surrender -
Gen. Pillow wished to cut his way out no matter
what the cost. Gen. Floyd, Major Gilmer, and all
the balance present, concurred with Gen. Buckner,
that no General had right to cause such sacrifice
And now upon whom did it devove to remain
and see that the fermalities of an honorable sur
render were properly observed? Most assuredy
upon the chief in command He dreaded the hum
iliation of surrender and the long incarceration
among people Tor WnOm ne nau no car thiy ieoPeScn
and he passed the command, with the understand
ing that he might remove his brigade and save them
from the same fate he wished himself to avoid
What then did Gen. Pillow do2 He simply pas
sed it to Gen. Buckner, without any proviso for his
men, who were willing to have braved the cold
waters of the Cumberland rather than have been
left. Gen. Floyd had two boats on hand for his
troops. Wewere left to shiver upon the bank while
our Generals way flying in hot haste to place OF
security. And now, why did not Gen. Buckner
pass it to the next in command and make his escape,
which he might have done easily the other two
Generals?
All, then, came the time to try ones soull With
a herosm and magnanimity unparalleled IN any
save the days of knghty valor, he said: " sotA
share the tdte ofmy men," They had stood by him
in the hour of battle and he would not desert them
in their time of adversely. A nobler, more self
sacrificing act, has not oeen known Since the re-
nowued herosm OF the Roman youth ScaevOla.-
The separation from his wife, children and friends,
probably during the whole of the long to be con-
tnued war-the dread realities of Northern
prison-the consciousness that his own State had
declared it to be felony to be found in against
the old Government-all must have been present to
his mind, and yet he had the moral courage, the
lofty. pure and noble spirit to brave it all and share
the fate of his command.
When the history of our revolution is chronicled
there will be many heroic deeds of our gallant sons
of the South recorded, but there can be none which
will have deeper impression upon every soldier and
true hearted man, than the surrender of Gen. Buck
ner at Fort DonelEon."