Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-16

Ny column during the day and night was
thrown over the rivera battery had been
established below the city to secure the
paSsage.) Nashville was incapable OF de-
fence from its position, and from the forces
advancing from Bowling Green aud up tho.
Cumberland. A rear guard was left under
Gen. Floyd to secure the stores aud pro-
visions. but did not completely effect the
object. The people were terrified, and
some Of the troops were disheartened. The
discouragemeut was spreading, and or
dered the command to Murfresboro', where
managed, by assembling Crittenden's
Division and the fugitives from Donelsou,
to collect an army able to offer battle, The
weather was Indictment, the floods excess,
sive, and the bridges were washed away,
but must Of the stores and provisions were
saved and conveyed to new depots. This
having been accomplished, though with
serious loss, in conformity with my Origi-
nal design, marched southwark aud eros
sed the Tennessee at this point, so as to
cooperate or unite with Gen. Beauregard
for the defence of the Valley ofthe Mississ-
Ppi. The passage is almost completed, and
the head of my column is already with
Gen. Bragg at Corinth. The movement
was deemed too hazardous by the most ex-
perienced members of my staff, but the OBJ
ject warranted the risk. The difficulty of
etecting junction is not wholly over
come, but itapproaches completion. Day
after tomorrow, unless the enemy inter-
cepts me, my force will be with Bragg and
my army nearly - thousand strong.
This must be destroyed before tie enemy can
attain kIs object
have given this sketch, so that you may
appreciate the embarrassment which SUR
rounded me in my attempts to avert or
remedy the disaster of Fort DouelsOn, be-
, fore abiding to the conduct of the Gener-
ais.
When the fierce was detached was in
hopes such disposition would have been
made as would have enabled the forces to
defend the fort, or withdraw without sac
ri6cing the army. On the l4th, ordered
General Floyd, by telegraph, sit he lost the
Fort, to get his Troops to Nashville" 1t is
possible this might have been done, but
Justice required to look at events us they
appeared at the time, aud not alone by the
light of subsequent information. All the
, facts in relation to the surrender will be
; transmitted to the Secretary of War, as
soon as they can be collected, in obedience
TO his order. 1t appears from the inEOrma-
ton received that General Buckner, being
the junior officer, took the lead in advising
tie surrender, and that General Floyd &C.
guessed, and they all concurred in the be-
I lief that their force could not maintain its
I positiOu-all coneurred that it would re-
quire great sacrifice of life to extricate
/ the command.
| Subsequent events show that the invest
ment was not SO complete as their infor-
nation from their scouts led them to be-
Z
render. The command was irregularly
transferred, and deVolTed on the junior
| General, but not apparently to avoid any
[ Just responsibility, or from any want OF
| personal or moral intrepidity. The blow
was most disastrous, and almost without q
remedy. /, therefore, in my FIRST report,
remained silent. This silence you were
kind enough to attribute to my generosity.
| will not lay claim to the motive to excuse
my course. observed silence, as it seem.
ed to be the best way to serve the cause
and the country. The facts were not fully
knOWn-diseOntent prevailed, aud criti-
cism or condemnation, were more likely
TO augment than to cure the evil. 1 re-
Trained, well knowing that heavy censures
would fall upon me, but convinced that il
was better to endure them for the present
and defer TO a more pr0pitIous time an in.
/
ais, for, in tue meantime, their services
were required and their influence useful.
For these reasons, Generals Floyd and
Pillow were assigned to duty, for | ptill
felt confidence in the gallantry. their ener-
9y and their devotion to the COnfederacy
| have thus required to the motives BY
which have been governed, from a dee J
personal sense Of the friendship aud con-
hdence yOu have always shown me, and
from the conviction that they have moi
been Withdrawn from me in adversely.
All the reports requisite for a full, official
Investigation have been ordered. Generals
Floyd and Pillow have been suspended from
] command.
Here followed some illusions not me-
cessaTy to an understanding of the main
objects of the letter, and a statement Of
the disposition of the forces in command,
which is not deemed necessary to publish. I
The letter closes as follows:
have troubled you with these details
as cannot properly communicate them by
telegraph.
The test of merit in my profession, with
the people, is success. 1t is n hard rule
but l think it right. If join this corps
to the forces of General Beauregard II con-
fess hazardous experiment), then those
who are now declaiming against me, will
be without an argument.
Your friend, a. S. JOHNSON.
FEDERAL ATTACK ON PASS CHRISTIAN.
MODILE, April 5.-The operator at bay
of - has telegraphed as follows 1.-THE
enemy shelled Pass Christian yesterday,
They landed 2,4OO troops and attacked us
with two thousand men and twelve brass
4-pounder howitzers. Our force was three
hundred men and two 6-pounder howit-
zers. was inthe party and had a mar
row escape"
JEFF. DAVIS TO TAKE The FIELD.
The Richmond Wing says that on Mon
day last, JEFF. Davis visited some sick SOL
diers, expressing warm sympathy for the