Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-04-19

som" II iae troops were dishesrtaued Th. ds
'oaf'E -r1eut was spreading. ard orfrrd OBJ.
c'uIH--. rAugfr7as8gTJ, whore / maIa-. q
~ assembling Crttenden's division and the
iugllives from D0nelson, to collect an army able
20 offer battle. The weather was iucIeme5t the
floods excessive, and the bridges were washed
away but most Of the stores and provision.
were saved, and conveyed to new depots. This
having been accomplished, though with serious
.oss' IN conformity with my original design, ]
marched southwark and CT ssed the Tennessee
st this point, so as to cooperate or unite with
ten. baauregard, for the defense of the Valley OF
the Mississippi The passage is almost eunp'et.
Cd and the head Of my column is already with
Gen. Bragg at CoTiutb. This was deemed too
hazardous by the most experienced members of
ny staff, but the object warranted the risk. The
dlthculty of etfectiug a junction is not wholly
overcome, but 1t approaches completion. Day
hiter tomorrow, unless the enemy intercept me,
my force Will be with Bragg and my army nearly
- thousand strong. TINS must be destroyed
bJ2re the enemy can attain his object.
1 have given this sketch so that you NAV ap-
preciste the embarrassment which surrounded
me I'D my attempts 10 avert or remedy the dlsas-
ter OF Fort D0nelsOn, before abiding 10 the con
duct OF the generals.
When the force was detached, l was in hopes
that such disposition would have been made as
would have eushled the forces to defend fbe fort
Ur Withdraw without sacrificing the army. On
the l4th ordered Gen. Floyd, by telegraph. eff
he lost the fort, to get his troops to Nashville %
l. is possible this might have been done, but
Justice requires TO look at events as they appeared
at the time, and not alone by the light Of suisse
quent information. All tue facts in relation to
the surrender will be transmitted to the Secre-
tary Of War as soon as they can be collected, in
Obediancs to his order. It appears from the IL
formation received that Gen Buckner, being the
junior officer, took the lead Ia ADVISING the zlr-
render, and that Gen. Floyd acquissced. and
they all concurTed IN the belief that their force
could not maintain its pOsition-all c0ncurred
that 1t would require n great sacrifice of life to
e~xtrlcate the command. Subsequent events
show that the investment was not 50 complete as
their information from their scouts led them T.
believe. The conference resulted in the surrsn-
der.
The command was i~rTegularly transferred,
and devolved on the junior general, but not ap
parently to avoid any Just responsibility, or from
any want of personal or moral %iutrepidity The
blow was most disastrous, and almost without
remedy. l, therefore, in my first report. re-
manned silent. This silence you were kind
enough 20 attribute to my generosity. / will
not lay claim to the motive to excuse my coursg.
l observed silence, as it seemed to be the best
WY ~ bElNU Lilt CAUSE ana the country. Inc
facts were not fully knOwu-discouteu prevailed,
and criticism or condemnation were more likely
n augment than 10 cure the evil. RETAINED.
well knowing that heavy censures would fall
uPon me, but convinced that it was better 10 Gu
duTe them for the present and deter TO q more
propiu0us time, an investigation of the conduct
o! the generals, for, Il the meantime, their ser
vices were required and their Influence useful
For these reasons, Generals Floyd and Pillow
were consigned to duty, for l still felt confidence
their gallantry, their energy, and their devo-
ton TO the Contederacy.
l have thus REQUIRED to the motives by which
I have been governed, from a deep personal
sense of the fien ship and confidence YOU
have always shown me, and from the conviction
that they have not been Withdrawn from me ia
adversely.
All the reports requisite for fall official in
vestigation have been ordered. Gems. Floyd and
Pillow have been suspended from command.
Here follow some illusions not necessary 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 neces-
ssry to publish The letter closes as follows:
have troubled you with these details as I
caaaot properly communicate them by tele
graph.
The test of merit in my profession, with the
people, is success. l. is a hard rule, but I think
It right If l join in this corps to the force Of
Gen. B~eauregard, q confess "a hazardous ex-
psnment) then those who are now declaimiug
against me viii be without an argument
Your friend, A. S. JOHNSTON.
OSmotion Of NJ. B~ARKsDALE, the letter was
referred to the committee appointed to iuvest-
gate The Fort Donslson disaster.
In the Senate She resolutions came up. but the
appearing uncertain as to the truth OF
the intelligence of lhe death Of Gen. JoHNsTos,
were not acted upon, and that body went into
session.