Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-04-08

involved mot only hillary but political sousdsnssen-
At the time Of my arrival at Niahve the action Of the
Legislature Of Kentucky had put end 10 the latter BY
sanconing the formation Of companies mensciug Ten
nessse, BY assuming the Of the government at
Washington, and BY abandoning the neutrality IL pro-
fssssd and 10 OF their action the occups-
ton OF Bowling Grtei became necessary an act OF
ssf.defence, at least in the hst step.
About the middle Of September General Buckner sd-
vanced with q small force Of about 600 men. which
was increased by the l5h October to 10 00 and though
secessions Of force received IL continued At sbons
A. same strength until the cad Of November mes 10
and other diseases keeping down the effective force
The snenys feros thsn reported 70 the War De-
partner. so 900, and an advance vas impossible
R..,iD. i, to b. Of ,b. greatest non.n. to pro,r.et
the campaign - the dssrth Of cotton might bring
strength from abroad and discourage the North, to
R.in time to strengthen myself BY new troops from Ti-
nsssee and other Staes m'gn'fed my forcss to TIC
enemy, but made known my true strength 70 the De-
psrtment and the Governors Of States The aid eiven
was mall. Atlength when Gen. Bauregsrd came out
In bruary he expressed he surprise at the smsnass
OF my force and Impressed with the danger of ny
position admitted what % manifest, and laid be-
tor, him my views for the fuure In which he entry
colturred and sent a memorandum Of cur confr.
csce, copy Of which sand to you. Determined IN
ngh for Nashville Dopelscn and gavs the best part c
M army TO do II, reisining only IL 600 10
my front, and gvirE 1900 to defend Donelson..
port at much less and do doubt tho correcn'saof
bis statement for the force Bowling Grecn which
supposed TO be Il 900 effective men, Tho cal
port sho.ipg only little 300 sick In the hospits)
waI diminished more than oOo by those who were m
abs to stand the fatigue OF march and made nv force
on reaching MELVILLE les, than 10000 msr. erelose
nedicsl Directors Report.
Had wholly uncovered my front to defend Donslscn,
Buen would have known Il, and marched directly or
Nashville There we're only ten small steamers IN the
L. elantoO ttra Of Et
were available a. Nashville, while the transportation Of
tie enemy vas great.
The evacuation Of Bowling Green was impar,,ivsly
nee mry and was ordered before, and executed While
tho battle Wss being fought at Donelson. had made
every disposition for the defence OF the fort my means
allowed; and tn, troops were among the best OF my
force The Generals Floyd Pillow and Ruckncr. were
high In the opinion ofhoers and men for skill rnd
courage, and among the best Of officers oil ny crm-
mand They popular With the volunteers, AID sll
had seen much servics. No endorsements afkcd.
awaited the event opposite Nashville. TIE rrru OF
the cor aict each day favorable. At midnigb.
VI. is b. received news Of glorious vieory-st dswa
Of a defeat
the rvsr-s battery had been established low tho city
TO secure the psssage) Nashville VS. incapable Of de-
f.ncs from its position ard from ii, forces Advancing
frsm Bowling Green and up tho Cumberland rear gnsrd
wa 10 under u Floyd TO s'cure the sores and pro-
visions but did rot completely Eject the object TIE
hesrtsped. The din couray cement spreading, and
ordered tho command to surfresboro', where rnsr-
aged by Assembling OIitsneeni division and tie fnsi-
tvss FROM Donrlsor to collect an amy able TO 'f bat.
tie. The weather vas incltmcnt, TIE Hood 6xcer-
sive, and the bridges were vssb'd swav, but
mott OF the stores and provisions we're saved, Hd
conveyed TO ne. dspon. This hsviog been accomplish
ed, thosgh with serious loss 10 conformi wish my ori.
ensl desgu march d southwark and crossed the Tom
ntssse ct this point, 30 TO coop,rste or unite With
II II. A.. IL a.
Mississippi. The passage almost completed, and the
head OF my column il slresdy with Gen Bragg o."
rinth. Toe movement WAS deemed too hazardous BY
the most eIpshepced members of my stsn. bat the o.
CT warranted the risk. The difficulty OF th.c:ing
ton Ia not wholly overcome bat approaches Pc
ion Day after TOMORROW, uElsss the emmy inerc ps
me, my force will be With Bragg aud my army n'sIiy
- thousand strong. 7his mast Be de,toysd b,fors
the entpy attain his otjct.
Ihave giyea this Sketch, so that you may Appreciate
the embarrassment which surrounded in my lit m0is
to avert or remedy tho disaster of Fort Doreson, be.
fore abiding to the conduct Of the Genersls.
Wien sihs forcs vas detached, wta In hopes that
such disposition would have been made as would have
on1beI the forces - defend the Fort Or withdraw nth
out s.erdens the army On the Il b, | ordered Gen.
FLOYD BY telegraph al" be lost tho Fort TO get bis uocps
70 Nashville IL 10 possible this might kavc been cope
but justice quireI to look q. events as they appeared
the lime and alono by the light OF subs. quent infer
nation. All the faes in relation 10 the surrender will
be transmitted TO the Secretary OF War, soon as ibey
can be collected In obedience to bis order. Eaip'ars
from the information received that Gen. Buckner being
tho junior cosr took the lead in adyaog tho snrren
der aud that Gen. Floyd GtqIiesced aud they All con.
CURED 10 the belief that their force copld rot mainAn
il. position-e corcusd that il would rq IRE great
sacrifice Of life 10 tI.rcsts the command substauent
events show tbat the inv snent vas not 20 CON pete
their information from their scouts led them 70 believe.
Too conference resulted in the surrerder. The CON.
msnd was irregl,rly transferred and detoved on The
junior Genera bu. not apparently to avoid any Just re-
sp,nsbiity, from any want Of personal or mora! In
tepidity The blow vas most Disastrous, end al.
| most without . remedy. ], therefore, In my hrst
| rspo.t, remained silent. This silence you were kind
enough to attribute to my generosity will not
| lay claim u tho motive 10 excuse my course ! CO.
served silence, a. IL seemed to DO the best waI
10 servo the c,use and the country Toe iss were rot
full ACKNOWLEDGMENT prevailed, aud CRITICS or con-
.mnaiior were likely 70 augment than TO cure
tn, evil RETAINED, well knowing that heavy censures
would fall upon me, but convinced that 1t "" better 70
eadure lhsm fer the preset and defer to more sPi'
ous time an inyestgation Of the cp1duct OF tho ne.
r.l. for In the meantime their services were rqsrrd
AM tieir iLh useful FOR these rcasors Gsnersh
Floyd and Pillow resigned to duty, for still f.t
confidence in their sniry, their energy and their &C.
vo.on to the Confodefey.
have thus r'eurrsd to the motives by which have
eu governed from deep serss OF tfe ifcrd.
ship and corAjencs you bsss always shown me, and
fon tn. conviction that they have no. been withdraw
| from me In adversely.
All the reports requisite for full Oft, sl investigation
have been ordered Generals Floyd and Pillow have
| been suspend from command.
Hers follow som, illusions not necessary TO an un-
desnd1g Of the msin objects Of the letter. and state
mcut OF the disposition of the forces 10 Command sb
Il deemed necessary to PUBLISH The letter closes
| a. follows:
Ib,vs troubled you with these details az cannot pro.
perly communicate them by Telegraph.
The AT If merit Ia profession with the people,
IL SUCCESS. LISA bard rule but think il light II
ion this corps the forc CT Gen. Bsauregard con-
f.sa b. zudous .Ip.rimeu then those who sre Los de-
Claiming against me viii BE- without al argument.
Your friend
A. q. JOHNSTON
NJ. BARKsDALE l mave that tb's letter b. re-
ferrcd 10 the OsmMitss appointed 10 investigate tue
Fort D ,nsson disaster.
The mo ion VAS agreed 10.
Tn. SPEAKER The Chair viii sLate 10 The House