Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-05

outing eff our retreat We had only sbou. IL OoC
troops all told. OF these large proportion we bad os
In the three tattles The command had been 10 die
trscches night and day for 6Ts days exposed TO the
snoW slee mud and ce water without shslier and with
cut sdquste covering and Nithou. sleep.
In this condition tho general Officers held ooEsu,s
talon to determine what we should do. Gen BaokneT
saVs j. bis decided opinion that be could not told bis
position half en- hour against assaus Of tie enc
my, and sad the enemy would attack him nex morang
daylight Tho proposition then was made By the IN
dorsignd agsn 6gdt through the enemys iue and Gu:
our Hey out. General Blckner said his commsnd ~au
70 worn ou AID GU TO pieces and denoraized that ho
could n5i make another 6ght that il would cost The
command threcqulTcrs OF il present numbers TO cut
way through, and il was wrong TO sacrifice three
quarters Of command TO one-qusrteT; that no OIL
cor had right to cause such q sacrifice. General
oyd and M3jor Gilmer understood 10 concur il this
ioiou.
then expressed the opinion that could hold opt
another day. and ia that time could get steamboats,
and the commard the river AMI probably
a large portion Of it. To this Gen. Buckner replied
that the enemy would certainly attack him at daylight,
and that be could not hold hiI position half hour
The alternative Of the proportions surrender Of
their position and command. Gen. Floyd said that he
would neither surrender the command would he
surrender himself prisoner had taken the same po-
sion Gen. Buckner said he satisfied nothing else
could be done and that therefore, he would surrender
if placed in command Gen. Floyd said that he would
turn the command TO him If he could be allowed
withdraw his command; to this Gen. Buckner consen-
ted Tnereupou General Floyd turned the command oy
er 10 me- passing IL instantly TO Gen. Buokner saying
would neither surrender tie command myself a
isoner. directed Col. Forrest TO cut his way OUT
Under these circumstances Gen. Buckner accepted the
command, and sent flag Of truce to the enemy for
armistce OF six hours to negotiate for terms OF clpiIu
lation Before this flag and Communication deliver
ed retired from tho garrison
Before closing my report Of the operations Of the
army at Doneson, mus, In justice TO tho ofc rs and
forces under my Immediate command, say that harder
agh.ing gallant conduct in officers and men
have Witnessed In the absence Of official repors
OF brigade and reymentAl commanders Tot whish am
deprived By the circumstances detailed in this report
may not be able TO do justicS to the different corp.-
will say however, that the forces under my inmedi.
ate command bore themselves mos: CALAMITY through
ous the 10 z ald bloody conflict.
speak With special comnendstion of the br gads,
commanded by Cola Baldwin, Wharton, McOausland
Simonton and Drake, and Captains Hauey ani Greene,
who fought their guns under the constant snd annoying
hre Of the enemys sharpshooers ard the concentrated
fra from his field batteries from which both commands
suffered severely. Capt Nancy himself was wounded
AID had several leutenants and many OF bis company
killed and wounded; did Capts. Porter and Grlves.-
II should hereafter receive the reports of tegimentd
and brigade commanders giving detailed Information
OF the cjndcc. and bearing Of officers and men will
mako supplemental report. The a6sence Of official
ports depriyes of the means of giving lsts of The
killed aud founded Of the different commands. am
s.tshed that in su0b sereu, Of conflicts our loss was
heavy. l know what the enemy was from pas
siug over the battle field with General FloJd in
the evening" Immediately after the battle. His ois
in killed and wounded was terrible, exceeding
anything have ever seen on battle fsld Oar force
In TIE field DID no exceed ten thotS md men, Ebiis ffou
what Oft enemy's force aud from information
derived from prisoner, he had from thirty
to forty thousand the 6sld. must acknowledge my
Obligations to Hjor Glmer, engineer, for tho especial
aud valuable services rendered IN laying of the works.
aud the energy displayed by him In directing their coz
structon, aud for hs COUNSEL and advice likewise
oHledge my obligations to Col. John Q. Blrch. ny
de-Oamp to Capt Gus. A. Henry Major Field, Lieut..
c1olson, Lieut.. Clas. Martin and Col. Brandon. my
volunteer Aids-deOamp Major Hays my Assistant Com
mssary, sr Jons my Assistant Qfarternaser, for
the prompt manner in Which they ouod my orders
under trying CrcumsarJgs throughout The long aud con-
tiPued conflicts, aud to 1s>r GIner, who accompanied
throughoutthe entire day. Also TO CAPT. Parker Of
nv staff, whom assigned to the command of Captain
Rosss field battery with recruits gunners, and
who fought aud served them we'll Col. Il GndoO was
severely Wounded early n the action Colonel lld~ns
oOmmind constituted the front OF the attacking force,
sustained Immediately by Col. Wharyons These two
brgades deserve especial commeniaon for the manner
In which they stained the first shock Of battle, and
der circumstances OF great embarrassment threw them
selves into position and followed up the coLh through
the day
Being mostly with these two brgades can. speak
from p.r.onsl knowledge Of their gallant bearing.
must also aOk ~lsdse my obligations to Brig Gen. John
ston, who gssi'ed me in command of the focts with
which attacked the enemy and who bore himself gall
anty throughout the conflict bu. having received no
Official reports from hisi cannot give detailed opera
OLs of hiG commsud have pleasure 10 bling able 20
say tina, Coons Forrest-whose command greatly dien
ED he'd ia commander a bold and gallant leader, and
ren ed distinguished honor upon selt-pAssed safely
through the euemys lire OF investment and it will
yet win other honors in dofercs of rights and tie
jutt cause OF cur country
GID J. PILLOW, Brig Gen. c. s. A.