The Smoky Hill and Republican union., 1862-03-06
Interesting Items from Fort ponelson.

---~I Interesting Items from Fort Donelson.
We clip the following interesting items
from the correspondence of the Missouri
Democrat, written from the eyer-memerable
Fort Donelson
The Conquerors.-All hail to the brave
sons of the West, who, never knowing when
they were whipped men, pressed steadily
and doggedly forward, fought aot only a
brave enemy, but cold and hunger to the
very last, who are now rejoicing in the
fruits of the savagely contested field. All
hail to the dead and wounded heroes, whose
life blood is now staining the soil of the
.ncigLboripg hills. While the country
Yejoices over death stroke to rebellion, let
not the brave patriots who achieved the
triumph, and sealed it with their blood, be
forgotten. Let Irwin and Smith, and
White, and others of a gallant band who
now sleep their last sleep, yet live in our
grateful recollection. Let Morrison and
Logan, and Ransom and Lawler, and hun
dreds of as brave though less conspicuous
men, now wracking with bodily torture,
receive the deserved ovations of an indebted
republic.
The .Surrendcr.-The news of the sur
render was surprise to every one. For
although having now foothold in COM
manding portion Of the enemy's works,
and although exalted by the brilliant vic
tories of the afternoon previous, yet know
ing full we'll that the enemy's forces nearly
equalled our. own, it was universally sup
posed that hardly contested fight must
ensue ere the Confederate banner gave way
TO the old. The army, by order of General
Grant was ready to storm the enemy from
every portion of our lines, when behold
as the light of the morning became more
distinct, banners of peace instead of those Of
defiance were waving on the rebel ramparts,
and the news came that the fort was ours.
In an hour the Stars and Stripes we're
waving from every available point, and such
cheers as went up from regiment after regi
ment as it fled into the works, could only
have been raised by such heroes as those
who gave them.
The Prisoners is surprising to see
the. freedom and apparent good will existing
between victors and vanquished. Of course
there are exceptions, but as general thing
our soldiers and officers conduct themselves
as become brave victors, and the prisoners
as men who, conscious they had done we'll,
are not ashamed to say they had been fairly
whipped. | saw yesterday not few groups
OF federal and rebel soldiers gathered around
the old fires of the latter, talking over the
stirring scenes in which either party had
been active participants the day before, and
IN some instances good -humoredly sharing
one ano:her's rations. "Werc you in that
attack on our right wing yesterday morn
ing z! says one of our boys. 81 was that"
responds the rebel confrere. "Was you
there !" And SO the conversation would
60 on until, perhaps, it was ascertaincd that
twenty four hours before the same men,
now chatting good naturcdly before the
camp fire, were pouring deadly volleys into
one another's breasts. But inasmuch as
either party had good reasons for knowing
that the others were no cravens, the result,
as must ever be case with all brave men,
was rather to inspire mutual respect than
any i'll will. Is it not destined that the
settlement of our family quarrel will one of
these days be much aided by these and
similar interviews between friend and foe,
thus for the first time brought face to face,
and now for the first time allowed to inter
change their own private opinions as to the
cause of the troubles.
Union Sentiments among the Prisoners
/ have previously spoken, in my telegrams,
of a strong Union sentiment still lying latent
in the hearts of the prisoners here. This is
the case with the Tennesseans
Subsequent intercourse with them has con.
firmed me in the firm belief that if the
people of Tennessee could month hence
have fair opportunity of expressing
choice between the bogus confederacy of
JEFF. Davis and the South, and the good old
Union Of time-hallowed memory, the ma
jority for reunion would be immense
The best men in the Tennessee army to-day
are those who strove the longest against the
popular madness which at last they sub
mitted to. These men, under the mistaken
impression that their allegiance was Cue
their State before their Country, felt them
selves obliged to acquiesce in any action
the people should take, and have enlisted
for her defence. But, after all, it is easy
to see that deep down in their hearts is
still an earnest longing for the old flag, and
the old days of peace and prosperity. They
freely say that they are tired of the unnat-
ural conflict; that although gh they did fight,
and had their Generals not confessed them
selves whipped, would have continued to
hight, to the best of their ability, (and l
think none OF our troops at Donelson will
be disposed to doubt their ability still.
now that the flinr Is nxer fheu are readr