The New York herald., 1862-04-09
How Fort Donelson was surrsndered.

l How Fort D0nelson was Sure ndcred.
| tCorrespondsnce Of the New Orleans Pisayansl
| DECATUR Ala, March Is, 1862
Discussion Basoeen Ae r bel Gsn rails he Pr pre o.
Ssfrsn'er'ng-A~ Interesting Item ." the Hsry o. tss
ihs denunciatons, wrongs and injustice heaped upon
General A Johnston for his retrograds movement are
In every undeseryed. Long before Genera Joh
was compelled 20 make his rerograde movement. he ad
dressed letters to the Governors of the different States
informing them f the condition Of Affairs and WIS thus
compel cd to disclose mis- feeble condition. but Moth the
people nor the government listened to he adInnn ions
A have before stated, General Johnston lid come
convinced that neither Bowling Green Doneson were
all the he could spare at Dover rossrvng
for himself force hardly sufficient to his re-
treat had the enemy fallen upon him.
stated that tho message OF President Davis in re-
Lton to Fort Dsneson says that the reports OF Floyd
and Pillow do not state that reinforcensnts were asked
for aud is not shown that the position could
evacuated, and the whole army saved we'll as part
Nor Is IL shown by what authority the two senior gene
rails abandoned their responsibility by transferring thei
omission thus stated and part Of the history Of the
surrender OF Fort Donslson have obtained from IN
nor officer who was present on that OCCASION tho fol
lowing reliable statement OF tina paricnlas OF tho sur
render, which will be read with interest
On the morning OF the l6.h of February, about one
O'Clock, it had determined BY tho commanding OIL
10 cut way through the ensmys lines, destroy
the army stores and retreat from Dover to Nashville For
this purpose scouts were sent out to ascertain whether
theene my occupied the ground they had been
driven from the day previous, and soms Of
Forests men were ordered 70 inspect Q slough
passabe for infantry. The scouts returned after
and reported that the roads perfectly alive with
troops, and that their camp Ares burning in every
direction also, that the slough was half leg deep In ms
and the reaching to the saddle skirts This inor
nation produced change Of operations, and con srence
then took place, at which present Generals Floyd
Pillow and ucsner Colopes Forrest aud John G. Burch
Majors Giinsr, Horny Haynes and JONES' and Liouten
ants Martin and Nichoson-the Two last being aids OF
General Pillow.
Notwithstanding that communication thus cut OF,
General Pillow urged the necessity Of making the attempt
To cut way OUT mako fight for one day more,
in which time he thought that could got steamboats,
enough to put the whole command across the river,
1S seu our ,Ss by tSa S snd
distressed condition Of his mon, and the oecu-
patton OF his rife pits the extreme right by the
my he could not nod his position for hall hour, II
attacked by tho enemy at daylight which he would
tainy do General Pillow replied-"Why can't your /
thiak you can sir" and added that the occupation
OF rifle pits BY the enemy left an open gateway TO
river battery and ho thought We ought to cut our way
through at ali hazards.
ton only bring to bear against the enemy four
thousand men while he oppose me with any given
number" General Pillow then sad-'Wel, gentlemen,
what do you intend to doY am in favor OF fighting OUT
General Floyd then asked General Backner what he had
10 says
General Buckuer replied quickly that TO attempt TO cut
thres Of the command and that general had
the right to make such sacrifice oil human life General
Bucknor this point General Pillow then
marked that thore was but alternative left,
anu tuat was CapltuiatiOn, anu addressing nlm-
self to General Floyd, said-"Sir, shall neither
surrender tho command myself i will die
Grst" General Floyd then said he also would not
render himself adding SO You know my relations with
the United States government and it would not DO"
GAuding to his course when Secretary OF War, in dis
Irioutng to the South s quota OF General Buck
ner replied thought personal feeling ought
control Official action. General Floyd admitted 1t, and
said nevertheless it was his determination General
Buckner said:-.'1hen gentlemen, suppose the surren
dor will dovolve on me-" General Floyd, addressing
BucELer, said:"General, If you put in command
will you allow to take out my brigadeS General
Iuckncr replied-"Ycs, sir if you your command
before send my offer of capitilation to the enemy"
Thsn," said General Floyd, 'Isurrender the command"
General Pillow, upon whom tho command devolved
said, II Will accept il, my purpose fixed
surrender -'
General Bucknsr Immediately replied, az will accept
IT, and will share the tato OF my command, aud at
called for pen, ink and paper and buger to sound
ariey it being too dark to send flag Of truce General
Pillow then asked it would be proper for him to make
his escape to which General Floyd replied that
question for every To decide for himself, but that
he would bo glad for every to mako his escape that
could Colonel Forrest, addressing General Bucknsr
said 81 think, General, thero is more fight In
than you sappcse but II you will lot me will also take
out my command" To which Bncknsr and Floyd both
assented. Turning to General Pillow Forrest then said
general, have fought under your command, what
shal! l dO:' General Pillow answered, "Cut your way
out" To which Forrest replied, 81 will"
All the officers retired. leaving Goneral Buckncr alone
with the command The official correspondence that
sued regard TO the surrender has already been pub
shed as well as the SEQUEL which followed.