Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-08
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. PILLOW.


We find in the Atlanta (Georgia) Confed-
eracy Of Sunday last the official report of
General Pillow, who commanded the rebels
at Fort Donelson. The report is very long
and would fill over three columns Of our pa
per, and is in striking contrast with the short
and pithy report Of Gen. Grant. Gen. Pillow
took command Of Fort Donelson on Februsry
sth, and he ssys that he immediately set to
work TO improve its defences. This was done
under the supervision of Major Gilmer chief
engineer Of Gen. A. s. JOhnston's staff Be-
fore the works we're completed, Pillcw states,
Gen. Floyd, his senior in rank, arrived, but
he does not say whether the great thief took
command or not. He then says AZ had
placed Brigadier General Buckner in COM
msnd Of the right wing, and Brigadier Gen.
eral johnson in command of the left. BY ex-
traordinary efforts we had barely got the works
In defensible condition, when the enemy
made An advance in force around and against
the entire line Of outer works"
He then gives the details Of the fighting on
the 18th and 18th, (the gunboat fight included,) }
all Of which our readers are familiar with.
oER LINES CLOSING AROUND HIM.
The General continues thus:
On the 14th instant the enemy were busy
throwing his forces Of every arm around us,
extending his line Of investment entirely
around our position. and completely envei-
oping Us. On the evening of this day we sscer-
tanned that the enemy had received additional
reinforcements by steamboat. We were now
surrounded by an immense force, said by
prisoners to amount to ffty-two regiments and
every road and possible avenue Of departure
were cut of, with the certainty that our sources
Of supply by the river would soon be cut of
by the enemy's batteries placed upon the river
above US.
A COUNCIL OF WAR.
At council Of the general officers, called by
General Floyd, it was unanimously determines
- A.NN l.
30 as to cut open route of exit for our troops
to the interior Of the country, and thus save
our army. We had knowledge that the prin-
cipal portion Of the enemy g forces were massed
in encampment in front Of our extreme left
commanding the two roads leading into the
interior, one Of which We must tai in leaving
our position. We knew that he had massed In
encampment another large force on the Union
Ferry road, opposite the center of our left
wing, and another in front of the left of eur
right wing.
His fresh arrival Of troops being encamped
on the bank Of the river, two and half miles
below us, from which latter encampment
stream Of fresh troops was continually pouring
around US on his line OF investment, and thus
strengthening his general encampment on the
extreme right At each of bis encRmpments
and on each road, he had in position battery
Of field artillery and twenty-four pound iron
guns on siege carriages Between these en-
growth Of brush and black jack making it i'm
possible to advance or maneu7er any consid-
cradle body Of troops.
The REBEL PLAN OF BATTLE
The plan Of attack, agreed upon and directed
by Gen. Floyd, to be executed, was that with
the main body Of the forces Of our left wing |
should attack the right wing of the enemy
occupying and resting upon the heights reach.
Ing to the bank Of the river, accompanied by
Col. Forests brigade Of cavalry; that Br;ga-
dier Gen. Buckner, with the forces under his
command, and defending the right Of our line,
should strike the enemy's encsmpment and
forces on the VIM 's-ferry road; that the forces
under Col. Holman should bold his position,
and that each commend should leave in the
trenches troops TO hold them.
WHAT PILLOW COUNTED UPON DOING.
In this order Of battle it was easy 10 be seen
that If my attack was successful and the ene-
my routed, that his retreat would be along his
line of investment towards the Winn's Ferry
road, and thence toward his reserve a the gun
boats below. In other words, my success would
roll the enemy's force in retreat over upon
Gen. Buckner, when, by his attack in front
and rear, We could cut up the enemy and put
him completely to rout. . Accordingly, dispo-
sitisns were made to attack the enemy. At 5
o'clock q m, Of the 18th | moved out of my
position to engage him. In less than half an
hour our forces. were engaged. He was pre-
pared to meet meet me in advance Of his en-
eampRent. and he did meet me before had
assumed line of battle, and while was moving
against him without any formation for the en-
gagement.
For the first half hour of the engagement I
was much embarrassed in getting the COM
mand in position properly TO meet the foe
Having extricated myself from the position,
and fairly engaged him, we fought him for
nearly two hours before made any decided
advance upon him He contested this
field most stubbornly. The loss Of both armies
ut this portion of the field was heavy; the enc
my's particularly, as discovered by riding
over the field, after the battle, with Gen
Floyd. The enemy having been forced to
yield this portion Of the field, retired slowly to-
wards the Hinns-ferry road, Buckners point
Of attack. He did not retreat, but fell back
fighting rs, eontesting every inch Of ground
The fight was hOtly and stubbornly contested
on both sides, and it consumed the day till IL
O'Clock to drive him back as far as the center
where Gen. Buckner's command was to flank
him. While my command was advancing and
slowly driving him, / was snxiously expecting
to hear Gen. Bucknsr's command open fire in
his rear, which, not taking place, / feared
some Misrepresentation Of orders, and came from
the field of battle within the the works to learn
what was the matter. there found the COM
mand Of Gen. Buckner maSsed behind the
ridge within the work, taking shelter from the
enemy's artillery on the Winns road, il having
been forced to retire before the battery as I
learned from him. My force was still slowly
advancing, driving the enemy towards the
battery. directed Gen. Buckner Immediately
TO move his command round to the rear Of the
battery, turning its left, keeping in the hol-
low, and attack and carry it. s
Before this movement was executed, my
force, forming the attacking party on the tight,
with Forests regiment, (csyalry,) CALAMITY
charged the battery, supported by body Of
infantry, driving 1t and forcing the battery to
retire, taking six pieces of artillery-feur brass
and two 24-pound iron guns In pursuing the
enemy falling back from this position, Gen
Buekner's forces became united with mine,
and engaged the enemy in hot contest Of nearly
an hour with large forces Of fresh troops that
had now met US. This position Of the enemy
being carried By our joint forces, called off
pursuit after seven and a half hours Of con-
tinuous and bloody conflict. After the troops
were called Of, orders were Immediately given
to the different commands 10 forn and retire
TO their original positions in the intrsnch.
ments.
sToRMIxG OF BUCKyRR's ENTREScHHESTs