The New York herald., 1862-03-08

was continually pouring around US on his line
Of Investment, and thus strengthening his gene
Of his encampments and on each road he had posi-
tion battery Of field artillery and twentyour pound
on the roads was thick underground OF brush
and black jack, making 1t impossible to advance or ma
nouvre any considerable body Of troops
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
reaching to the bank Of the river, accompanied by
Colonel Forests brigade Of cavalry; that Brgadier
General Buckner, with the forces under his command,
and deendIn the right Of line, should strike the
enemy encampment Ca. ana forces on the WINS Ferry
his position and that each command should in the
trenches troops TO hold them.
WHAT PILLOW COUNTED UPON DOING.
In this order Of battle was easy to be seen that my
attack was successful, and the enemy routed, that his
Wnns Ferry road and thence toward his at the
gunboats below In other words, my would roll
the enomys force in retreat over upon Gen. puckner,
when, by his attack In front and rear could cut up
the enemy and put him completely to rout Accordingly,
dispositions were made to attack the enemy. AT i've
O'Clock A. NJ, of the 18th moved out Of my position TO
engage him. In less than half hour forces
engaged He was prepared to meet me in advance Of
his encampment, and he did meet me before had
| assumed line Of battle ana while ! moving
against him without any formation for the engagement.
For the first half hour OF tho engagement was much
embarrassed In getting the command in position pro-
perly meet the foe. Having extricated myself from
the positions and fairly engaged him, we fought him for
upon him He contested this field most stubborniy.
The loss Of both armies at this portion Of the field
heavy; the enemy's particularly, as ! discovered by
The enemy having been forced yield this portion of the
1eld retired slowly towards the winns Ferry road,
Buckners point Of attack. He did retreat fell
back lighting us, contestng every inch Of ground.
The tight was hotly and stubborny contested both
sides, it consumed tho day till twelve O'Clock to
drive hm back far the CENTRE where General Buck
ner's command was to flank him. While my command
was advancing and slowly driving him. anxiously
IN haar rtu
in his rear, which, not taking place. feared mis-
apprehension Of orders, and from the field of battle
found the command Of General Buckner massed behind
the ridge within the work. taking shelter from the ene
mys artillery en- tho VIM road having been forced to
retire before the battery, as learned from him. My
force was still slowly advancing, driving the enemy
towards the battery directed General Buckner mme-
dately to move his command round to the OF the
battery turning its left keeping in the hollow and attack
and carry it.. |.
Before this movement was executed NV force FORM
ing the attacking party the right with Forests regi
ment Cavalry gaanty charged the battery supported
BY body Of infantry driving it and forcing the battery
enemy falling back from this position General BucSner
forces became united with mine and engaged the enemy
in hot contest of nearly an hour with largo forces fresh
troops that had now met This position of the enemy
suit seven and half hours Of continuous and
bloody conflict After tho troops called off, orders
were Immediately given TO the different commands to
form and retire to- their original positions in the
| trenchments
sroRNING OF BUCKNER's ISIRENCHMENTs.
The operations Of the day had forced the entire COM
mand OF the enemy around to right wing and in.
front Of General Buckners position in the nrenchmens
aud when reached his position ho found the
enemy rapidly advancing to take possession Of this por
tion Of the work. He had stubborn conflict lasting one
and half hour to regain it, and the enemy actually got
possession Of the extreme right Of his position and held
1t so firmly that he could not disodge him. The position
thus gained by the enemy most commanding onc
being Immediately in the rear OF river battery and
ed work for protection. From it he could readily
turn the ntrenched work occupied by General Buckner
and attack him in reverse or advance under cover Of an
work. While he held this position it manifest we
| could not hold the main work or battery.
TEE CONDITION OF The TROOPS ON SATURDAY
Such theScondon Of the armies at nghtfal after
nine hours Of conflict the 10th inst in which loss
severe and leaving not less than the enemy
dead and wounded on the field We left upon the aeld
nearly all his wounded, because could not remove
them We left his dead unburied, because could not
| bury them.
Such conflict and courage has perhaps never before
occurred upon this continent We took about three hun
fought this battle open the way for army and re-
liove from an investment which would necessarily
w' had
could prepare to leave, after taking in the wounded
and the dead, tho enemy had thrown around us
again in the night immense force Of fresh troops and
rcoccuped his original position in the line of investment
thus again cutting OF our retreat. We had only about
IL 600 troops all told. or these large proportion we
had lost in the three battles The command had been in
the trenches night and day for Eve days. exposed the
snow. slect, mud and ice water without shelter and
/
THE rAHors COUNCIL OF war BETWEEN FLOYD, PILLOW AND
BUcKxER.
In this condition the general officers held consultation
10 determine what they should do. General Buckner
gave as his decided opinion that he could hold his
position one hall an hour against an assault Of the enc
next morning at daylight. The proposition was
then made by the undersigned to again eight through the
enemys line and cut our way out. General Buckner
said his command was SO worn out and cut pieces
demorazed that he could not make another fght that
il would cost the command Of ls present
numbers cut its through. and IL IN
sacrifice threequarters Of command TO onequar.
ter that no officer had right to cause such sacrcr.
Gen Floyd and Major Gmer understood TO concur in
this opinion.
then expressed the opinion that we could hold out
another day and In that time could got steamboats,
and set the command the river and probably savo
large portion OF It, To this General Pcckner replied
that the enemy would certainly attack him a; daylight,
and that he could not hold his position half an
hour The alternative Of the propositions was
q surrender OF their position and command
General Floyd said that he would neither surrender tho
had taken tkc position. General Buckncr said he
was eatscd nothing else could DO donc and that there
Floyd said that he would turn over the command to him
II he could be allowed 70 withdraw he command TO this
General Buckncr consented. Thereupon General Floyd
tsrned the command me- passing instantly 10
General Buckner saying weud neither surrender the
command nor myself prisoner. directed Colonel For
rest cut his way out. Under these circumstances
General Buckper accepted the command and sent flag
Of TO tho enemy for armstice OF six hours
negotiate for terms Of captuaon Before this Tag and
communication were delivered retired from the gar
rison
speech OF General Pillow ON the Battle
at Fort Oomelson.
The Memphis papers Of tho 26h ut say that General
Pillow response to an urgent call made short, nte-
resting eloquent speech last night, explaining the
circumstances OF tho battle Of Fort Donelson and the
cause Of e capitalization He made urgent appeal TO
Tennessesans to rush 10 arms II they would sustain the
gained other fields. He said the present
full Of gloom but tho future hopeful. armies
will only fight galany did the dauntless spirits
who were overwhelmed At Fort Donclson Southern indie
pendence will be achieved as certainly he then i'd
dressed the audience.
The Appeal says tho speech OF General Pillow evinced
the and fearless spirit which he has al
ways exhibited In tho fied-that Of invincbility.
Greatest battle ON This Continent.
From the Helena Daily Note Book, Feb. 2i.1
The a Of Fort Doneson is OF the severcst blows
which has bcfaen the conedcracy Its fall has broken
of Iohusful cnusod him