, 1862-04-18

least III The DrbL sup. l
About the middle OF September Gen. Buck
ner advanced with q small force Of about 0D0
men, which was increased by the 18th of Oc~
tober to Il, 600, and though aecessions Of force
we're received, it continued at about the same
strength until the end Of November, measles
and other disease keeping down the effective
force. The enemy's force was then reported
to the War Department $1,000, and an advance
was impossible.
Bliealng it to be Of the greatest moment 10 pro ect
tie campaign, as the dearth Of cotton might |
bring strength from abroad and discourage
self bJ new troops from Tennessee and other |
States, In,ag,tJied my forces to the enemy, but
made known my true strength to the Depart
ment and the Governors Of States. The aid
was very small. At length, when Gen. Beau
regard came out in February, he expressed his
surprise at the snallness of1ny force, and was
impressed with the danger Of my position. I
admitted what Vas so manifest, and laid before
him my views for the future, in which he en-
tIre1y concurred, and sent me memorandum
of our conference, q copy Of which send to
you determined to fight for Nashville at
bonelson, and have the best part of my army
to do it, retaining only "A ,00Q men to cover
my front, and giving 10000 to defend Don
elson.
The force at Donelson is stated in General
Pillows report at much less, and do not
doubt the correctness Of his statement, for the
force at Bowling Green, which supposed to
be Il 600 effective men, (the medical report
showing only little over 500 sick in the hos
pital, was diminished more than ooo by those
who were unable to stand the tatigue OF o
march, and made my force on reaching Nash
vile less than 10000 men. 1inclose Medical
Directors report.
Had wholly uncovered my front to defend
| Donelson, Buell wonld have known it, and
| marched directly On Nashville. There we're
/! only ten small steamers in the Cumberland, in
| imperfect condition-only three of which were
| available at Nashville, while the transportation
| Of the enemy WAS great.
The evacuation of Bowling Green was i'm
perah7ely necessary, and was ordered before,
ind executed while the battle was being fought
| at Donc1son. had made every disposition
| for the defence OF the fort my means allowed,
| and the troops were among the best Of my
| force The Generals, Floyd, Pillow and Buck-
mcn tor skill aud courage, and among the best
officers ofmy command. They we're popular
with the volunteers, and all bad seen much
service. No reinforcements were asked: l
awaited the event opposite Nashville Tue
result of the conflict each day was favorable.
At midnight, on the 18th, received news OF a
glorious victory; at dawn, of q retreat.
My column, during the day and night, was
thrown over tile riyer-{a battery bad been es.
tablished below the city TO secure the passage,
Nashville Was incapable of defence from its
position, and from the forces advancing from
Bowling Green and up the Cumberland. 4
| rear guard was left under Gen. Floyd to securf
| the stores and provisions; but did not com
p1ete1y effect the object. The people were ter
1i6ed, and some Of the troops were disheart
ened. TIE discouragement was spreading
| andI ordered the command to Murfree sborc
where managed, by assembling Crittenden'
| division and tie tugitiVes from Donelson, t,
| collect an army able to offer battle. Til
| weather Tas the most inclement, the flood
excessive, and the bridges we're washed away
but most Of the stores and provisions #er
saved and conveyed to new depots.
This having been accomplished, though Wit
t serious loss in conformity with my origins
! design. marched sout1Ward and crossed til
Tennessee at this point, SO as to cooperate Q
unite with Gen. Beauregard, for the defence {
almost completed, aud the head Of my colum
= is already with Gen. Bragg at Corin1h- Th
movement Was deemed too hazardous BY th
Most experienced members Of my staff, bt
the object warranted the risk The difficult
OF eHecting junction is not wholly ore
ter tomorrow, unless the enemy intercep
me, my force viii be with Bragg, and my a
my nearly - thousand strong. This mn
be destroyed before the enemy can attain b
object
have given this sketch, so that you may a
praclate the embarrassment which surroundt
nc in my attempts to aTert or remedy the di
aster Of Fort Donelson, before a11uding to Il
conduct Of the Generals.
. When the force was detached. I WAS In hop
i that such disposition would have been ma
IS would have enabled the forces to defend Il
fort, or withdraw without sacridcing the arm
On the 14th, / ordered Gen. Floyd by tel
graph, IT he lost the fort to get bis troops
Nashville" 1t is possible this might ha
> been done, but justice requires us to look
alone by the light Of subsequent lnformatio
All the facts ID relation to the surrender u
be transmitted to the Secretary Of War,
soon Us they can be collected, in obedience
= his order. It appears from the information
ceiycd, that Gen. Buckner, being the jun;
officer, took the lead in adyising the surrend
and that Gen. Lloyd acquiesced, and they
concurred In the belief that their force col
not maintain its position-all concnrred Il
it would require great sacrifice Of life to
trjcate the command.
H. Subsequent events show that the Inye
- mcnt vas not so complete as their inforl
~ | ton from their scouts led them to belle
ii The conference resulted IN the surrend
The command was irfegularly transferred, {
deYolyed upon the junior General, but not
parently to ayoid any just responsibility
from my want Of personal or moral intref
ity. The blow was most disastrous, and
most without remedy. I, therefore, in
first report, remained silent This sle
you were Kind enough to attribute to my g
q erosity. will not Lay claim to the motive
II excuse NV course / observed silence, q
seemed the best way to serve the cause
the country. The facts were not fully kno
discomfort prevailed, and criticism or cond
nation was more likely to augment thai
cure the evil. refrained, well kno wing
Il heayy censure would fall upon me, but {
FL vinced that it was better to endure them
the present, aud defer to more propitl
! time the Investigation Of the conduct Of
Generals, for, In the meantime, their ser7
were required and their influence usefA.
these reasons, Generals Floyd and Pillow :
eo' assigned to duty, for still felt confdenc
1hefr gallantry, their energy, and their
ton to the Confederacy.,
nm I haye thus recnrred to the motives
IN which have been governed, from deep
soDa1 sense of the friendship and con6d
you have always shown me, and from the
yic,iou that they have not been Withdl
from me in adversely. -,
p All the reports requisite for full oticlE
yestigation have been ordered: Gems.
and Pillow have been suspended from
Here followed some illusions not nece
II to m understanding Of the main objects o
letter, and statement Of the disposition
cessary to publish The letter closes 3
II hare troubled you with these details,
. pus cannot properly communicate them by
ANn The test Of merit, in my impres
10 m with the people, Is sseeess t Is hard
but think itrtght- II NIjoin this corps
z, forces Of Gen. Beauregard, 4 confess b.
GUS experiment,) then those who axc no
IN clsiming against me will be without an
.ksS, ment. Your friend, AS. JoHNs7
In The course Of his remarks, MIR. BArs
said:
"Ihold in my hand an unofficial letter,
4sn | ably the LAST written BY the lamented de-
0N, ! to the Chief Executive Of the Conaedefa
OS@ whom he had long been united bJ the
friendship, and with whom he had eniie
an earIy day under the flag Of q govern
/ NC which, together, they abandoned when
AM0s came the symbol OF q mousaous aesp
These facts tziunphantly vindtcate his
true patriot, aud an able and ekl1ful N
= leader. This letter, written under mo
}sy ing circumstances, shows that no trace
| sion was visible in the awful severity
.-54 pure. hrage aud undaupted spirit In n
originated. It is 8 simple recital Of
iusfIfcation- Of his sections, before viii
calumnies Of the ignorant OF the wick
o,o1t fee lke mist before the brow Of day:
left noble example Of rnagnanimtty
midst Of unjust complaint. and Of conrs
-. |.fortitude amid disaster. Els fame Rises
er from the severe ordeal through vi
: has passed, and his name Will live grs
fresh forever in the hearts Of CRATER