The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-23

then was reported to The War Department
30, 900, and an advance was imnoss'hle
Believing it to be of the grea,es, moment
70 protract the campaign as the dearth of
cotton might bring strength from abroad and
discourage the North, and 10 rain time 70
strengthen myself by new troops from Ten.
nessee aud other States, | magni6ed M Far.
ces to the enemy, but made known nv true
strength TO the department and the Goyernors
Of States. The aid given was small. At
length, when General Beauregard came out
IN February. ne expressed his surprise at the
smallness Of my force, and was impressed
with the danger Of my position. admitted
what was SO manifest, and laid before him nv
views for the future, in which ne entirely
concurred. and sent me memorandum Of
our conference, a copy of which / send to
you. determined to fight for Nashville at
Donelson, and gave the best part Of my army
to do It, retaining only fourteen thousand
men to cover my front, and giving sixteen
thousand to defend Donelson.
The force at Donels0n 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 suppos-
ed TO be fourteen thousand effective men,
the medical report showing only little
over five hundred sick in the hospital was
diminished more than five thousand BY those
who were unable to stand the fatigue of a
march, and made my force on reaching Nash
vile less than ten thousand men. enclose
the Medical Directors report.
Had | wholly uncovered my front TO de-
fend Donelson. Buell. would have known il,
and marched directly on Nashville. There
were only ten small steamers in the Cum
berland in imperfect condition-only three
of which we're available al Nashville. while
the transportation Of the enemy was great.
The evacuation Of Bowling Green was i'm
peratively necessary, and was ordered before,
and executed while the battle was being
taught at Donelson. had made every dis
position for the defence of the fort my means
allowed and the troops were among the best
OF my force. The Generals-Floyd, Pillow
and Buckner-were high in the opinion OF
officers and men for skill and courage. and
among the best officers of my command.
all had seen much service. No fefhftrSrs@- rS@
ments were asked. | awaited the event op-
posiie Nashville. The result of the conflict
each day was favorable. At midnight on the
18th received news ofa glorious victory
al dawn oil defeat.
Nv column during the day and night was
thrown over the riyer--(a battery had been
established below the city to secure the pas
sage.l Nashville was incapable Of defence
from It's position.- and from the forces ad-
yancing from Bowling Green and up the
Cumberland. A rear guard was left under
General Floyd TO secure the stores and pro-
visions, but did not completely effect the
object. The people were terrified, and some
oi the troops were disheartened. The dis.
couragement was spreading, and | ordered
the command TO MurfreesborOugh, where
managed, by assembling Crittenden's division
and the fugitlves from Donelson, 70 collect
an army able to offer battle. The weather
was inclement, The floods excessive, aId tne
bridges we're washed away. but most o. the
stores and provisions we're saved and con-
lyeyed 10 new depots. This having beenac-
complished, though with serious loss, in con-
formity with my original design ! marched
southward and crossed the Tennessee al ials
point, so as to cooperate or unite Win yen:
Beauregard, for the defence Of ihe valley %
the Mississippi. The passage Is almost com.
pleted, aud the head of my column i alrraay
with General Bragg at Corinth. Tue move.
ment was deemed too hazardous by the inost
experienced members Of ny siaf' 9st ,ae
object warranted the risk. lhe 9i'isu,y
Of efitetiug junction is not Wholly who'll M. ~,
come, but it approaches complexion. a,...a;. pas
after ,o.murrow, unless the enemy ln'ereeP.s
me. nv force will be with BrSgg anu w z%:. a..
NV uS' nearly n, I - thousand strong. .l aais
n,asi m Be- destroyed 5giors fa' enemy can GnGm
~ have have ri,en nj. sketch, 50 that you may
appreciate 6, tne !" q. attempting to avert Or
rounus" ' .s NY d,.s.ier, ~ at Fort Donelson. be.
rem remedy sdsr iRs !" he conduct q !he generals
'O'v ws"e ,5s force was detached was ~
~. VIII ,%,, such disposition would have been
n"pI. lI. - @ would have enabled the Iorces 70
ls, naae :, ~ iori, Of withdraw without saeri,
se;an se;s"' ny army. On the 18th l ordered
nass,i ne,ng FLOYD, by telegraph, il he lost the
uens, = get his troops 10 Nashville" Il
n..iSIe 80 n this might have been done. but JUS.
r.. rsau,res 10 lnok al events As they ap.
NV -. ,,rna and NOT alone by the llgnt