Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-28

The SURRENDER OF FcRr DeSELsov.-Our sol
oilers went TO their cold rest Saturday night, con
hdent in their ability to whip the rebels the mex
day; but they expected to fight for it. Not ma
in the army, but expected with the coming day
light to snatch HE musket and re-enter the combat
There had been during the bloody day. one cir
cumstsnce, which TO many Of the thinking orrs
cast a shade Of gloon upon their spirits, Tn.
~gunbosts bad not renewed the bombardment W.,
wssh' We're they disabled, or were the rebe
batteries too much for them In either case Ian,
forces must fight aud conquer alone. Tbev IsiJ
down to sleep feeling that they could do it.
AT daylight Sunday morning, Com. Foote open.
"a gun upon the fort. Three or four fhots were
hred' but no response VAS heard. Then it was
reported a white flag was flying, and then that the
enemy had got away during the night A tug
started with a flag Of truce and ran up to the fort.
And the news came back that the rebels had sur
rendered Such was the fact. The rebel COM
manders, Pillow, Floyd, Buckner and Bushrod
johnson, had held a council Of war during the
night, at which it had been decided TO surrrDder
and no sOoner had this decision been arrived al
than Floyd, true TO his instincts, took bis brirsde
and ran away.
Pillow also "skedaddied." as did a por,iop If
Forests Kentucky cavalry brigade. Such was
Pillows haste TO depart "a rebel officer tells mel
that he knocked two men of the boat with bis
sword who were trying to go with him. Buckner
and Bushrod johnson remained and are now among
our prisoners.
The spectacle presented as our troops entered the
place, was one to which DO description can do JUS
tice: AS our feet of transports, preceded by the
~gunbOats, moved slowly up toward the fort. m.
rebel soldiers collected in groups and squads and
gs1ed upon them in apparent wonder.
Their appearance was grotetqus in the ex-
IRENE. Without uniformity in dress. few Of them
wore anything that could be called a uniform.
unless it were a white or striped blanket, worn
IN the Indian fashion, enveloping nearly the
whole peTeon- LARGO pumhara IS H. 49, |
Of blankets, wore large pieces of ~carpeting in the |
form of a blanket. These / learned were the sol |
dleTs who ran away from Fort Henry in sucb
extreme haste that they left their coats behind.
Such was the sympathy of the rebel leaders in
this region on account Of their coatless condition.
that, having previously given all their blankets,
they tore up their carpets and cut them into
Blankets for their soldiers. Such unselhsh de-
yotion 70 their cause challenges our admiration,
however much we may think the carpets ought to
be pat down.
have had large opportunities to-day for Oh
serving the Intercourse between our soldiers ami
those Of the rebels, and the results of such OBJ
are gratifying in the highest degree.
Our artillery upon entering the fort fired a sa-
Lure, our army did some cheering, and our band
tho star ~Spsngled banner, the Red-yhite-
a%nd-blue, an dsome other national airs. But. in a
whole days walk about the place, l witnessed
not a single instance Of insulting boastfulness.
or conduct that was calculated to wound the
personal feelings Of a fellow enemy. Indeed, il
was difficult TO realize that these men in various
'olored blankets and those in blue overcoats rrvs
enemies, or that these were prisoners and those
"a ptors, 80 considerably did they treat each
,ther.
Hello cried a cannonier belonging to Nc
A~llister's howitzer battery, to a rebel cannonier.
yhom be recognized by something in his apparel.
Hello! where was your battery stationed ~ !
he secesh stopped and pointed out the direction.
What ever there?' exclsimed Howitzer, "then
'ou must have been the fellows who were pop. A.,
ing at us SO like thunder yesterday. Did you sec ,
ny 2i-pound shells over your wAy?7 DWELL, 1 :
eckon we did, ard plenty Of EN-. Did you
brow them" And the Two caunoniers stopped
o discuss the relative merits of 6-pound shot and |
4-pound she'll. at is strange how we'll we like ,
man after we have fought with him."
Most Of the rebel officers with whom ! have ,
betray much bitterness of feeling-a :
isease which has grown chronic with certain '
mall politicians at the South. But l am con- l
inced that three fourths Of the Il, 600 men taken
risoners here, if they could get back to their
ONES, would not return to the service Of JEFF. S
avis & Co., if they could help it-C0r. Ctieago {
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