The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-02-25
FORT D0EELsOE,
Continued from ycsterlay)

&C., ,3s headquarters.
lhc general uionpreyailcd that the place
could moi be held against at least treble the
number Of oar forces besides thor gmboats,
and that ney could cut of communication al
ans timo and force surrcndori therefore ID
Us agreed to attack tho enemy's right wing
IN force atl o'clock in iae morning, and thon
70 act according to circumstances, either toI
continue the Ggbtor to cut through their lines
and rcheat towards Nashville
"Gon Bucl,ncr was to moyoa little aierans
attack tho enemy flank at tho moment he was
10 give way to our forces IN front was
directed to hold my position. Col. Bailey was
10 rcnan in the Fort (neur the river and
Heads regiment, was 10 occupy The vacated
nHemisof Gen. Bucknors command doubt
cd very much whether these positions, isolated
an they were from each other, could be held III
attacked, and stated my fears to Gen Floyd,
who replied If pressed to fall back on tho
Fort or act as circumstances would dictate.
Al the appointed hour on the 18th, the differ
ont brigades moved 10 their assigned positions.
bloody engagement onsued in which the
enemy w.ro driven lrojn their position On their
right with great loss Time will show that
more heroic courage, no more effective Gghdng
h3s been exhibited than that at Fort Doneson,
IN the whole war by any amy. After siS or
moro hours Of hard and continuous fighting
n.o enemy were driven down lhc river in the
direction Of their gunboals the pursuit was
discontinued and the forces ordered to return
40 their cntrmchmcnts This order was made
in tho frat ,nstguce 10y Pillow, because. as he
nta.gs e Was satisfied they vcre meeting
masses Of fresh troops of the enemy The
order was approved aud executed By tho d..
rect on of Con Floyd but before a portion of
tho troops on tho extreme right could reach
iheir entertainments. thc forces OF the enemy
occupied thca vigorous attempt by Gen.
Bucluor to diaodgc them failed, and night
closed the bloody struggle ol ,ho day, leaving
hc enemy in possession Of lhlt portion Of our
defensive works.
Some OF .he officers received the Impression
bat Che Confederate army were to osmmcnce
ihcrrenaal directly from the battle Held in
tho event tho lines Of tho cnemy were broker,
and that the whole army st that, time could
havo made ita escape. II is apparent there
wso Misunderstanding on that matter. We
nro not prepared 10 paso eonsuro on Gen.
Floyd for ordering o return Of tho troops To
the entertainments. Ho WIS the commanding
officer and was an1iously seeking the earliest
opportunity TO eject ls escape with the ar
my lie would have have commenced the ro.
treatin open day, almost in the presence OF tho
enemy, whose fresh troops were pressing for
ward to seize tho rife pits ON tho extreme
right, nearest the river. The ammunition in
possession OF tho forces may havo boen, and
probably was, exhausted, (scyerai officers make
this statsment) Tho retreat would have been
without adequate supply Of artillery, an much
oft, If not all, seems to have been left IN the
eltrenchments. IN continuous lght Of six
or oighthours, twas altogether probable that
the eolliers aseucumbered themselves Of
knsgoacks, barkois, provisions and everything
ca'cnhoa TO impair thoirpoweu eteudurance
aud effective sighting Il ID not improbable
that tho 1890 wounded men who were sent to
Nashville on tho steamers ia the evening after
the return Of tho troops to the eutrenchmcnts,
woilA have frozen and perished on tho battle
aed dfabandoooj Itia probable that por.
tiaus of Roiuan's briSata and otcrs loii TO
guard tho lines, would have been captured. as
il does no, appear FROM his conversation with
Gon. tloyd that he was ordered 10 hold him.
self II, readiness for retreat SO iaros we
can perceive tho commanding General may
have supposed that the retreat under such
circumstances might have ended in disband
ncnt and rout Of the army, and massacre oI o
considerable portion Oft We arcnot pre-
parod 10 cay what consequences might have
resulted from T. We shall not therefore IN.
dartake 10 ccnsuro and arraign tho command
Ing General and oil the suboullnoies who may
have approved this order and given their rc.
sooo.ivi orders undo, him, 70 return 70 The
enacashmlas 4 appears ll92 wounded
m.n. .ho sic, aud rriao0era wefe sea 10 NASH
rile as,oon D.. tcoull bo eicc'e prepArato'
ry 10 evacuation. Tho Quartormaser aud
Clmmhmry stores aue ogaered 10 DO bwa-
elat the proper tim, and thc whole army or
irroi 10 he under auma tomoyc ont on the
Charlotte Pike au'ler coy1soi daElnoss col.
Heimlus1tcs lh,t he wal ordtred 70 yacato
me rao piis witAoa, NE icos3 noise, md that
A.I ~. r,.nnn ,rnrn nhnrenlrnlnd NJ