The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-02-27
Unconditional Surrender" I"

lhIS phrase mas como 10 nave
special, and in the popular mind
almost exclusive connection with
the name "fGen. Grant. who il
known as sold Unconditional Sur
render" bnt tue circumstances Of
its crigin are not so generally
known, 1t came about as follows:
In tho Spring of 1862, Gen
Grant was charged with the com
mand Of the forces TO open to us
the navigation of tho Cumberland
and Tennessee rivers. and after a
short siege. captured 1t. Henry.
which, with its stores, fell into his
hands. The next obstacle to his
progress was FIT Donelson, which
was Immediately invested, and
thus held for some days amid a
severe bombardment. The rebel
forces vainly strove TO cut their
way through Grants forces, and
Gen. FLOYD, with n small mum ber
OF his officers and soldiers did sue
coed in slipping off on board a
steamboat, leaving the command
of Donelson in the hands Of Buck
ner, who the ncxt day opened cor.
respondence with Gen. Grant with
u view TO terms of capitulation.
], was in The following lersc and
concise reply Of Grant, that the
expressions occurred, which at the
time so thrilled the hearts of loyal
mon everywhere, and throughout
the war were chanted in song. re,
peated by the press and echoed
from all quarters, and which are
destined 10 become still more gen.
erdlI y the index to popular senti.
ment in connection with their dis.
tinguished and heroic author Gen.
Grant wrote to Buckner as follows:
"Sir; Yours of this date, propos.
ing an armistice. and tao appoint
ment Of Commissioners to settle
on tho terms Of capiiuIalion, is
just received. No TERMS ExcErT
UNCONDITIONAL AND IMMEDTATE
SURRENDER CAN BE AccEPFEn.
PROPOSE TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY oY
YoUR WORKS.
| am respectfully, yOur obedien!
scrv't. .. s. GRANT"
To this the rebel commander re.
piled as follows:
"Sir: The distribution Of tho for.
ces under my command, incident
to an unexpected change OF com,
manders, and the overwhelming
force under your command compel
me, notwithstanding the brilliant
success of the Confederate arms, to
accept the un6 enerous and unchiv.
alrOus terms which you propose.
lam, Sir, your servant,
S. B. BrcKSER."
Tho result was the "uncondi,
tional surrender" of TT. DoRelsor
with nearly $4,000 prisoners, 4C
pieces of artillery and large quad
titles of military stores. constitut.
ing by far the most brilliant vic
tory thus far gained by the Union
forces. That was really Gen,
Grants introduction to tho Amer.
ican people. They had before
heard of a Western Brigadier Gen
cral by the namo of Grant, but
could hardly distinguish him from
the large number of other officers
of that rank, whom a sudden cmer
gency mad placed in command
and for whose names search must
alone be made on tho records oI
the War Department. From that
day his name and famo grew in
the affections and hopes OF the ma
ton, until crowned with the glory
Of final success in the capitulatior
of Lee, in Afril, '65. He never dc
manded the Surrender of a reb
OIL force, who did not obey the or
der; nor did he mako conditions
for their capitalization that wore no
the suggestion of generous and
chivalrous spirit toward helpless
foe, and in this latter feature o
his record do we find even more
to command for him the love o
his fellowmen, than in the more
brilliant display of his military
skill and heroism. Forthe de6an
toc,:he has no terms but "uncondi
tional surrender" while for th'
conquered, he has forbearance ant
generosity. This was repeatedly
illustrated in his military career
as it has since been in hiscivil ad
.ministration. In neither do WI
Snd traces Of bitterness or passion
--only frmness in the pursuit o