The National tribune., 1883-11-08
FORT DONELSON
fCbntinned from LIST paqe. |


taincy by vainly endeayoring to extract it un
der point blank range of the fire from the gum
boats. Major Gilmer closes his report with the
statement that "our batteries were uninjured
and not man in them killed. The repulse of
the gunboats closed the operations of the day,
except few scattering shots along the land
defenses" Gen. Pillow had telegraphed to Gen.
Johnston on the evening of the 18th, have
the utmost confidence of success" and later,
The men are In fine spirits" Floyd was less
confident; he said in dispatch TO Johnston,
We viii endeayor TO hold our position If we
are capable of doing so {" who. in reply, tele-
graphed Floyd, If you lose the fort bring
your troops to Nashville, if possible" Grant
wrote on the I4th TO General Cullum, at Cairo;
appearances indicate now that we will have
protracted siege here. The ground is very
broken and the fallen timber extending far out
from the breastworks. L fear the result of an
attempt TO carry the place by storm with new
troops. / feel great confidence, however, of
ultimately reducing the place High water
has prevented extending my right TO the
river''
BUcKNER's PLAN FOR ESCAPE.
The loss of the feet involved the necessity
of change of all his plans for the reduction of
the fort. Although his force was increased by
the arrival of Wallace's division, enabling him
TO reach out toward the river on his right and
confidence IN the success of the attempt to
order charge upon the enemy's works The
Confederate Generals Floyd and Pillow doubt
less believed the place invested by an over
whelming force. Instead of the modest array
of thirty-one regiments, which Grant had in
their front, Pillow insisted that there were not
less than ffty-two, while Floyd dweit upon the
immense resources of the enemy. claiming that
Grant was = a land force drawn from an army
of 100000 men, ali SO stationed as to be easily
concentrated upon the banks OF the Cumber
land within week, and that, without gar
rison of $4,000 men, supported by $4,000 more
at GAINESVILLE and Nashville, Donelson was I'M
tenable." While his superiors were thus tax
ing counsel of their fears, Buciacr was quietly
forming plan for the defeat OF his antagonist.
This involved nothing less than sortie to be
made by Pillow against McClernand's right,
which being followed up would roll it back
upon Smith, when he would strike it and cover
the retreat of the Confederate army. The
movement was TO take place on the l4th, be-
fore the arrival of the ACCOMPLISHMENTS but
Pillows heart failed him in the moment Of at
tack, and, after leading his troops out and form
ing them for an assault, withdrew them early
in the afternoon, the plea that it was too late
IN day to make the attempt, Floyd concur
ringin the opinion If the design were TO eYac-
uate the fort, for which they had the authority
of Johnston. and to fail back upon Nashville,
one would suppose that tie retreat could best
be accomplished and pursuit more easily
checked under cover Of night A good line of
retreat lay by the NyBn's Ferry read, which
led 10 Charlotte through a good country TO the
region about Nashville. This road WIS occu-
pied by 4IcClernands right wing, and Buckner
believed that the hrst use that Grant would
( make OF his endorsements would be TO effect
ually close tbs avenue OF escape Ii was quite
apparent that the extension Of Grants right
sy,+Kftl aff
4 travel and communication with GAINESVILLE
and the river towns south, while the way was
! open on the north for any number of troops TO
! be sent TO complete the Union line Of invest
ment. Obviously, the piau that would strike
bold and skilfal commander was the one
suggested by BuGkner, and Floyd, hose mill
/ taTy education had been devoted principally 10
maturing plans OF escape FROM traps set for him
/ in the mountains OF Vest Virginia, would
/ doubtless have embraced il but for the inter
/ ference of Pillow. There was one c0nsidera-
ton that was sufficient 10 prevent f;r.lut from
4 weakening his center which covered the road
/ TO Fort Henry, in order 10 heavily re-enforee
4 his right wing. and that was the danger Of
losing Fort Henry. In oboiieRce TO orders
/ from Halleck he had turned the heavy artil-
/ lery there inland aud erected delenses against
a land attack. bat had been obliged 10 with
draw most OF the garrison and so it came about
1 that when Lew Wallace came upon The fed
1 his division was formed in such position as 10
occupy this road. and il ne. essssry, To fall back
/ TO the support of the abandoned fort. His
! orders were to prevent the escape Of the Con-
I fedeiates by that rOasl. but circumstances might
arise in which the cscatc would require to
I BE- effected by the lsnts instead Of the
assaiied. Once inside IL Fort Henry, q small
4 force could Ea main Itself against large odds
( The heavy guns swept the country Tor many
( hundred yards beyond the range OF the horse
4 =
disabled and For Henry again in possession
/ Of the Confederate army. menths might eiapse
! before il could be Tesa4leB Ordinary prudence,
/ Therefore, required tnai important was the
reinforcement Of Mci lcrnaDd, Il could not be
done at the risk % placing the center of the
I line IN ieoH2riv be line Vi Investment was
( completed on the iest by the division under
command OF the ahiest Of Grants generals, c.
T. Smith. lie con.d be relied upou 20 obey
orders without question, M matter where the
orders led bDn ID good officer 10 have in a
I critical juBeture. a. the event proved. This
col1mn WAS intended both for defense and as
4 sault. as circumstance might arise. and was
considered eqgal 10 any emergency, although
i had been thrice Tepnlsed 10 an assault on
the 18th. There was nc place within the
enemy's intreuchn.enFs that could not be
reached by Grants artillery, and ammunition
was used without stsnt. General traut had
1 given orders 20 his ordnance officer 20 keep
close watch upon the supply, aua under no
circumstances ~ allow il 10 fseeoIne exhausted.
Another night 81 suffering fell upon the ex-
hausted troops. Inrermingled STOW and rain
beat mereilessIy upgn she men % both armies.
They bad iett tbeir tents ben la, and tae scanty
rations brought in hAvcrsacls5 from Fort Henry
were well nigh exhausted, But all through
the night fatigue parties toiicd ipeessantly
upon eaTtbworls on the crest If ridge on
McClernands right, commanding the WINS
Ferry road, whore al earthwsrk was erected
for the protection 81 battery. General Lew
Wallace posted MS piekeis well 10 the front 10
enable his men 10 build fires behind the ridge
upon which his line was formed. General
smiths position, being close under Buckner's
guns preciuded the building Of fires. 4ul the
men shivered through the long night, unpro-
tected by either tents az i.ankets.
.y.-..ss