The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-24

4 it was made to appear what was the object of
J the expediton-to demonstrate upon Folks
works and prevent him reinforcing some troops
against whom Pope'was operating in Missouri.
The brilliant engagements ending with the
capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, of which
8 Grant was the directing genius, occurred IN the
4 February following, having been set on foot
& some weeks earlier. The easily-won victory OF
Fort Henry was followed by the capture of Fort
Donelson, won at the end of two days hard
fighting Fort Donelson was defended by Gen
4 erals Floyd and Pillow, with force of 5000 to
y 900 men and very heavy armament Of colum-
Z biads and field pieces. The work was very
strong one, every way worthy to defend the most
! important strategic point in the West A
z terrific fight was made by the confederates
8 on the 18th, but during that night, it having be-
& come apparent that Grants energy was certain
4 to compel capituation, Floyd and Pillow, &C
companied by regiment two, fled, leaving
3 the place to be surrendered by General Buck
z ner, next in command. On the morning of the
& 10th Buckner sent letter to Grant relative to
8 surrendering to him. and asking an armistice
{ until II o'clock. 1t was on this occasion that
{ General Grant wrote his first famous letter, as
3 follows:
4 ITO Gen. S. B. Buckner, Confederate Army:
9 Yours of this date, proposing al armistice
3 and appointment Of commissioners to settle
b terms of capituation is just received No terms
other than an unconditional and immediate sur
8 render can be accepted. l propose to move i'm
3 mediately upon your works
a Il am sir, very respectfully, your obedlent
! servant, q. 5. GRANT.
} BRIG gen. u S. A Commanding"
3 The style exhibited in the communication
to General Buckner fairly exemplifes Grants
style of correspondence in similar exigencies
I throughout the war He was always laconic, but
y never affectedly so. He always embraced all the
: essential points at issue, but never expanded
s upon them.
. The victory at Donelson was dearly bought,
7 though not less SO than could have been expected
{; from the exceeding strength of the works to be
8 taken and the courage with which the confeder-
s ate troops fought. OF the Union forces 446 were
E killed, 1,735 wounded and $50 made prisoners
s while the rebels lost in killed 23l, in wounded
i 1,007 and in prisoners nearly $4,000, a few hav
{ ing escaped with Floyd and Pillow.
6 The capture Of Fort Donelson with all its de-
!, tenders. except Gen. Floyds brigade, the
& first brilliant and substantial victory that had
4 crowned the federal arms. To the gratifca-
& popular admiration of the te1se and soldierly
i declaration in which the surrender had been
4 demanded; and the hero Of the affair spraug at
y once into national celebrity. He was immedi
3 ately commissioned majorg general of volun-
:. teers, to date from Feb. Is
8 Gen. c. f. Smith had been directed by Gen.
S Halleck to make an expedition up the Tennessee
3 with about 40 900 men; but he died after it
& started, and the command devolyed upon Gen.
s Grant a large portion of the force, after lying
three weeks at Pttsburs landing. in preparation
& for an attack on Corinth, was attacked at day
< break Of April by an overwhelming conteder
s. ate force under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston,
Il and driven from its camp with heavy loss.
{ Gen. Grant arrived the field of battle at 8 A.
3 NJ. and reformed the lines. Heavy reinforce
: ments under Gen. Buell., having arrived during
= the night, the battle was resumed on the 9TH,
g and the enemy, defeated withdrew to Corinth,
!. the commanding confederate General having
J lost his life Gen Grant was slightly wounded.
: Gen. Haeck, arriving at the front two
or three days afterward, began siege
y operations against Corinth; but the
confederates evacuated the place the last days
!. of May Halleck was called to Washington on
July IL, and Grant became commander of the
: Department of West Tennessee, with head
& quarters at Corinth.
q On Sept. II Grant ordered an advance from
& Cornth, to stop the progress of the confederate
g General Price, who had large force concen-
9 trated at 1uka. battle fought at the place
4 Sept. 10, and complete victory gained.
AS General Braggs forces were pushing to-
& ward the Ohio river Grant now removed his
headquarters to Jackson, Tenn. The confeder-
Y ates under Price and Van Dorm, 40, 600 strong
attacked his position at Corinth, which was held
by Rosecrans with about $1,000 Oct and A.,
After desperate fight, the assailants were re-
Z pulsed with heavy loss, and pursued beyond the
( Hatchie river. Buell. moved out to intercept
Bragg, and defeated him at Perryvil!e Oct. s,
whereupon he retreated to East Tennessee.
q On the 10th of October General Grants de-
Z partment was extended by the addition of a
portion of Mississippi, far Vicksburg, and
desig grated as the department of the Tennessee.
6 After unsuccessful movements against Nicks-
burg 1.-The Gibraltar of the Mississippi" from
the north. Grant moved his army down the west
bank of the river. crossed to the east side at a
point below the city on the last day of April
1868 defeated the enemy in the actions of Ray
mond, jackson, Champions HILL and Big Black
preventing Gen. J. E. Johnston from joining
q Pemberton at Vicksburg, and laid siege to that
6 place May Is. The city surrendered, with about
3 81 600 prisoners, on July 4, 1868 Thereupon
Grant was promoted to the rank of ma ior gener-
& al in the regular army.
In October he was placed in command Of the
military division of the Mississippi, comprising
\ the departments commanded by Sherman, Thorn
u as Burnside and Hooker Immediately after the
capture of Vicksburg he had sent heavy rein
s forcements to General Sherman on the Big Black
@river, who was thereby enabled to drive the con-
federate force under Johnston out of Jackson
q Grant then concentrated his forces for the de-
s Tense of Chattanooga. which was threatened by
Bragg and the latters positions on Missionary
Ridge and Lookout mountain were carried by
gassault on Nov. "A and %. Braeg's forces re-
treated to Dalton, Ga, being followed as far as
Ringcold. The pursuing columns were then
sent to the relief of Knoxville, which. held by
D Burnside, was closely invested by Longstreet.
q The first measure passed in the congressional
session of 1663-'64, was resolution providing
that gold medal be struck for General Grant,
& and returning thanks to him and his army. A
bill reviving the grade of lieutenant general in
3 the army was passed by Congress, and on March
III, 1864, received the signature of Presi-
Z dent Lincoln, who at once nominated
& General Grant for the position. The
4 Senate confirmed the nomination on the follow
B ing day Grant arrived in Washington on March
Z g. received his commission at the hands of the
q President, and on the 18th issued his first gen
z eral order. dated at Nashville assuming com
G IL. IL -