The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-10-15
ECHOES OF THE PAST.
Confined from Fourth Page.)

eighty-five men and coming out
with seven.
After dark the enemy again ex-
tended their lines to the river above
us. Their strength was estimated at
$4,000, ours at 1900. They We're
constantly receiving reinforcements.
AT night a council of war was held
by Generals Pillow, Floyd, Buckner,
BushrOd Johnson and the command
ers of some regiments. The COM
mand was handed over to Buckner,
who determined on a surrender.
Feb. l6, 1862. We had received
orders to cook three days rations by
three o'clock. By four the whole
force of the garrison was moving to-
wards Dover. The column was
halted in the rear of Dover where
the solid mass of infantry and caval-
Try stood exposed to the piercing cold
wind, upon the icy snow, expecting
every minute to be moved upon the
enemy to cut our way out and re-
treat. No agreement was concluded
with the enemy; at all events we
were in entire ignorance of any
negotiations for surrender. Men
had been detailed to bring from the
hospital those who were able to trav-
ell. Part Of our clothing was thrown
away so as not to be in our way.
Well supplied with ammunition, we
waited with patience the forward
march" until about sunup, when the
order came to right about and march
to Dover.
In the meantime Col. Forrest and
Generals Pillow and Floyd set about
to see how they might escape. They
succeeded in doing so, Forrest and
his men by going up the river with
out being seriously opposed. Pill
low, with his staff and horses, en-
barked on the boat which carried
the wounded to Nashville. Floyd,
with the greater part of his brigade,
employed a boat until eight o'clock
in taking them off, when word was
sent to the wharf that longer
delay would endanger the
boat and all on board. Word was
given to shove the boat out, when a
rush was made from the crowded
wharf by men in mud and water up
to their knees. They were repelle d
by three or four officers at the bow
of the boat, cutting them with their
swords. Six or eight followed the
boat up to their arms in water, some
succeeding in getting aboard while
others were showed off to keep the
boat from sinking.
Many of the soldiers escaped
across the river, some on logs dashed
together, some by swimming their
horses across, some in skitf. Some
escaped through the lines of the
enemy. In all nearly four thous and
escaped.
The soldiers pitched into the bar
rels of whiskey and boxes of cloth
ing which had been sent there fol
the army. Muskets, pistols and
swords were broken up and thrown
into the river and scattered around
in confusion by the enraged soldiers
who felt that an outrage had been
committed in surrendering them.
We stood around all day in muC
shoe mouth deep. guarded by the
enemy. Several Of them were sho
by carelessly handling our guns
which were loaded. Several of Oul
men were shot. Our trunks Were
broken open and pIlfered.
Col. Sweeney made use of the eX
preston in Gen. Buckner's quarter
that the Federal government in
tended to crush out the rebellion |
it had to kill every man, woman ant
child in the Southern States. Thu
General, a disarmed prisoner
Indignantly replied that he wa
monster and a brute, and tina
there was the door, take it.
} An irOnclad gunboat steamed u
the river and lay off the town t
guard the river The transport
} steamed up and landed. From dar
until ten o'clock they were engaged
in embarking the prisoners. Bein
cut off from my regiment in com
pany with Lieut.. |. j. Hewlett, 70
Nashville ana Sergeants Richard
t son Stipes, l was put on board tn
Dr.. Neptune with the 3rd Tenn. 1 slep
4. in the hold Of the boat with all m
g clothes on and with my pistols an
sword buckled around me, as / ha
= done for week previous. l slep
l.. soundly; was permitted to come GU
5 of the sinking hold by eight O'Clock
l We received some crackers aud RAJ
t meat to make our breakfast upor
! Such diet we were fed until som
! time after we reached our respectiv
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