The times., 1898-08-09
A STRANGE SURRENDER.
The Advice of the Enemy lis Asked
md Followed

nha rcIfOWed.
One of the strangest events recalled by
the surrender of Santiago Is the capituBa-
ton of a Union force at MunnfordyilIe
KY, in the early days OF the civil war
Being called upon TO surrender bv Gen.
Buckner. the Federal commander. Col.
Wilder. made a singular appeal TO the
Confederate officer He said. in effect:
You are military man: West Point
graduate. and a gentleman. / appeal 20
you as human and honorable soul. for
advice These troops under my command
are my neighOors and friends. I do not
want 70 sacrifice their lives useIess,y.
put at the same time 1 do not want to
TAN IN my duty to my flag Ycu know
the situation thoroughly and can tell me
Wnetner l should resist or surrender"
ueh- Buckner replied that he had never
known OF an officer being placed In such
circumstances by an enemy but he would
speak with strict honesty. .sYou have so
many men aud are in such a position.
My force greatly outnumbers yours and
my arrangements are such that resist
ance on your part would be vain. unless
there Is something TO be gained By aelay
II any movement OF other Federal troons
depends on your holding out for a few
hours, then you should not give up.
otherwise, in your place I should NOT
hght- Col. Wilder, who subsequently,
achieved prominence as an able soldier.
took the advice Of his enemy. and offered
no resistance In a letter TO the Louis
vile Courier Journal, J. Stoddard John
ston. who was on the staff OF the Con-
federate Gen. Bragg, says:
The terms OF surrender as signed BY
COL Wilder provided that the public prop
erty in his works should be turned oyer
10 a Confederate quartermaster; that the
garrison should march out in full equip
ment 10 a designated point and then
ground arms in the presence Of the COM
nfanding general and such portion of his
army as he should designate: the officers
TO retain their side arms and the COM
mand paroled and sent through the lines
southwark. Accordingly at O'Clock on
the morning of the 18th of September, be-
ing the anniversary of Col. Buckner's Oc-
cupatton OF Bowling Green, Col Wilder
with his little army OF 800. marched out
OF his works with cOlors flying 10 a point
one mile south. where the turnpike cross
eS the railroad cut near ROwlett's Sta
| ton. Gen Buckner had been designated
10 receive the sword OF Col Wilder, as il
was his native county. and the brigades
| Of Chalmers and Duncan 10 be present 10
| receive on behalf of the army the trO-
| phies of war. The troops were drawn up
| in line on either side OF the road facing IN
| wards Gen Bragg. with his stan and
| escort. mounted. composed the right of
the line, and in order of their rank as for
| review were the other generals, Polk.
| Hardee, Cheatham. Withers and Patton
Anderson. with their staffs and escorts.
| Gen. Buckner. with his staff. mounted.
| was in position in the road looking to-
wards Munfordville.
LAS Col Wilder az the head OF his
troops, apprC ached Gen Buckner advanced
| 10 meet him and returned Col. Wilder 5
salute, who then drew his sword. and,
with a few appropriate words. presented
its hilt 10 Gen Buckner. THE latter TAX
Ing it in his hand said: Il accept the sur
render with the stipulat ons already agreed
upon, and return your sword as an evi-
dence of the appreciation always shown
by my Government for valOr and human
ny" Col. Wilder receiving his sword.
then saIuted Gen. BuckneT, passed down
the road. followed by his troops. marching
now without music and a detected air be-
fitting the occasion. The head OF the
column having reached its designated posi-
ton halted and the prisoners. being in
TWO ranks. were faced outward. bringing
| them face to face TO the Confederate
| lines on either side the road Then upon
| order they grounded their arms at the
feet of the Confederates and resuming
position were marched 70 he rear, parOled
out and sent in direction Of Gen. Buell. 5
! army. then about twenty miles on
Thus ended a pageantry as unique as
| IL was novel. ending a stratesical move
/ which was IN itself a success. but in It's
! bearings upon the campaign was disas-
/ trous. If the time consumed by this
! diversion had been utilized by Bragg in
! effecting a junction with Gen Kirby
/ Smith or attacking Buell. il might have
changed the result. But all that is pas
! now as a nightmare new day is borr
| and with it only cheers for the heroes o.
i Manila and Santiago"