The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-09-29
VOLUME XLVI.
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS.
NOTES OF PAST AND CURRENT EVENTS.
By J. L. POWER.
Battle of Fort Donelson.

BY ]. L. POWER.
H.AunNAN;AS1A.O .OAO'AN7

Rattle of Fort Donelsou.
One of the most interesting reports in
solume of the "Ofiicial Records of the
Union and Confederate Armies" is No.
20 by Major William N. Brown, Twen-
tieth Mississippi Infanty, relating to
,be battle of Fort Donelson. The
temptation to copy the entire report is
almost irresistible, for it would be
specially appreciated by the survivors
NJ that memorable event; but one must
he content with the following extract.
srbe report, which includes this extract,
was written at Richmand, March 10,
1862.
In this connection it may be stated
that the ITO volumes Of the War of
Rebellion Records include all the re-
ports made to and by the Confederate
Government. It is quite probable that
the Mississippi Historical Commission
will provide for having copies made of
all reports of battles in which Missis-
sippians were engaged, and to individ-
nal Mississippians therein mentioned.
A simple index to these events and
names will fill one hundred or more
pages of legal cap:
In obedience to my instructions to fur
nish the department whatever information
Imay have Of the battle Of Donelson, l
hereby append an unofficial statement,
which have in my possession, made by W..
E. Baldwin, captain of infantry Confed-
crate States Army, colonel Fourteenth
Mississippi Volunteers, commanding Second
Brigade, Second Division (Gen. Buckners)
Central Army Of kentucky, from October
30, 1851:
FoRr WARREN, Mass, March 10, 1862
IT, n,v an antic;nated omission in the
800 h;storv of our country IL NAV not he
.'.- ~. e. stata that this brioada.
aan,,nsad :, the following regiments.
Tnnr.a.a.h o M;ss;ss;nni commanded nv
~. w r noss. Twantv.s;xtb Tapnessee
oor,r,.rdad hv Col ]. M Iillard: Twenty.
-, M;ss;ss;,,,; commanded hv Co, A
pa~aa,ds .nd Eorty-ar,t Tennasse. com.
s.s -, r., D E.rorharson was fem.
.nr.r;I,, d,v;aad In the line around Fort
pnn.,so, ,ha Fourtaantb Miss;ssinni and
~. a.. r.nr.ssa. ha;ng nostad ON
80 -,,ht WING undsr Cen Rnckper,s i'm.
It,. sursrv;s;or Tba Twontv-sixtb
IT,, .ss.s INA the Twentv-sixtb Mississippj
-, .-,,..od ,,5.- nv ovn command on
- .rtr.r,a Jaft Tbasa reo;msnts with
~. T,rs,,.,a.h M;ss;ss;nni Mator W NJ
provr which vas added 70 the command
.ons,;,rtaa ,hs ADVANCE In onr attach ON
tSar;rht !, ~. sn.mv At a O'CLOCK on tbs
.o-,,;ru :, r.h-r.rv 1stb Tbev all he
baved With Great yaiantrv in a six-hou-,,
combat which resulted in n total defeat Of
the enemy,s right, whereby a way wa,
opened for the retreat of the army. The
.onnortunitv not having been seized, and
the enemy. $1,000 strong, having com
n,steIv enveloned our little force. number
ing before the losses occasioned by fouI
days constant engagement, but $4,000 Off
GERS and men, the senior generals, Floyd ant
Pillow, relinquished the command to Gen
Buckner and made their escape, the forme
taking with him some 1,500 troops of hi
immediate command only leaving MaJo
Brown with the twentieth mississippi
who, like veterans, were silently AM
steadily, though sullenly, guarding the EN-
barkation OF troops while their chief wa
seeking safety.
The command was Internationally sur
rendered on the morning OF February lot
by Gen. Buckner, who shared the fate o
his command. 1t Is unbecoming In soldier
to criticise the conduct OF superiors, ou
when, after rejecting the counsels Q
juniors, the condition OF affairs is place
trieve, the seniors endeavored to escap
responsibility BY throwing the same upo
the former. Comment is unnecessary.
After surrendering the force was take
on transports, the rank and nie separate
from tne omcers' Most Oh tne oincers wel
ovnnnea IN lump onsSe' nsar oo'''n'u
'o'
on Marcn 4'n' 'ne ns,a olncsrs. my
nvr, ..,n wure prousns lIoa .nas p"o. -.
49, o .;.;, Ter .;sao ,hs .;n
when wa c.n sgsin str,ra for our bom,
and our countr1,s indensndsnce
1,m.vno. !. ;,nr,r.r ,or M. h.r.
state that sbould an Advancement be esta
lisbed with tho Fadaral oovsrnment for n