Year: 1862

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Inc general anxiety a,aoug the people to learn
He particulars of the fight at Fort Donelson, has
'eu oen fhiow to publish in advance Of his official
report Lengthy account Of this battle. We ere.r.t
that It's length and the crowded state Of our col
umns prevent its publication Most Of the particu.
iars' however, have already been given to the pub
nc. Inc following portion of his statement. how.
ever. will be highly interesting to all. History does
not perhaps, furnish an instance Of more deter.
mined courage and severe fighting than took place
on Saturday, the day before its surrender:


lhe operations of the day had forced the entire
command OF the enemy around to our right wing,
ana IN front OF Gen. Buckners position In the in.
'fehehments, and when bis command reached his
position ne found the enemy rapidly advancing to
take possession of this portion of his work. He
had stubborn conflict lastinaone and half hours to
regain IT. anu the enemy actually got possession of
the extreme right of his posi- ion, and held it so
hrlnly that he could not dislodge him. The position
thus gained 10y the enemy was most conmanGn.r
one, being immediately in the rear of our river bat
terry and field work for its protection. From it he
could readily tnrn the inrenched work occupied by
General Buckner and attack him in reverse or ad
vance under cover of an intervening ridge directly
upon our battery and field work. While he held
this position 1t was manifest We could not bold the
main work or battery. Such was the condition. OF
the armies at night fall after nine hours of conflict
on the 18th inst, in which our loss was severe AID
leaving not less than $3.50 Of the enemy dead and
wounded on the field. We left upon the field nearly
all MS wounded, because we could remove them
We left his dead unburied because We could mt
bury them. Such conflict and carnage has Derbsps
never before occurred upon this continent. We
TOOK about 800 prisoners and large number of
| arms. We had fought this battle to open the way
| iGr our army and relieve us from an investment,
which would necessarily reduce us and the position
by famine. We had occupied the whole day to ac-
cohpSh our object and befure we could prepare to
leave, alter taking up the wounded and the dead,
the eneNy had thrown around US again in the hight
an Immense force of fresh troops and re.occupied
his original position in the line of Investment thus
| again cutting off our Ietreat. Vie had only about
l2,OO0 troops all told OF these large proportion
| we mad lost III the three battles The command had
been II: the trenches night and day for five days,
exposed to tile SHOW, seet, mud and ice water with
out shelter, and without adequate covering and
! without sleep.


In this condition the general officers held con-
Sutat'cn TO determine what we should do Gen.
Buckncr gave it az his opinion that he could not
hold his position one half hour against assault
OF the enemy, and said the enemy would attack hin
| next morning at daylight. The proposition ther
Was made by the undersigned to again fight through
the enemy'S line and cut our way out Genera
! Duckner said his command Was SO worn out and cu
to pieces and aemoralizei, that he could not make
! another tight; that it would cost the command
| three quarters Of its present numbers to cut it,
way through, and it was wrong to sacrifice three
quarters OF Il command to save oneauarter; thai
| no officer had right to cause such u sacrifice
Cen Floyd and Maj. Giimer understood to concu,
in this opinion.


l then expressed the opinion that We could holt
out another day. and iii that time we could &c


steamboats, ana set tie command over the river, an,


probably save a large portion of it. 10 this Gen


buckner replied that the enemy would certanl


attack him at daylight and that he could not hol'


his position half hour. The alternative of tn


proposition was a surrender of their position an,


command. Gen Floyd said that he would neithe


surrender the command. nor would he surrende


himself a prisoner. had taken the same position


Gen. Bnckner said he was satisfied nothing els'
could be done, and that, therefore, he would sur
render, if placed in command. Gen. Floyd sale
that ne would turn the command to him if hi
could be allowed to withdraw his command; to thi


Zen. Buckner consented. Thereupon, Gen. Floy,


turned the command over to me, | passing it in


stantly to Gen Butkncr, saying would nei,he


surrender the command nor myself prisoner.


directed Col. Forest to cut his way out Unde


these circumstances Gen. Buckner accepted tn


command, and sent a fag Of truce to the enemy 70


an armistice of six hours to negotiate for terms Q


capitulation Bclure this flag and communication


was delivered retired from the GARRISON