LIEUT.-GENERAL SIMON B. BUCKNER, C. 8. A.
In command of the Confederate army at Donelson at the time of the surrender.
MAJOR-GENERAL GIDEON J. PILLOW, C. S. A.
Commander of the Confederate army at Donelson at the opening of the siege.
The three Confederate chiefs of brigade intrusted by General Johnston with the defense of Nashville at Donelson, were John B. Floyd, Gideon J. Pillow and Simon B. Buckner. Generals Floyd and Pillow escaped from the fort before surrender, leaving General Buckner in command.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN B. FLOYD, C. S. A.
Commander of a division at Donelson and successor to Pillow.
treat. A reeonnoissance was ordered to make the test. Colonel Forrest conducted it. He reported that the ground was not only reoccupied, hut that the enemy were extended yet farther around the Confederate left. The council then held a final session.
General Simon B. Buckner, as the junior officer present, gave his opinion first ; he thought he could not successfully resist the assault which would be made by daylight by a vastly superior force. But he further remarked, that as he understood the principal object of the defense of Donelson was to cover the movement of General Albert Sidney Johnston’s army from Bowling Green to Nashville, if that movement was not completed he was of opinion that the defense should be continued at the risk of the destruction of the entire force. General Floyd replied that General Johnston’s army had already reached Nashville, whereupon General Buckner said that “it would be wrong to subject the army to a virtual massacre, when no good could result from the sacrifice, and that the general officers owed it to their men, when further resistance was unavailing, to obtain the best terms of capitulation possible for them.”
Both Generals Floyd and Pillow acquiesced in the opinion. Ordinarily the council would have ended at this point, and the commanding general would have addressed himself to the duty of obtaining terms. He would have called for pen, ink,
fall back out of cannon-range and throw up breastworks. “ The general does not know that we have the hill,” I said. Webster replied: “I give you the order as he gave it to me.” “ Very well,” said I, 1 ‘ give him my compliments, and say that I have received the order.” Webster smiled and rode away. The ground was not vacated, though the assault was deferred. In assuming the responsibility, I had no doubt of my ability to satisfy General Grant of the correctness of my course ; and it was subsequently approved.
When night fell, the command bivouacked without fire or supper. Fatigue parties were told off to look after the wounded; and in the relief given there was no distinction made between friend and foe. The labor extended through the whole night, and the surgeons never rested. By sunset the conditions of the morning were all restored. The Union commander was free to order a general assault next day or resort to a formal siege.
A great discouragement fell upon the brave men inside the works that night. Besides suffering from wounds and bruises and the dreadful weather, they were aware that though they had done their best they were held in a close grip by a superior enemy. A council of general and field officers was held at headquarters, which resulted in a unanimous resolution that if the position in front of General Pillow had not been reoceupied by the Federals in strength, the army should effect its re-45
tiee proved of excellent service to them. Now on the ground, creeping when the fire was hottest, running when it slackened, they gained ground with astonishing rapidity, and at the same time maintained a fire that was like a sparkling of the earth. For the most part the bullets aimed at them passed over their heads and took effect in the ranks behind them. Colonel Smith’s cigar was shot off close to his lips. He took another and called for a match. A soldier ran up and gave him one. “ Thank you. Take your place now. We are almost up,” he said, and, smoking, spurred his horse forward. A few yards from the crest of the height the regiments began loading and firing as they advanced. The defenders gave way. On the top there was a brief struggle, which was ended by Cruft and Boss with their supports.
The whole line then moved forward simultaneously, and never stopped until the Confederates were within the works. There had been no occasion to call on the reserves. The road to Charlotte was again effectually shut, and the battle-field of the morning, with the dead and wounded lying where they had fallen, was in possession of the Third Division, which stood halted within easy musket-range of the rifle-pits. It was then about half-past 8 o’clock in the afternoon. I was recon-noitering the works of the enemy preliminary to charging them, when Colonel Webster, of General Grant’s staff, came to me and repeated the order to
blanee of re-formation and charged in after their chief, who found himself then between the two fires. Up the ascent he rode ; up they followed. At the last moment the keepers of the rifle-pits clambered out and fled. The four regiments engaged in the feat—the 25th Indiana, and the 2d, 7th, and 14th Iowa—planted their colors on the breastwork. Later in the day, Buckner came back with his division ; but all his efforts to dislodge Smith were vain.
We left my division about to attempt the recapture of the hill, which had been the scene of the combat between Pillow and MeClernand. If only on account of the results which followed that assault, in connection with the heroic performance of General C. F. Smith, it is necessary to return to it.
Biding to my old regiments,—the 8th Missouri and the 11th Indiana,—I asked them if they were ready. They demanded the word of me. Waiting a moment for Morgan L. Smith to light a cigar, I called out, “ Forward it is, then!” They were directly in front of the ascent to be climbed. Without stopping for his supports, Colonel Smith led them down into a broad hollow, and catching sight of the advance, Cruft and Boss also moved forward. As the two. regiments began the climb, the 8th Missouri slightly in the lead, a line of fire ran along the brow of the height. The flank companies cheered while deploying as skirmishers. Their Zouave prac-