ARMY OPEP.ATIOXS. 



33 



iron-clad gunboats and two wooden ones. It 

 continued for an hour and a quarter, and the 

 latter part of the time within four hundred 

 yards of the fort, when the wheel of 01: 

 sel and the tiller of another were shot away, and 

 both rendered unmanageable, and drifted down 

 the river. At this time the Confederates ap- 

 peared to be deserting their batteries along the 

 water. The other boats were injured between 

 wind and water, and fifty-four had been killed 

 and wounded, when all retired. Com. Foote 

 deeming his services to be less required on the 

 spot than at Cairo, "until damages could be re- 

 paired, and a competent force brought up from 

 that place to attack the fort," retired to Cairo. 

 At the same time he sent a gunboat up the 

 Tennessee to render the railroad bridge above 

 Fo.rt Henry impassable. This had not been 

 done by Lieut. Phelps who had gone up that 

 river with three gunboats. 



The land forces under Gen. Grant left Fort 

 Henry on the 12th of February, in two divis- 

 ions, stated by Gen. Grant as " about fifteen 

 thousand strong," six regiments having been 

 sent round on transports. The head of the 

 marching column arrived within two miles 

 of Fort Donelson at twelve o'clock. The 

 Confederate fortifications were from this point 

 gradually approached and surrounded, with 

 occasional skirmishing on the line. The next 

 day the investment was extended on the Confed- 

 erate flanks, and drawn closer to their works, 

 with skirmishing all day. That night the gun- 

 boats and reinforcements arrived. On the 

 next day the attack of the gunboats was made, 

 and after its failure Gen. Grant resolved to 

 make the investment as perfect as possible, and 

 to partially fortify and await the repairs to the 

 gunboats. This plan was frustrated by a vigor- 

 ous attack upon his right under Gen. McCler- 

 nand, by the enemy. The battle was closely 

 contested for several hours, and with consid- 

 erable advantage to the enemy, when they 

 were finally repulsed, having inflicted upon the 

 Union troops a loss of one thousand two hun- 

 dred in killed, wounded, and missing. At this 

 tune Gen. Grant ordered a charge to be made 

 on the left by Gen. Charles F. Smith with his 

 division. This was brilliantly done, and the 

 contest here, which continued until dark, re- 

 sulted in giving to him possession of part of the 

 intrenchments. Soon after this charge was 

 commenced, an attack was ordered by Gen. 

 Grant to be made by Gen. Wallace of the third 

 division, and two regiments of the second divis- 

 ion, on the other Confederate flank, by which it 

 was still further repulsed. At the points thus 

 gained, all the troops remained for the night, 

 feeling that, notwithstanding the brave resist- 

 ance, a complete victory awaited them in the 

 morning. 



The result of this conflict convinced the 

 Confederate officers that without fresh troops 

 they would be unable to hold their position on 

 the next day. Gens. Pillow and Floyd deter- 

 mined therefore to withdraw as no reenforce- 

 YOL. II.-8 



ments would reach them, leaving Gen. Simon 

 B. Buckner in command. By means of two or 

 three small steamboats these officers retired 

 during the night taking about nve thousand 

 troops with them. 



Early the next morning a flag of truce was 

 sent to Gen. Grant with the following letter : 



HEADQUARTERS, FORT DOXELSOX, Feb. 16, 1S62. 

 SIR: In consideration of all the circumstances gov- 

 erning the present situation of affairs at this station, I 

 propose to the commanding officer of the Federal 

 forces the appointment of commissioners to agree upon 

 terms of capitulation of the forces at this post under 

 my command. In that view I suggest an armistice 

 until twelve o'clock to day. 



I am, very respectfullv, your obedient servant, 



S. B. BUCKNER. 

 Brigadier-General C. S. Army. 

 To Brig.-Gen. IT. S. Grant, Commanding 



United States forces near Fort Donelson. 



The reply of Gen. Grant to this letter was 

 as follows : 



HEADQUARTERS, ox THE FIELD, ) 

 FORT DOXELSOX, Feb. 16, 1S62. j 



To Gen. S. B. BUCKXER : 



SIB : Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and 

 the appointment of commissioners to settle on the 

 terms of capitulation, is just received. 



Xo terms, except unconditional and immediate sur- 

 render, can be accepted. 



I propose to move immediately on your works. 

 I am, very respectfullv, vour obedient servant, 



U. S. GRANT, 

 Brigadier-General Commanding. 



The answer of Gen. Buckner was as follows: 



HEADQUARTERS, DOVER (TEXX.), Feb. 16. : 

 Brig.-Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. Army : 



SIR : The distribution of the forces under my com- 

 mand, incident to an unexpected change of command- 

 ers, and the overwhelming force under your com- 

 mand, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success 

 of the Confederate arms, to accept the ungenerous and 

 unchivalrous terms which you propose. 

 I am, sir, your servant, 



S. B. BUCKXZR. 

 Brigadier-General C. S. Army. 



The fort was subsequently given up and oc- 

 cupied by the Union troops. 



In the action 231 were killed and 1,007 

 wounded on the Confederate side. The num- 

 ber was larger on the Union side. About 

 10,000 prisoners were made, and 40 pieces of 

 cannon and extensive magazines of all kinds 

 of ordnance, quartermasters' and commissary 

 stores were captured. 



The following is a list of the regiments which 

 were captured at Fort Donelson : 49th Tennes- 

 see regiment, Col. Bailey ; 43d Tennessee regi- 

 ment, Col. Abernethy ; 2*7th Alabama regiment, 

 Col. Jackson; 42d Tennessee regiment, Col. 

 Quarrells; Captain Guy's battery; 26th Ten- 

 nessee regiment, Col. Silliard ; 14th Mississippi 

 regiment, Col. Baldwin; 18th Tennessee regi- 

 ment, Col. Palmer ; 2d Kentucky regiment, 

 Col. Hanson ; 20th Mississippi regiment, Major 

 Brown; Captain Milton's company ; 15th Virgi- 

 nia regiment, Lieut. Haslep ; Texas regiment, 

 Col. Gregg; 15th Arkansas regiment, Col. Lee; 

 Capt. Ofeston's cavalry ; 15th Tennessee regi- 



