THE CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON.

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me and repeated the order to fall back out of cannon range and throw upbreastworks. “ The general does not know that we have the hill,” I said.Webster replied: “I give yon the order as he gave it to me.” “"Very well,”said I, “ give him my compliments, and say that I have received the order.”Webster smiled and rode away. The ground was not vacated, though theassault was deferred. In assuming the responsibility, I had no doubt of myability to satisfy General Grant of the correctness of my course; and it wassubsequently approved.

When night fell, the command bivouacked without fire or supper. Fatigueparties were told off to look after the wounded; and in the relief given therewas no distinction made between friend and foe. The labor extended throughthe whole night, and the surgeons never rested. By sunset the conditionsof the morning were all restored. The Union commander was free to ordera general assault next day or resort to a formal siege.

A great discouragement fell upon the brave men inside the works thatnight. Besides suffering from wounds and bruises and the dreadful weather,they were aware that though they had done their best they were held in aclose grip by a superior enemy. A council of general and field officers washeld at headquarters, which re-sulted in a unanimous resolutionthat if the position in front ofGeneral Pillow had not beenreoccupied by the Federals instrength, the- army should effectits retreat. A reconnoissance wasordered to make the test. ColonelForrest conducted it. He report-ed that the ground was not onlyreoccupied, but that the enemywere extended yet farther aroundthe Confederate left. The councilthen held a final session.

General Simon B. Buckner, asthe junior officer present, gavehis opinion first; he thought hecould not successfully resist theassault which would be made bydaylight by a vastly superior force.

But he further remarked, thatas he understood the principalobject of the defense of Donelson was to cover the movement of GeneralAlbert Sidney Johnston’s army from Bowling Green to Nashville , if thatmovement was not completed he was of opinion that the defense should becontinued at the i*isk of the destruction of the entire force. General Floydreplied that General Johnston’s army had already reached Nashville , where-upon General Buckner said that “ it would be wrong to subject the army

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ROWLETT’S MILL (SEE MAP, PAGE 402).PROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1884.