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THE CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON.

in his reply to General Buckner’s overtures, became at once a watchwordof the war.

The Third Division was astir very early on the 16th of February. Theregiments began to form and close up the intervals between them, the inten-tion being to charge the breastworks south of Dover about breakfast-time.In the midst of the preparation a bugle was heard and a white flag was seencoming from the town toward the pickets. I sent my adjutant-general tomeet the flag half-way and inquire its purpose. Answer was returned thatGeneral Buckner had capitulated during the night, and was now sendinginformation of the fact to the commander of the troops in this quarter, thatthere might be no further bloodshed. The division was ordered to advanceand take possession of the works and of all pxxblic property and prisoners.Leaving that agreeable duty to the brigade commanders, I joined the officerbearing the flag, and with my staff rode across the trench and into the town,till we came to the door of the old tavern already described, where I dis-mounted. The tavern was the headquarters of General Buckner, to whom Isent my name; and being an acquaintance, I was at once admitted.

I found General Buckner with his staff at breakfast. He met me withpoliteness and dignity. Turning to the officers at the table, he remarked:“ General Wallace , it is not necessary to introduce you to these gentle-men ; you are acquainted with them all.” They arose, came forward one byone, and gave their hands in salutation. I was then invited to breakfast,which consisted of corn bread and coffee, the best the gallant host had in hiskitchen. We sat at the table about an hour and a half, when GeneralGrant arrived and took temporary possession of the tavern as his head-quarters. Later in the morning the army marched in and completed thepossession.

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VIEW FROM THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, WITHIN THE HEDGE ON THE RIGHT, ACROSS TO THE HILLWHERE WERE SITUATED THE INTERIOR WORKS OF FORT DONELSON (SEE MAP, PAGE 402).FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1884.