Gen Pillow's Official Report

den. Pillow published bis official repurt of opumtioiis at Fort Donelson iu the Mcmpbis AraUmche. Wc extract that part in vrliicli lio narrates the closing I eventí oa Saturday of tlf tilvt, and i tails his rcasoi.p for fumÑrig Bwffj : The oparatioDB of thu duy bad forccd thc eutirc oQinmnndof tlio uncwy around to our right wing, und iu fifOOt of Gen ( Buckivr's posiíiou in lio eiitriiiiohments, I nnd wliBÍl hia eonmiand rêaebed ita posiíioi), ho fóuod the enemy rapidly 1 cing to tttku possessiou of this portion of-1 his work. He luid a slubboru ooüfliot lasting 008 and a half hours to regfiin it, and tho enemv letuaüy got pojscsaion of thc extreme iiht of his position, and so firmly that he could uot dislodgo bim. Thc position tl.us gaioed by tlie cneniy was a most ootnmanding oue, bting Huaredi&tely on tlw rea of our river battery aDd" lield v,-o;k for Ita proteotiou. Froiu it he could readily turn tbc entrouched work oceupied by Gen. Buckncr aiidattnck hits in reverse, oradvance under cover of au iutervening ridge diroctly upon Our battery or field work - White he held this position, it was manifest we could not ho!d the main work or battery Snob was the condition of tho nrmks at . íiightfall, after nine hours of severe conflict, on the lóth inst., in which our loss was severo, and leaving not less than five tliousnml of the dead and wounded on the field. We left on the tU ld nearly all his wounded becauso we could not remove them. We left his dcad iniburied, becnuse we could not bury tiicm. Sach conflict and courage has perbaps liever bcfore occurred upon this continent. We took about 300 prisoners and a largo number of arms. We had fouglit this battlo to open theway for our army nnd relieve us froin an investment which would nccc8arily rediice us and thc po tron by fumine. Wc had occupied the wiiole day to aocbóiplish our object, and b furo we could prepare to loave, after taking in tlie wounded and thc dead, tho oncmy had thrown around us again during the nigl.t an irmeense force of fresh troops, and re-occupied his original position in tbc lino of investmont, thus cut ting off our retreat. We had only about 12,000 troops all told. Of these, a large proportion wc lost in the three battlès. The command bad been in the tronches nigbt and day for five days, exposed to the snow, sleet, mud and ice water, without sheltor and without adequate covering, and without sleep. In this condition, the general officers held a consultation to determine what we ghould do. General Buckner gave it as bis decided opinión that he could not hold his position ono half hour against the assault of the enetny, nnd said the eneiuy would attack bim next morning at daylight. The proposition was agaiu made by the undersigned to again fight cur way through the encniy's line, and cut our way out. Gen Buckner said his comniand was so worn out, cut to pieces and demoralized, that he could not makc another fight ; that it would cost the comïuand three-ijuarters of its present nuniber to cut its way through, -and it was wrong to sacrifico three quarters of a conmiand to save a quarter; that no officer had a right to mako suc!i a sacrihee. Gen. Floyd and Major Gilnier I thought to concur in his opinión. I then expressed the opiuion that we could hold out another day, aud iu that tirne we could get steainboalg and set the command over the river, and probably save a large portion of it. To this Gen. Buckner replied that tho enemy would ccrtninly attack him at daylight, and that he could not hold his position half an hour. The alternativo of these propositions was a surrender of their position and command. Gen. Floyd said that he would neither surrender the command nor would he surrender himself a prisoner. I had taken tho same position. - Gen. Buckner said he was satisfied nothing else could be done, and that therefore he would surrender if placed in command. Gen. said he would turn over the command to him if he could be allowcd to withdraw his eominand. To this Gen. Buckner consented. Thercupon Gcu. Floyd turned the command over to me I passed it instantly to Gen. Buckner, saying I would neither surrender tho command nor myself a prisoncr. I directed Ooi. Forrest to cut hie way out. Under these circumstances tren. Buckner accepted the commaud and sent a flag of truce to the enemy for an armistice of sis hours to negotiato for terms of capitulation. Before this flag nnd commuuication was delivered I retired from the garrison.