not the means yet of determining our loss even approximately, but it caunot fall far short of one thousand two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. Of the latter, I understand through General Buckner, about two hundred and fifty were taken prisoners. I shall retain enough of the enemy to exchange for them, as they were immediately shipped off and not left for recapture. About the close of this action the ammunition in the cartridge-boxes gave out, which, with the loss of many of the field-officers, produced great confusion in the ranks. Seeing that the enemy did not take advantage of this fact, I ordered a charge upon the left-enemy's right—with the division under General C. F. Smith, which was most brilliantly executed, and gave to our arms full assurance of victory. The battle lasted until dark, giving us possession of part of their intrenchments. An attack was ordered upon their other flank, after the charge of General Smith was commenced, by the divisions under Generals McClernand and Wallace, which, notwithstanding the hours of exposure to a heavy fire in the fore part of the day, was gallantly made, and the enemy further repulsed. At the points thus gained, night having come on, all the troops encamped for the night, feeling that a complete victory would crown their labors at an early hour in the morning. This morning, at a very early hour, General S. B. Buckner sent a message to our camp under a flag of truce, proposing an armistice, etc. A copy of the correspondence which ensued is herewith appended. I cannot mention individuals who specially distinguished themselves, but leave that to division and brigade officers, whose reports will be forwarded as soon as received. To division commanders, however, Generals McClernand, Smith, and Wallace, I must do the justice to say that each of them was with his command in the midst of danger, and was always ready to execute all orders, no matter what the exposure to himself. At the hour the attack was made on General McClernand's command, I was absent, having received a note from Flag-Officer Foote, requesting me to go and see him, he being unable to call. My personal staff-Colonel J. D. Webster, Chief of Staff; Colonel J. Riggin, Jr., Volunteer Aide; Captain J. A. Rawlins, Assistant AdjutantGeneral; Captains C. B. Lagow and W. S. Hillyer, Aides; and Lieutenantcolonel J. B. McPherson, Chief Engineer-all are deserving of personal mention for their gallantry and services. For full details and reports and particulars, reference is made to the reports of the Engineer, Medical Director, and commanders of brigades and divisions, to follow. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, There will always be an unwritten history of such battle-days and nights-deeds and words of valor which A HERO-GENERAL GRANT. 97 live only in the memories of the few who saw and heard them. An incident will illustrate. In the Ninth Illinois Regiment, a soldier received a shot through his arm. The wound was dressed, and again he hastened to his place in the ranks. Soon after, a ball entered his thigh, and he fell. His brave associates offered him help. "No," he replied; "I think I can get along alone." Away he staggered, leaning on his gun, through the iron and leaden hail, found a surgeon, who did his work, and gave the brave refreshment. He rose, and saying, "I feel pretty well; I must go into the fight again," he joined his comrades. He stooped to point his gun; a bullet pierced his neck, and went downward into his body. The next moment balls riddled his head, and the mangled hero fell in death. Such were the warriors, who, thinking not of fame or life, lay down under the dear old flag waving on the battered walls of Donelson. The magnificent conquest sent a thrill of joy over the nation. Thousands of cannon in the peaceful towns of the North thundered forth the rejoicing, and banners floated over almost every loyal house. Our modest victor, in the successful performance of a great duty to the country he loved better than life, took another stride in the rapid march of fame. He was made Major-General of Volunteers, dating from the day of the fort's surrender, February 16, 1862. No one would suspect, from the manner of General Grant, amid these exciting events and clustering honors, the echoing salutes and hurrahs of the soldiery and the people, that he was the hero and object of them all. Unostentatious, "calm as a clock," he kept time to the "drum-beat of duty," unheeding the storm of conflict, or the sunshine of triumph around him. Let us take a glimpse at scenes apart from the hero and the strife. A friend, who went to the fort after the victory, in behalf of the Christian Commission--one of the noblest enterprises called out by the war, blessing the embattled hosts in its care for them physically and spiritually-related two striking incidents. He visited a hospital-steamer, and found, not far apart, fatally wound ed, a religious and a profane young man. The former was ready to die under the old flag, with a banner seen only by faith, bearing the "Star of Bethlehem" and the stripes by which we are healed," flying over him. The other said: "I have never prayed. And do you think, after such a life, I will now ask for mercy! Never! I will face the music." And soon he also died. Going to the plains of death, he saw a soldier half buried in the snowy mud, lying on his back with a Testament, which had fallen from the side-pocket of his coat, on the breast. Further on, he came against a corpse, from the pocket of whose coat a pack of cards had dropped, and were scattered over it and on the ground. What instructive contrasts along the track of unpitying war! In the Atlantic Monthly appeared the following fine little poem, commemorative of the costly yet magnificent victory. O gales, that dash the Atlantic swell Along our rocky shores, New England's glad hurrahs; Bear to the prairies of the West The prayer that springs in every breast- Oh, awful hours, when grape and shell It came at last: "Now, lads, the steel!" "Charge, boys!" The broken traitors reel; In vain thy rampart, Donelson, The living torrent bars; It leaps the wall-the fort is won- Thy proudest mother's eyelids fill, And Plymouth Rock and Bunker Hill HABITS OF MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT. 99 CHAPTER VII. HABITS OF MAJOR-GENERAL GRANT. Rumors about the Habits of Major-General Grant.-Amusing Incident.-Enlarged GENERAL GRANT was becoming sufficiently conspicuous to attract general interest, and lead those who, for any reason, would weaken his influence, to parade before the public real or imaginary, faults. With most of the officers of the regular army, and it may be added, of the volunteer service, he probably sometimes indulged in stimulants. But he certainly was never a drunkard, and, when he found himself rising to serious responsibilities in the national cause, abandoned the use of them altogether. An incident occurred, after the victories of the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, in connection with this discussion of the great commander's habits, which occasioned much merriment among his friends in the Southwest. The rumors that he would get intoxicated had moved the friends of the Illinois troops at home to send a delegation of gentlemen to confer with General Halleck respecting his removal. They accordingly waited upon the Chief of the Department, and gravely stated the object of their visit. "You see, General, we have a number of Illinois volunteers under General Grant, and it is not safe that their lives should be intrusted to the care of a man who so constantly indulges in intoxicating liquors. Who knows what blunders he may commit ?" 72766A "Well, gentlemen," said General Halleck, "I am satisfied with General Grant, and I have no doubt you also soon will be." While the deputation were staying at the hotel, the news arrived of the capture of Fort Donelson and thirteen thousand prisoners. General Halleck posted the intelligence himself on the hotel-bulletin, and as he did so he remarked, loud enough for all to hear: "If General Grant is such a drunkard as he is reported to be, and can win such victories as these, I think it is my duty to issue an order that any man found sober in St. Louis to-night shall be punished with fine and imprisonment." The people of St. Louis took the hint, and those whose temperance principles were easy, including members of the delegation, passed a festive night. Wrote a staff officer, about this time, to a friend in New York City : "I have seen it stated in the public prints that General Grant is a drunkard. I have seen him in every phase of his military life, and I can assert that the accusation is false. I have been in the same tent with him at all hours of the day and night, and I never knew him to be under the influence of liquor, or any thing even approaching to it. I do not know what his former life may have been, but I do know that now he is a temperate man." There was another reason for attacks upon distinguished generals, which should here be stated. It was, disappointment of ambitious or mercenary designs. General Grant was approached by reporters of the press, to secure a place, and the compensation of it, on lis staff. Generals Halleck, Sherman, and C. F. Smith agreed with him that no Government funds should be applied to such a purpose. The "cut" made a wound, whose irritation was aimed at the offenders. General Sherman was called crazy, and General Smith a traitor. It was only at the special request of General Grant that the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of General Smith, and he was able to retain General Sherman; he assuring the Government that both were true men. |