to southern arsenals.  He continued in the Cabinet of President Buchanan until about the 1st of January, 1861, while he was working vigilantly for the establishment of a confederacy made out of United States territory.  Well may he have been afraid to fall into the hands of National troops.  He would no doubt have been tried for misappropriating public property, if not for treason, had he been captured.  General Pillow, next in command, was conceited, and prided himself much on his services in the Mexican war.  He telegraphed to General Johnston, at Nashville, after our men were within the rebel rifle-pits, and almost on the eve of his making his escape, that the Southern troops had had great success all day.  Johnston forwarded the dispatch to Richmond.  While the authorities at the capital were reading it Floyd and Pillow were fugitives.

A council of war was held by the enemy at which all agreed that it would be impossible to hold out longer.  General Buckner, who was third in rank in the garrison but much the most capable soldier, seems to have regarded it a duty to hold the fort until the general commanding the department, A. S. Johnston, should get back to his headquarters at Nashville.  Buckner’s report shows, however, that he considered Donelson lost and that any attempt to hold the place longer would be at the sacrifice of the command.  Being assured that Johnston was already in Nashville, Buckner too agreed that surrender was the proper thing.  Floyd turned over the command to Pillow, who declined it.  It then devolved upon Buckner, who accepted the responsibility of the position.  Floyd and Pillow took possession of all the river transports at Dover and before morning both were on their way to Nashville, with the brigade formerly commanded by Floyd and some other troops, in all about 3,000.  Some marched up the east bank of the Cumberland; others went on the steamers.  During the night Forrest also, with his cavalry and some other troops about a thousand in all, made their way out, passing between our right and the river.  They had to ford or swim over the back-water in the little creek just south of Dover.

Before daylight General Smith brought to me the following letter from General Buckner: 

Headquarters, fort Donelson, February 16, 1862.

Sir:—­In consideration of all the circumstances governing 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 and fort under my command, and in that view suggest an armistice until 12 o’clock to-day.

I am, sir, very respectfully, Your ob’t se’v’t, S. B. Buckner, Brig.  Gen. C. S. A.

To Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, Com’ding U. S. Forces, Near Fort Donelson.

To this I responded as follows: 

Headquarters army in the field, Camp near Donelson, February 16, 1862.