Nearly all the officers, Northern and Southern, knew one another well.  Many of them had been together at West Point.  Colonel Winchester and General Buckner were well acquainted and they saluted, each smiling a little grimly.

“I bring General Grant’s demand for the surrender of Fort Donelson, and all its garrison, arms, ammunition, and other supplies,” said Colonel Winchester.  “Can I see your chief, General Floyd?”

The lips of Buckner pressed close together in a smile touched with irony.

“No, you cannot see General Floyd,” he said, “because he is now far up the Cumberland.”

“Since he has abdicated the command I wish then to communicate with General Pillow.”

“I regret that you cannot speak to him either.  He is as far up the Cumberland as General Floyd.  Both departed in the night, and I am left in command of the Southern army at Fort Donelson.  You can state your demands to me, Colonel Winchester.”

Dick saw that the brave Kentuckian was struggling to hide his chagrin, and he had much sympathy for him.  It was in truth a hard task that Floyd and Pillow had left for Buckner.  They had allowed themselves to be trapped and they had thrown upon him the burden of surrendering.  But Buckner proceeded with the negotiations.  Presently he noticed Dick.

“Good morning, Richard,” he said.  “It seems that in this case, at least, you have chosen the side of the victors.”

“Fortune has happened to be on our side, general,” said Dick respectfully.  “Could you tell me, sir, if my uncle, Colonel Kenton, is unhurt?”

“He was, when he was last with us,” replied General Buckner, kindly.  “Colonel Kenton went out last night with Forrest’s cavalry.  He will not be a prisoner.”

“I am glad of that,” said the boy.

And he was truly glad.  He knew that it would hurt Colonel Kenton’s pride terribly to become a prisoner, and although they were now on opposite sides, he loved and respected his uncle.

The negotiations were completed and before night the garrison of Donelson, all except three thousand who had escaped in the night with Floyd and Pillow and Forrest, laid down their arms.  The answer to Bull Run was complete.  Fifteen thousand men, sixty-five cannon, and seventeen thousand rifles and muskets were surrendered to General Grant.  The bulldog in the silent westerner had triumphed.  With only a last chance left to him he had turned defeat into complete victory, and had dealt a stunning blow to the Southern Confederacy, which was never able like the North to fill up its depleted ranks with fresh men.