He asked permission to send parties outside of the lines to bury his dead, who had fallen on the 15th when they tried to get out.  I gave directions that his permit to pass our limits should be recognized.  I have no reason to believe that this privilege was abused, but it familiarized our guards so much with the sight of Confederates passing to and fro that I have no doubt many got beyond our pickets unobserved and went on.  The most of the men who went in that way no doubt thought they had had war enough, and left with the intention of remaining out of the army.  Some came to me and asked permission to go, saying that they were tired of the war and would not be caught in the ranks again, and I bade them go.

The actual number of Confederates at Fort Donelson can never be given with entire accuracy.  The largest number admitted by any writer on the Southern side, is by Colonel Preston Johnston.  He gives the number at 17,000.  But this must be an underestimate.  The commissary general of prisoners reported having issued rations to 14,623 Fort Donelson prisoners at Cairo, as they passed that point.  General Pillow reported the killed and wounded at 2,000; but he had less opportunity of knowing the actual numbers than the officers of McClernand’s division, for most of the killed and wounded fell outside their works, in front of that division, and were buried or cared for by Buckner after the surrender and when Pillow was a fugitive.  It is known that Floyd and Pillow escaped during the night of the 15th, taking with them not less than 3,000 men.  Forrest escaped with about 1,000 and others were leaving singly and in squads all night.  It is probable that the Confederate force at Donelson, on the 15th of February, 1862, was 21,000 in round numbers.

On the day Fort Donelson fell I had 27,000 men to confront the Confederate lines and guard the road four or five miles to the left, over which all our supplies had to be drawn on wagons.  During the 16th, after the surrender, additional reinforcements arrived.

During the siege General Sherman had been sent to Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland River, to forward reinforcements and supplies to me.  At that time he was my senior in rank and there was no authority of law to assign a junior to command a senior of the same grade.  But every boat that came up with supplies or reinforcements brought a note of encouragement from Sherman, asking me to call upon him for any assistance he could render and saying that if he could be of service at the front I might send for him and he would waive rank.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Promoted major-general of volunteers—­unoccupied territory—­advance upon Nashville—­situation of the troops—­Confederate retreat—­relieved of the command—­restored to the command—­general Smith.