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among the men in the power of the garrison to resist the passage of the gunboats was chiefly due to
Lieutenant Dixon, who lost his life during the siege.
On February 8th
Buckner conveyed to
General Johnston information, derived from friends in
Louisville, that there were not more than 12,000 Federals on the Curberland and
Tennessee Rivers.
In fact, the strength of the movement against
Donelson was not developed.
To meet it,
General Johnston sent a force, which he estimated moderately at 17,000 men, reserving for himself only 14,000 men to perform the more delicate task of retiring before a larger army, ably commanded.
Even after reinforcing
Grant with thirteen regiments,
General Buell, had left seventy regiments of infantry, besides artillery and cavalry-fully 55,000 men. Certain is it, therefore, that
General Johnston took himself the place of greater hazard, and left to his subordinates the opportunity of glory.
If it terminated otherwise, it was no fault of his. He had sent all the troops he could possibly spare, with abundance of ammunition and supplies.
Under the circumstances, the army at
Donelson might well be thought sufficient.
At all events,
General Johnston felt that he had done all that he could do; and he awaited the issue with composure.
The criticism has been made that
General Johnston should have concentrated his forces, and made an aggressive campaign.
The foregoing facts show that this could not properly have been done at
Donelson; and they make it almost as plain that the attempt would have been equally as futile at
Bowling Green.
This subject will be briefly considered, however, in its proper place.
But there was no reason for
General Johnston to feel that he had fallen short of the requirements of the occasion.
Pillow telegraphed him on the 10th, the day after his arrival:
My position undisturbed by enemy.
Am pushing my work day and night.
Will make my batteries bomb-proof, if allowed a little time.
Have my guns mounted, and satisfactory trial of all my guns.
Pillow wrote to
Floyd to the same effect.
He stated that he was apprehensive that the enemy might cross the country south of him, and cut his communication by river, though the country was so rough and broken as to be nearly impracticable.
He believed that the difficulty of procuring supplies insured his safety.
He says:
The conflict of yesterday between our cavalry and that of the enemy resulted in three of ours wounded, and twenty taken prisoners by being thrown from their horses; and in three of the enemy killed and six mortally wounded. . .. I hope you will order forward at once the tents and baggage of General Buckner's command, as they are suffering very much this cold weather.
Writing to General Johnston the same day, the 10th, Colonel Gilmer says :
