Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Investment of Fort Donelson-the naval operations-attack of the enemy-assaulting the works-surrender of the Fort (search)
hus formed an abatis in front of the greater part of the line.
Outside of this intrenched line, and extending about half the entire length of it, is a ravine running north and south and opening into Hickman creek at a point north of the fort.
The entire side of this ravine next to the works was one long abatis.
General Halleck commenced his efforts in all quarters to get reinforcements to forward to me immediately on my departure from Cairo.
General [David] Hunter sent men freely from Kansas, and a large division under General [William] Nelson, from Buell's army, was also dispatched.
Orders went out from the War Department to consolidate fragments of companies that were being recruited in the Western States so as to make full companies, and to consolidate companies into regiments.
General Halleck did not approve or disapprove of my going to Fort Donelson.
He said nothing whatever to me on the subject.
He informed Buell on the 7th that I would march against Fort Donelson the
Ulysses S. Grant, Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Promoted Major-General of Volunteers-Unoccupied territory-advance upon Nashville-situation of the troops-confederate retreat- relieved of the command-restored to the command-generalSmith (search)
ort Donelson caused great delight all over the North.
At the South, particularly in Richmond, the effect was correspondingly depressing.
I was promptly promoted to the grade of Major-General of Volunteers, and confirmed by the Senate.
All three of my division commanders were promoted to the same grade and the colonels who commanded brigades were made brigadier-generals in the volunteer service.
My chief [Halleck], who was in St. Louis, telegraphed his congratulations to General Hunter in Kansas for the services he had rendered in securing the fall of Fort Donelson by sending reinforcements so rapidly.
To Washington he telegraphed that the victory was due to General C. F. Smith; promote him, he said, and the whole country will applaud.
On the 19th there was published at St. Louis a formal order thanking Flag-officer Foote and myself, and the forces under our command, for the victories on the Tennessee and the Cumberland.
I received no other recognition whatever from General Halle
mention Caesar and Pompey, Hercules and Bacchus.
A moving life, tented at night, this experience has been mine in civil society, if society be civil before the luxurious forest fires of Maine and the Adirondack, or upon the lonely prairies of Kansas.
But a stationary tent life, deliberately going to housekeeping under canvas, I have never had before, though in our barrack life at Camp Wool I often wished for it.
The accommodations here are about as liberal as my quarters there, two wallet in de clar, where the men off duty can dry themselves and sleep comfortably in bunks afterwards.
We have also a great circular school-tent, made of condemned canvas, thirty feet in diameter, and looking like some of the Indian lodges I saw in Kansas.
We now meditate a regimental bakery.
Our aggregate has increased from four hundred and ninety to seven hundred and forty, besides a hundred recruits now waiting at St. Augustine, and we have practised through all the main movements in battalio
t vivid remembrancer was the flock of sheep which we had lifted.
The Post Quartermaster discreetly gave us the charge of them, and they filled a gap in the landscape and in the larder,--which last had before presented one unvaried round of impenetrable beef.
Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, when he decided to adopt a pastoral life, and assumed the provisional name of Thyrsis, never looked upon his flocks and herds with more unalloyed contentment than I upon that fleecy family.
I had been familiar, in Kansas, with the metaphor by which the sentiments of an owner were credited to his property, and had heard of a pro-slavery colt and an antislavery cow. The fact that these sheep were but recently converted from Secesh sentiments was their crowning charm.
Methought they frisked and fattened in the joy of their deliverance from the shadow of Mrs. A.‘s slave-jail, and gladly contemplated translation into mutton-broth for sick or wounded soldiers.
The very slaves who once, perchance, were sold at a
behind all this.
The Rebel order remained unrevoked which consigned the new colored troops and their officers to a felon's death, if captured; and we all felt that we fought with ropes round our necks.
Dere's no flags ob truce for us, the men would contemptuously say. When de Secesh fight de Fus' Souf (First South Carolina), he fight in earnest.
Indeed, I myself took it as rather a compliment when the commander on the other side — though an old acquaintance of mine in Massachusetts and in Kansas at first refused to negotiate through me or my officers,--a refusal which was kept up, greatly to the enemy's inconvenience, until our men finally captured some of the opposing pickets, and their friends had to waive all scruples in order to send them supplies.
After this there was no trouble, and I think that the first Rebel officer in South Carolina who officially met any officer of colored troops under a flag of truce was Captain John C. Calhoun.
In Florida we had been so recognized lon
we were speaking, the President's messenger came in with a note to the colonel; I did not learn the purport of it, but it put the colonel in a good humor.
He showed me the two first words: Dear Bledsoe.
He said nothing more about resigning.
I must get more lucrative employment, or find something for my son to do. The boarding of my family, alone, comes to more than my salary; and the cost of everything is increasing.
June 25
More accounts of battles and massacres in Missouri and Kansas.
I never thought the Yankees would be permitted to ascend the Missouri River.
What has become of the marksmen and deer hunters of Missouri?
There has been also a fight at Leesburg, and one near Romney, Va. Blood has been shed in all of them.
These are the pattering drops that must inevitably be succeeded by a torrent of blood!
June 26
The President revised one of my articles for the press to-day, suggesting some slight modifications, which, perhaps, improved it. It was not a politi
Ite says important services only should require the appointment of such an officer.
Well, Gen. Rains recommended it. I know not whether he can say more.
I shall not get it, for Congress has but little influence, just now.
February 24
Gen. Longstreet is now in command of Gen. Smith's late department, besides his own corps.
Richmond is safe.
Our papers contain a most astonishing speech purporting to have been delivered by Mr. Conway, in the United States Congress. Mr. C. is from Kansas, that hot-bed of Abolitionism.
He is an avowed Abolitionist; and yet he advocates an immediate suspension of hostilities, or at least that the Federal armies and fleets be ordered to act on the defensive; that the independence of the Confederate States be recognized, upon the basis of a similar tariff; free-trade between the North and South; free navigation of the Mississippi, and co-operation in the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine.
I like the indications apparent in this speech.
Let u
ern part of Jackson County, not far from the village of Lone Jack.
Although it was Sunday, the people of that region, alarmed and terror-stricken by threats from Kansas, and cruel edicts from headquarters of the district, were hard at work straining every nerve to get ready to leave their homes before this memorable 9th day of Seeventeen; and Martin Rice and his son. While thus engaged in loading their wagons with such effects as they supposed would be most useful to them, a detachment of Kansas troops (said to be part of the Kansas 9th, though this may be a mistake), under command of Lieut.-Col. Clark and Capt. Coleman, came up and took them all prisonern, and killed several regiments of the enemy.
They have burned a number of towns (Union), and taken the large town of Boonville.
These are the men against whom Kansas Abolitionists have sworn vengeance — no quarter is to be granted them.
I suspect they are granting no quarter!
Yesterday I saw a Captain Commissary on Broad
ng the Dred Scott decision, and vehemently denouncing all opposition to it. The new President, too, seizes the early occasion of the Silliman letter to indorse and strongly construe that decision, and to express his astonishment that any different view had ever been entertained!
At length a squabble springs up between the President and the author of the Nebraska bill, on the mere question of fact, whether the Lecompton Constitution was or was not, in any just sense, made by the people of Kansas ; and in that quarrel the latter declares that all he wants is a fair vote for the people, and that he cares not whether slavery be voted down or voted up. I do not understand his declaration that he cares not whether slavery be voted down or voted up, to be intended by him other than as an apt definition of the policy he would impress upon the public mind — the principle for which he declares he has suffered so much, and, is ready to suffer to the end. And well may he cling to that principl
ess to force a Constitution upon the people of Kansas against their will, and to force that State ind placing it within the power of the people of Kansas at that election to reject the Lecompton Constause, the arrogant demand for the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution unconditionalult has been such as will enable the people of Kansas to come into the Union, with such a Constitutihould or should not exist within the limits of Kansas, I was rejoiced within my secret soul, for I e Lecompton Constitution back to the people of Kansas, and give them the right to accept or reject iill for the organization of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska?
Was it not my duty, in obedienctes?
I did incorporate that principle in the, Kansas-Nebraska bill, and perhaps I did, as much as adertook to put a Constitution on the people of Kansas against their will, in opposition to their wisd vindicated this year by the refusal to bring Kansas into the Union with a Constitution distasteful[3 more...]
