Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 2.

1 A participant in the scenes at Fort Donelson wrote as follows concerning the surrender: “One of the grandest sights in the whole siege, and one which comes only once in a century, was the triumphal entry into the Fort on Sunday morning. . . . The sight from the highest point in the fort, commanding a view of both river and camp, was imposing. There were on one side regiment after regiment pouring in, their flags floating gayly in the wind; some of them which had been rent and faded on the fields of Mexico, and others with ‘Springfield’ emblazoned on their folds; one magnificent brass band pouring out the melodies of ‘Hail Columbia,’ ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ ‘ Yankee Doodle,’ etc., in such style as the gazing captives had never heard, even in the palmy days of peace. On the other was a spectacle which surpasses all description. The narrow Cumberland seemed alive with steamers. First came the gun-boats, firing salutes; then came little black tugs, snorting their acclamations; and after them the vast fleet of transports, pouring out volumes of black smoke, their banners floating gayly in the breeze, firing salutes, their decks covered with people sending deafening shouts in response to those from the shore. The scene was sublime, impressive, and will not easily be forgotten.”