Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[87] Incidents of Fort Donelson.--After the surrender, when the prisoners were being congregated for transportation to Cairo and other points, before all had been disarmed, an attempt was made to assassinate one of our officers, Major Mudd, of the Second Illinois cavalry, who was shot in the back by some of the rebels. The case being reported to Gen. Grant, an order was immediately issued for disarming all rebels, including the side-arms of their officers. Upon learning this order, Buckner, the chivalrous, repaired to the headquarters of Gen. Grant, and in insolent tones demanded to know if such an order had been issued. Upon being informed that it had, he launched off into a strain of furious invectives, in which he charged that the order was barbarous, inhuman, and brutal, and at variance with rules of civilized warfare.

The man was permitted to indulge in his raving to an extravagant extent, because he was a prisoner, without any reply from Gen. Grant. Capt. Rawlins, A. A. Gen., finally replied to Buckner by stating the before-mentioned reason for depriving the officers of their side-arms. Gen. Grant then turning to Buckner, said: “Gen. Buckner, it was not my intention to have said anything in relation to this matter, and thus to have spared your feeling of pride and shame, but as Capt. Rawlins has thought proper to introduce the reasons, I will conclude them. You have dared to come here to complain of my acts without the right to offer an objection. You do not appear to remember that your surrender was unconditional, yet, if we compare the acts of the different armies in this war, how will yours bear inspection? You have cowardly shot my officers in cold blood. As I rode over the field of action I saw the dead of my army brutally insulted by your men, their clothing stripped off of them, and their bodies exposed without the slightest regard for common decency. Humanity has seldom marked your course whenever our men have been unfortunate enough to fall into your hands. At Belmont your authorities disregarded all the usages of civilized warfare; my officers were crowded into cotton-pens with my brave soldiers and then thrust into prison, whilst your officers were permitted to enjoy their parole and live at our hotel. Your men are given the same fare as my own, and your wounded received our best medical attention. These are incontrovertible facts, which do not look well in contrast with the course of the Federals. I have simply taken this precaution to disarm your officers and men, because necessity compelled me to do so for the protection of my own from further assassination.” While this catalogue of wrongs was being recited, Gen. Buckner hung his head, dejected by the words of truth and abashed by the frown of power. He did not deign to reply, but skulked off like one who had begun to feel the awakening of a benumbed conscience. The same evening, however, he made a speech to his men, before taking their departure, in which he made complimentary reference to the kind treatment all had received at the hands of Gen. Grant, his officers, and men.

A Lieut.-Col. Brandon, of a Tennessee regiment, who was wounded in the battle of Saturday, had escaped to a point four miles distant, where he lay suffering from the effects of his wounds. Information to this effect was transmitted to Gen. Grant, who gave permission to the senior rebel surgeon here, attending to their wounded, to send assistance to the wounded man. Accordingly Dr. Griffin, the confederate medical director, detailed three surgeons, namely, Drs. Patterson, Westmoreland, and one other, to go to the relief of Col. Brandon, and Gen. Grant being deluded by the extravagant belief that these men had sufficient regard for the honor of their profession, if not for themselves, to return, they were suffered to depart without having been put upon their parole.

These three inhuman butchers left in the afternoon, and, arriving at a house near Belwood Furnace, about one mile from where the wounded officer lay, they procured lodgings for the night, shaved off their beards, and in the morning by daylight ignominiously went away, without even calling upon the wounded officer. Learning of their escape, Dr. Brinton, acting medical director, attached to Gen. Grant's staff, went up to see the Colonel, and found him suffering from nine bullet-wounds received in the left leg, between the ankle and the knee. His wounds were dressed at once, and every care taken of the unfortunate man.--Louisville Journal.