AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW
Volume 31, Number 3
April 1926
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A Confederate Private at Fort
Donelson, 1862
The private soldier is not in a position to judge of the general conduct or
course of battle or siege, yet his narrative often has value, of its own
sort. The following account of the defense of Fort
Donelson and of the
experiences of Confederate soldiers who were made prisoners by its surrender
shows phases of Civil War history seen from the point of view of the individual
campaigner, and as such has its interest. For the opportunity to print it
we are indebted to Mr. Walter F. Meier, of Seattle,
who writes as follows:
“During a recent visit to relatives in Kentucky, the writer came into
possession of an account of certain events occurring during the Civil War
written by his great-uncle, ‘Spot’ F. Terrell, who was a member of the 49th
Tennessee Volunteer Regiment of the Confederate Army. The account
commences with the attack on Fort Donelson
in February, 1862, and covers the assaults made upon the fort, its surrender,
the transportation of prisoners to Chicago and
their return down the Mississippi to Vicksburg,
where the contingent of which Mr. Terrell was a member was reorganized under
the conscript law. I have faithfully transcribed this account, adhering
strictly to the spelling and sentence structure, save that I have supplied
periods at the ends of sentences and substituted capital letters at the
beginning of each sentence instead of retaining the small letter that usually
occurred.”
FORT DONELSON, February 1862.
The Battle of Donelson commenced Tuesday the 11th of February.
Skirmishing by the pickits little or no damage done. On Thursday the 13th
the Ball opend heavy fiting all along our lines. Also an atack on the
front and river Batterys by the gun boats, heavy firing on both sides.
Our loss in that ingagement was one man kild at the battery one in the
fort. Captain dickson the cheaf engineer1 fel at his post at
the battery. One wounded at the battery and one kild in the fort and 2
wounded. The federils was repulst that day. friday 14th.
Early in the morning the Ennimy made an atack on our Senter. There was
heavy firing by musketry and artilrey. The canonading was kept up until
dusk. In the morning the gunboats made an atack on the fort. The
ingagement in the morning onley lasted a short time. About too oclock in
the evening the gunboats came up from behind the Bend
and opend fire on our Battreys. Our
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Batery
Belcht fort their loud and stidealy Thundring in ancier to thears. The
gunboats with full Determination to take our Batery by Storme came forth with
six of thear gunboats. Tha prest up the river stidley firing upon us and
our Battreys while the Bum shells were bursting in the air with loud and wild
confusion threatning sudden death and distrucktion. Stil tha came
onn. While our one hundred and twenty eight pounder and our Riful Sixty
four were threatning them with suden distrucktion and also while five thirty
two pounders were hailing down on them with a vengance2 the boats
came within Three Hundred yards of the Batterrys and tha turnd loosed their
guns with grap shot to run our guners away from thear Guns but tha finding our
men to hard and brave for them, tha concluded to givit up and tha turnd down
the River While the Iron and Wood was flying from them upin the air tha sneaked
down behind the bend badely tore to peasis. We reciivd little or no
damage from the gunboats. On Friday our little armey in the field repulst
the enemy at Evrey point. With a heavy loss to them. Our loss was none
in comparison to thears. Now Knight came onn when thear was Silents in
the field and fort. Our men was ingaged that Knight in throing up Earth
work around our batery as if every Moment was the last all for our
Security. The Cold North Wind was blowing and cutting our years and
fingers. We suffered a great deal from the Sevear cold and Snow that lay
spread over the ground. Saturday the 15th came on Stil cold in the
morning but melting for that by the time the son was shooting forth her butiful
rays upon the tree tops. The Enimy came in on our Extreme left wing hott
and heavy but Gin. Floyd being at the right place he welcumbed them in with his
Brite artilrey and Shining Musketts. The batl opend with loud roring of
canon and hot and heavy musketry. The federrels fought Gineril Floyd with
an odd of five to one stil our brave boys drove them back from the
beginning. The battle lasted on our left wing until about two o’clock in
the eavning. The the federrils turned to our right wing with Seventy
Thousand well drild Soldiers with a determination to take the fort by Storm
while our right wing was but purley protectted by our troops oing to the hard
fiting on the left. Gineril Buckenor being in command on the Right about
half past too in the eavning with a large forse and Buckenor not beaing at his
post3 tha marchd up the hill and over felen timber in to our riful
pits without much difaculty. The fourty ninth and fiftieth Regments was
then orderd out to the Battle
ground from the fort while reinforsements was sent from all along the line
too. We wear out to Battle
ground when the fourty ninth reacht the ground. Thears was but a part of
too regments contending against a supuir forse. There was a part of the
thirtieth, Tenn. and 2 Kentucky
Regt. Tha was soon reinforst suffisent to hold the blue coats in check
while the brave lovers of thear Country and fambly pord into the heart of the
Enimy thear deathly bloys. The fite continued about two ours with loud
and terrifick firing, the Enimy finding the brave Tennisseans and Kentuckians
to hard for them. Tha Tuck to thear heels
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at a
dubble quick over the hill and out of sight and then our Regiment was ordered
Back to the fort as we expected the gunboats would make an atack on the
fort. Tha hove up from behind the bend and fierd a few Shots at long rang
and our baterrys opend on them in return but without affect on Eather
side. Soon Knight came on and the gunboats droped down below the bend and
the firing seasd in every directtion. Evrey thing was in perfect silents
and tranquil once more. Our brave Countreymen returned to thear qartes
Cheerd up with the hope of a Nother Glouris victtory the next morning.
But to our great surprise our commander in cheefe finding out the strength of
the Enimey and ther onley Reinforsements he deamed it nessarey to surrender his
command up in to the hands of the Enimy, and owing to the wornout condision of
his men oing to the sevear cold snow and heavy frost that lay spred over the
ground and a great many of our men sevearly frost bit oing to thear long
continuation in the ditches and behind the riful pits. Not only did he
deem it nessary to surrender his men only but him Self also and for the well
fare of his men. On the morning of the Sixteenth about one oclock it had
bin detirmined by the commanding officers to cut our way out through the
Enimeys line and distroying all of the army stores and retreat by the way of
Nashvill. For this purpose Scouts was sent out for the purpos of exsaming
the Road and to assurtain whether the Enimy ocupied the ground tha had bin
driven from the day previous or not and Some of forrists men was then orderd to
inspect a sloug about a mile from dover.
Tha soon returnd and reported that the Roads was purfectly coverd with yankeys
and thear campfiers was burning in every directtion also that the slough was
impasible for infantry.4 This information prodused a change of
opperrations and then a confurance tuck place at whitch was present Gineral
floyd Pillow Buckenor Col. Forist Jones Gilmir Henrey Hanes and bush Rod
Johnson and Lieut Martin and Nickoldson the two last being aids of Ginerril
Pillow.5 Notwithstanding that communications had bin cut off,
Gin. Pillow urged the necesity of cutting our way out or make a fite for
another day in whitch he thought that we could get steamboats enouf to convey
the hold command across the River and make our escape by the way of Clarksville.
Gin. Buckenor then sed from the wornout and distrest condision of his men, and
the occupation of the riful pits by the Enimy on the right he could not hold
his posision for a half a hour if attackded by the Enimy at daylight whitch he
sirtainly would do. Gin Pillow replide why cant you, I think you can Sir,
and addid that ocupation of our Riful pits on the right by the Enimy left an
open gateway to our river baterrys and he thought that we ought to cut our way
out at all hazard.
Gin Buckenor retorted saiing I no my posission. I can onley bring to bare
aganst the Enimy 4000 men while he can oppose me eny given number. Pillow
then sed Gentlemen what do you intend to do I am in favor of fiting out.
Flloyd then asked Buckenor what he had to say.
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Buckenor
replide that to attempt to cut our way out through the linds would cost a
sacrifice of two thirds of the command and that no Gin had the rite to make
Such a Sacrifice of human lifs. Floyd admitted the fact and concured with
Bucknor on this point. Pillow then replide that thear was but one
alternative and that was capitulation and addrest him Self to floid and Sed I
shal neather surrender my Self nor the command ading you know my relation with
the federal Government and it would not do alluding to his corse when Seckutary
of war in distributing to the South her qoto of armis. Buckenor replide
that he thought no personal fealings ought to controle official acttion.
Floide admitted it and sed never the less it was his determination.
Buckenor sed then Gentlemen I supose that the Surrender wil fall upon me.
Floid addresing him Self to Buckenor sed Gin if you ar put in command wil you
allow me to take out my brigade. Buckenor sed yes if you wil take out
your command before I send my offer of capitulation to the Enimy.6
Then Sed floid I wil Surrender the command. Pillow upon whom the command
next devolved sed I wil not except it as my purpose is fixt never to
surrender. Buckenor amediatly replide I will except it and shear the fate
of my command and at once cald for pen ink and paper and a burgler to sound a
parley—it being two dark to send a flag of Truce.
Pillow then asked if it would be proper for him to make his escape to whitch
floyd said that it is a question for every man to decide for him Self but he
would be glad that Evrey man could make his escape if he could. Col.
Forrist adrest him Self to Gin Buckenor and Sed I think theare is more fite in
our men that you think for but if you wil let me I wil take out my command—to
whitch Buckenor and Floyd both concented. Turning to Pillow and sed
Gineril I fought under your command what shal I do? Pillow ancierd cut
your way out to whitch forrist replide I will by G.D. About too oclock we
wear orderd on to march. We marcht over to dover,
through the mud and water for it was verry mudy. We found that we wear
surrenderd up in to the hands of the Enimy. We turnd and marcht back to
the fort. By this time day was braking. As soon as sood lite we saw
seven white flags waving over the fort. Theare was sadness amonkesd our
men througout the intire incampment for it was hart rending to think after so
meney glowing vicktoreys to have to surrender up the fort and ourselves.
But we had to content ourselves as best we could under the circumstances.
But early in the morning the son shone out her butiful rays up on our forlone
condisshion whilst stalking about our qarters not noing what was to become of
us. The Enimy did not no that we had surrenderd. Earley in the
morning one of the Gunboats came up from behind the bend and pord thear Shotts
before she saw the flag of Surrender but as soon as she saw the white flag she
seast firing and then thear was loud Shouts all over the woods from the yankeys
for tha had us completely surrounted. About 12 oclock tha marched into
our qarters by thousands with thear musick. Tha drove us into our qarters
and would not let us Go out that butiful Sabbath day. The day passd off
in Sorrow and Sadness. Knight came on and we wear marcht over to dover
and down the River Bank onto a
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Steam
boat. The 49th Tenn
was stowed upon the hurricane. It pord down rain all nite long. The
50th was stowd on deck crouded as thick as we could stick. Theare was
about seven hundred men on bord of the old Jennary.7 Monday
morning the 17th came on. We wear stil at dover
and their was presented to our senerey about Sixty Steamboats and Gunboats.
Evreything seamed to be in a stir and crouding multitudes wear crouding the
River Banks. About 2 o’clock we left dover
for Chicago.
We reacht caro the morning of the 18th about eight oclock and thear I saw
nothing but federils bound for donelson but we mist Severil Steamboats loaded
with Soldiers, before we reacht Caro. The old Jennary landed at Caro and
putt off Severil hundred Bushils of potatoes. When She left Caro She
turned up the Mississippi River. We new
not whear but went on. Wedsday the 19 the day past off and we still went
up the river pasing a Great meney towns and city. We past St.
Louis in the knight. Thursday the 20 came
onn. About ten oclock we reacht Alton illinois
and thear we wear tacon off of the Boat and marcht out throug town and crambd
in the cares so thick that we could hardley turn around. About 2 oclock
we started for Chicago about 290 miles pasing meney towns—the first,
Bright[on], Shipman, Garland, Virgene,8 Auburn, Springfield,
Lincoln, Blumington, Bolington, Gollity,9 Lockport, Athens, Burvill,
Ginivill, Williams Springs,10 Chicago. We reacht Chicago
Friday morning about ten oclock. The weather was verry cold. The
ground was coverd with ice. We marcht from the cares about one mile
throug a part of the city to our place of imprisement. The gate of camp
Douglas was thrown open
to receave the capttured Rebbles. The federrils croudded around to welcum
us in. We wear soon furnished with good qarters. The next thing was
a Recusision for something to eat for we wear verry hungrey. We wear soon
visittid by the citisons of the Sitty men and women. Some seam to
Simpathise with us and others seamed to think that it was all rite for us to be
hear. Soon after our arrival at this place after pasing Through meney
Exposures from the Time we left for donelson thear was meney of the Prisenors
Tacon Sick and Sent off To the Hospittall. Theare was a good meney of the
49th tacon sick and several deaths of Co.
F. Thursday G. W. Blanton died March 28, 1862. E. C. Smith March 1st,/62.
W. R. Holt March 6th. T. H. Stevens March 10th. E. G. Deupree March
16th. Died in Co. E 49th. M. D.
Powel March 5th, D. R. Ginitt March 16th. Albert Powel April 21st, Elias
Powers March 4th. After beaing thear for several days the Secesh begin to
visit us verry ofton bringing us tobaco and pipes to smoke. A great meney
of them brought clothing and give to the boys of various kinds but that did not
last long. The federils hoo was in command at this place finding that our
friends from the city was of some benefit to us Rebbles Col Muligan hoo was in
command put a stop to our friends from coming in to comfort thear sore distrest
friends.11 Once and a while he would let one or too to see
thear friends and acqantances. The Col
would let his friends from the city those blackharted abilision, yes he would
let them Scoundrels to come in and
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point
and snear at the Rebbles. Thear was old Brownlow12 that came
to camp douglas
in april about the 10th and made a speach for the abilishian party in Chicago.
He got up and went on to sympathise with the Tennisseens. Sed that we
wear godd in to the Rebelian by our leaders. He sed that tha aut all to
be hung and would be if ever we git them. He went on to say that the
stares and Stripes must and should wave all over Tennissee over every town and
hill in Tenn.
At that time the Battle
of pitsburge had just bin fought and it was reported that Beaureguard had bin
wounded. He said that he wisht that the ball that struck him had went
through his heart in the place of his arm.
Mr Brounlow a citizen of Tenn
making abolision speaches for the North. We did not thank him for his
pitaful talk and old Blackharted Scoundrel. A few days after Brownlow mad
a speach thear was a Mr. Hendrick from Nashville Tenn came in to our prison and
made a speech pretending in the behalf of the Tenn and the 18th of april he
preacht a sirrman at whitch I was presant. This Hendricks is a son of old
H. Hendricks of Clarksville.
We wear visittid by a good meny of our old friends from Tenn.
Col Stocker was at camp
Douglas on the 7th and
8th of July/62. He was not permitted to see meny of the prisenors but we
wear glad to know that he was —————— for we Sent a good meney.
Just befor Stocker parson Reynolds was hear just from Sandusky
city. He had bin thear to see his brother in law. He came hear for
the purpose of seaing his brother. We wear all glad to see him. We
sent letters to our friends by him. On the 25th of July Mr. W. P.
Nicholds and Sam Woldreg from Dickson
County Tenn
was admitted in the prison. We sent letters by them to our friends.
On the 11th of August the oath was offerd and Severil Hundred purtisioned for
to take the oath of alleagance to The United Stats. August the 30th M. J.
Pace died between Twelve and one oclock at knight. He was a Member of Co
F 49th Tenn. Regt. He requested his funrel to be preacht from the fourth
chapter of the second Timitha the 6, 7, 8th vurses and by Preacher Low or
parson Burney of Cheatam county, Tenn.
August the 27th Mr. Cambell of Tenn made a speach in Camp Douglas in behalf of
the Tenn priseners reqested them to take the oath of alleagance to the united
states and return to thear alleagance to the federril Government. Thear
was several hundred that tacon the oath. Thear was 43 in the 49th
Regiment that tacon the oath. On the third of September we wear orderd to
cook up 4 days rations and pack up to leave for vicksburge.13
We left old camp Douglas on the ——————— three oclock in the eavning.
While we wear in line ready to march out of prison it raind verry hard.
The most of us got verry wet. Soon after the rain we was marcht out to
the cares. Soon we wear on the cares and started for Caro. After
leaving Chicago
we past Calument. The next Materson 24 miles from Chicago.
Manteno 40 miles, Kankee 56 miles. Sept the 6th past Mettoon 200 miles
from Caro. Nego 180 mil. Ethington Farrina14 143
miles. About 12 oclock the Locomotive and five cares run off the
Track. Kild one man and
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wounded
Ten others. We was detained about foure hours. Tha soon repaired
the Track and brout up a new Locomotive and hitched onto the Train and run down
to Santralia.15 We ran to Caro that knight. We reacht
caro about 2 hours before day light. As soon day come we was marcht from
the cares to the Steamboat and about Six hundred crambd on one Boat. We
lay at caro about three days ankrd out in the middle of the river. We
left Caro on the Eavning of the 8th about two oclock. Theare was in the
fleet nine transports and one gunboat bound down the Mississippi River to Vicksburg
all loded with Rebbles. On the same day past Collumbus 25 miles below in
the Kentucky
side and then Hickman 50 miles. The 9th past Island no Ten in the
morning. Saw Some federril Caverly at this place. Ran on that day
at Knight lay up. Sept. 10, Landed at Memphis
in the morning. Loaded on coal all day. We wear cheard hartily by
the Ladys of Memphis. Tha crouded the River Bank and cheard the
confederate Soldiers all day. The 11th came on We wear stil at
Mempas. Our boat ran to Shore. Multitudes of wimmin crouded around
and hallowd for Jeff Davis and the South. Tha give meny Gifts of tobaco
apples and peaches candy and all sorts of grappess. The boys gave them
Rings in return whitch was verry acceptable with the Tenn Girles. About 3
oclock we left Memphis.
Theare was about Six Thousand federrils at this place and one Gunboat.
Sept. the 12th we landed at Hellena about 90 miles below Mempas. We lay
thear about 24 hours. The boat that I was on unloaded frait all knight
under a flag of truce. Theare was at this place about 15 thousand
federrils Severril Gunboats and Transports at the place. We left thear
the 13th. The Eavning ran ten miles below Hellena past some federrils
campd on the River Bank about six hundred Strong. We ran 60 mile and lay
up for the knight. 14th Sept past Napolian, in arcancas at the Mouth of
Arkinsaw river 125 miles below Memphas. Theare was no troops at this
place. Sept 15th we laid 70 miles above Vicksburg.
Berrid Severril of our men that died on the differnt boats. We met with
Severil boats that had bin down to Vicksburge with prisenors. We started
out and ran to the mouth of the Yaszou river and stopt Sept 16th. The
confederrate Steamboat came up and receivd our officers and tacon them down to
the city. Sept 17th we was orderd ashore. We wear cold and one at a
time and we marcht across the point to the city about two miles. We
reacht the city about sundon. We met our officers and was carried to Good
qarters. Our fare was tollerable ruff while we wear in Vicksburg.
The citisons wear not prepared for the receiption of so meney conciqintaly we
got but little to eat. In the city evrething was so verry high. We
could not by much as our money was so verry scearce. Flour was seling at
fifty dollars per Barril. Eggs a dollor a dos. Butter one
dollor. Ginger cakes 50 cts a peace. We staid hear two days and
then we was orderd to Clinton Miss. On the 19th we got abord of the cares
and rold out for Clinton.
We reacht Clinton
about six oclock in the eavning. We then marcht about one mile north of Clinton
and struck camps. After a good knight rest we rose up in the morning of
the 20th refresht. A butiful morning it was. We drew our camp
eqipage on that
day. On the 21st I visited the town of Clinton.
This was Sunday a nise day. I went into the hospitals to se the sick
soldiers. Tha seamed to be well cared for. I saw some peacas for Sale.
Tha wear worth 25cts per dosen. Water melons was seling for one dollor a
peace.
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Brandy
Selling for thirty dollors a gal. Shoes was worth from fifteen to 20
dollors a pair. Evreything is very scearse at this place in the way of
vegatibles. There is plenty of Sweet potatoes but verry high. Tha
Sel for three dollors per Bushil. No cabage in this country. On the
23rd it rained verry hard and our tents was not suffichent to keep us dry as we
had nothing but some flyes for tents. 14th stil cloudy. Severril of
our boys tacon sick and sent to the hospital at Clinton.
Tha had bin verry much exposed from the time we left camp
douglas. The 26th
after eating a harty breakfast of biscuits and Texas
beef I tacon a tramp out in the country Grape hunting. Found some verry
nice grapes. At this time we are living on pickil pork and some beef
flour and meal. Sept 27 the Regimint was reorganised under the concript
law for two years longer. Electted our company officers. All men
under the concript law is held from the age of eight year to forty five.
All under and over releast. Sept 28th, Sunday nothing adoing. I
went out and got some grapes for amusement. The 29th we commenced
drilling. Oct 1st we had Preaching by a citison of Missisippi. Oct
6th Capt Roberts and Lieut Rudolph Powel and Harimon Johnson Started for
Home. Resigned their office. We Sent a good meney letters by them
to our friends. On the same day our qarter master Dan Gold and his
Brother and Capt Atkins came to the Regt. On the Eight we elected our
field officers. Electted Bailey16 for Col
for Liut Col
Grigsby Major D A. Lynn.
1 Lieut. Joseph Dixon,
local engineer officer.
2 Col.
J. E. Bailey, commanding the 49th Tennessee Infantry, the diarist’s regiment,
says in his report (Official Records, first ser., VII. 391), “The
batteries near the river mounted one 68-pounder rifle, one 10-inch columbiad, …
and eight 32-pounders”. Captain Culbertson (p. 392) reports
similarly. But Lieut. Colonel Haynes, chief of artillery (p. 410), speaks
of “the rifled gun, throwing a conical shell of 128 pounds”.
3 By reason of orders from General Pillow.
4 Forrest’s report says (ibid., VII. 386), “I … sent out two
men, who going by a road up the bank of the river, returned without seeing any
of the enemy, only fires, which I believed to be the old camp fires, and so
stated to the generals; the wind, being very high, had fanned them into a
blaze”. Per contra, Major G. A. Henry, ibid., p. 296.
5 Lieut.-Colonel Gilmer says (ibid., p. 264) that he was not
present, though Major Haynes and Lieutenant Nicholson say that he was (pp. 297,
299); General Bushrod Johnson was not (p. 363).
6 “Before the enemy receives my proposition for capitulation”,
according to Major Henry (p. 297); “before the enemy act on my communication”,
according to Pillow and Haynes (pp. 288, 298); “before his note was sent to
Grant”, according to Colonel Burch (p. 294); “before the terms of capitulation
are agreed on”, according to Lieutenant Nicholson (p. 300).
7 The D. A. January; Official Records, second ser.,
III. 277. Five thousand of the prisoners taken at Fort
Donelson were sent to Chicago;
ibid., pp. 281, 291.
8 Carlinville, Virden.
9 Joliet.
10 Willow Springs.
11 Under orders from the commissary general of prisoners.
12 W. G. Brownlow (“Parson Brownlow”), who had been sent inside the
Union lines at Nashville
March 3.
13 The instructions for the transfer of prisoners from Camp
Douglas to Vicksburg,
subject to future exchange, are in Official Records, second ser., IV.
420.
14 Matteson, Manteno, Kankakee, Mattoon,
Cairo, Neoga,
Effingham, Farina.
15 Centralia.
16 James E. Bailey, who had been their colonel up to the time of the
surrender, and had since been a prisoner in Fort
Warren.
