Clarksville, and "thus save the army." Buckner pointed out that Smith had already gained their entrenchments & the Yankees would overrun them the next day.

 Pillow stood up and declared, "Gentlemen, if we cannot cut our way out nor fight on there is no alternative left us but capitulation, and I am determined that I will never surrender the command nor will I ever surrender myself a prisoner. Floyd chimed in, "Nor will I; I cannot and will not surrender." Pillow added that he thought, "There were no two persons in the Confederacy whom the Yankees would prefer to capture than himself and General Floyd." He then ask Floyd if he could scurry' off with him. Floyd replied. "It was a question for every man to decide for himself."

 At this point Forrest entered the room, looked at the gloomy faces, and demanded to know if they intended to surrender. Someone nodded. Forrest stomped out of the room, assembled his officers, and announced, "Boys, the people are talking about surrendering, and I am going out of this place before they do or bust hell wide open.’ He got his troops together and marched them through the icy streams and creeks to safety. Most of the eastern end of the line was unguarded.

 

After Forrest left, the comic opera at headquarters reached its climax. Floyd started the last act. "General Buckner, "he said, I place you in command; will you permit me to draw out my brigade?' "Yes, provided you do so before the enemy act upon my communications Buckner replied. Turning to Pillow, Floyd said, "General Pillow, I turn over my command." Pillow exclaimed, l pass it." Buckner grimly declared, “I assume it; bring on a bugler, pen, ink, and paper." While Buckner began his bitter duty, Floyd and Pillow dashed out and got down to the river, where they were expecting a steamboat. Just before dawn, the boats arrived.

 On the riverbank was a scene of utter disorganization. Most of Floyd's brigade was drawn up to march up the gangplanks, Major Brown of the 20th Mississippi (now reunited with McCausland's brigade after service with Baldwin and Johnson), had learned of the intention to embark on the steamers from one of Buckner's aides. Brown then went to Floyd to have these orders from an odd source verified, which they were.

At the landing, various notions prevailed as to the order of march of the evacuation. Floyd intended to have the regiments embark according to the rank of their active commanding officer. Others had heard that the order of march from Bowling Green

would be preserved. In any event, Major Brown assumed that he was the junior major commanding a regiment, whereas in actuality a captain was in charge of the 56th Virginia.

 Meanwhile, rank and file, absent without leave, poured into Dover, intent upon obtaining passage upon the boats. They turned into a rabble, pressing upon the not-too orderly lines of the Virginians. Floyd, nearly beside himself under the pressure of events, called upon Brown and the 20th to form a ring of bayonets around the wharf to keep those “unauthorized" from infiltrating aboard the steamers.

 Sometime after five o'clock both steamers were under way with the first load to be ferried to the north side of the river. The 20th Mississippi, as the press of the refugees had relaxed, stacked their arms and waited with anticipation for the return of the ferries. They never did! Out of the 3 officers & 469 enlisted men in the 20th Mississippi, 19 of these were killed & 60 wounded.

 Buckner, who held to his old fashioned belief that a general's responsibility extended to going into captivity with his men, composed his note to Grant, asking for terms of capitulation. Grant received it just before daylight. His reply was terse: "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works."

 Buckner was shocked. He wrote his reply to Grant. "The distribution of the forces under my command incident to an unexpected change of commanders and the overwhelming force under your command compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Confederate arms yesterday, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms which you propose." So Donelson was gone, and with it all of western Kentucky and Tennessee.

 Grant issue Special field order No.10 directing:

 All prisoners taken at the surrender of Ft. Donelson will be collected as rapidly as practicable near the village of Dover, under their respective company and regimental commanders, or in such manner as may be deemed best by Brig. Gen. S.B. Buckner, and will receive two days rations preparatory to embarking for Cairo. Prisoners are to be allowed their clothing; blankets and such private property as may be carried about their person and commissioned officers will be allowed their side arms.

 

Later that morning Grant rode into Buckner's headquarters. The two commanders made final practical arrangements- the prisoners

 

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