Colonel Winchester knew most of the leaders within Donelson. He knew
that Pillow was not of a strong and decided nature. Nor was Floyd,
who would rank first, of great military capacity. Buckner had talent
and he had served gallantly in the Mexican War, but he could not prevail
over the others. The fame of Forrest, the Tennessee mountaineer,
was already spreading, but a cavalryman could do little for the defense
of a fort besieged by twenty thousand well equipped men, led by a
general of unexcelled resolution.
All that Colonel Winchester surmised was true. Inside the fort
confusion and doubt reigned. The fleeing garrison from Fort Henry had
brought exaggerated reports of Grant's army. Very few of the thousands
of young troops had ever been in battle before. They, too, suffered
though in a less degree from cold and fatigue, but many were wounded.
Pillow and Floyd, who had just arrived with his troops, talked of one
thing and then another. Floyd, who might have sent word to his valiant
and able chief, Johnston, did not take the trouble or forgot to
inform him of his position. Buckner wanted to attack Grant the next
morning with the full Southern strength, and a comrade of his on old
battlefields, Colonel George Kenton, seconded him ably. The black-
bearded Forrest strode back and forth, striking the tops of his riding
boots with a small riding whip, and saying ungrammatically, but tersely
and emphatically:
"We mustn't stay here like hogs in a pen.
Pages:
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223