Colonel George Kenton rode with him.
The rumor that a surrender was impending spread to the soldiers.
Not yet firm in the bonds of discipline confusion ensued, and the high
officers were too busy escaping by the river to restore it. All through
the night the two little steamers worked, but a vast majority of the
troops were left behind.
But Dick could know nothing of this at the time. He was sleeping too
heavily. He had merely taken a moment to snatch a bit of food, and then,
at the suggestion of his commanding officer, he had rolled himself in
his blankets. Sleep came instantly, and it was not interrupted until
Warner's hand fell upon his shoulder at dawn, and Warner's voice said in
his ear:
"Wake up, Dick, and look at the white flag fluttering over Donelson."
Dick sprang to his feet, sleep gone in an instant, and gazed toward
Donelson. Warner had spoken the truth. White flags waved from the
walls and earthworks.
"So they're going to surrender!" said Dick. "What a triumph!"
"They haven't surrendered yet," said Colonel Winchester, who stood near.
"Those white flags merely indicate a desire to talk it over with us,
but such a desire is nearly always a sure indication of yielding,
and our lads take it so. Hark to their cheering."
The whole Union army was on its feet now, joyously welcoming the sight
of the white flags. They threw fresh fuel on their fires which blazed
along a circling rim of miles, and ate a breakfast sweetened with the
savor of triumph.
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