Levi Sugars to Llgqlldollllllllldll, March 13, 1862

I was present at the council of officers held at Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow’s headquarters, in the town of Dover, Tenn., on the morning of February 16. Was awoke in my quarters at 1a. m. by Col. John C. Burch, aide-de camp, and ordered to report to General Pillow forthwith. ET instantly proceeded to headquarters, where I saw Brigadier. Generals Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner, Colonel Forrest, Majors Henry (assistant adjutant- -general), Gilmer, and Jones, and Lieutenants Nicholson and Martin; the two latter volunteer aides to General Pillow. On my y entrance into the room I was accosted by General Pillow, and, being taken to one side, was informed by him that they had determined to eut their Way through the enemy’s lines and retreat from Dover to Nash- ville, anıl he desired me to destroy all the commissary stores and then make my escape across the river. I desired to know at what hour General Pillow wished his order to be executed, when, looking at his watch, he replied, “At 5.30 o’clock.” I then retired. from the room to inform my assistants of the order, but in an hour returned to headquarters. On re-entering the room heard General Buckner say, * I cannot hold my position half an hour after the attack,” and General Pillow, who was sitting next to General Buckner and immediately fronting the fireplace, promptly asked, “Why can’t you?” at the same time adding, ep think you ean hold your position; I think you can, sir.” General Buckner retorted, «I know my position; I ean only bring to bear against the enemy about 4,000 men, while he can oppose me with any given number” General Pillow then said : “Well, gentlemen, what do you intend to do; Iam in favor of fighting out.” General Floyd then spoke and asked General Buckner what he had to say, and General Buckner answered quickly, that to attempt to cut a way through the enemy’s lines and retreat would cost a sacrifice of three-fourths of the command, and no commander had a right to make such a sacrifice. General Floyd, concurring, remarked, * We will have to capitulate; but, gentlemen, 1 cannot surrender; you know my position with the Federals; it wouldn’t do; it wouldn’t do;” whereupon General Pillow, addressing General Floyd, said, ** I will not surrender myself nor the command; will die first.” “Then I suppose, gentlemen,” said General Buckner, “the surrender will devolve upon me.” General Floyd replied, speaking to General Buckner, ” General, if you are put in command will you allow me to take out by the river my brigade?” ‘Yes, sir,” responded General Buckner, “if you move your command before the enemy act upon my communication offering to capitulate.” “Then, sir,” said General Floyd, * I surrender the command,” and General Pillow, who was next in command, very quickly exclaimed, «I will not accept it; I will never surrender ;” and while speaking turned to General Buckner, who remarked, «I will accept and share the fate of my command,” and ealled for pen, ink, paper, and a bugler. After the capitulation was determined upon General Pillow wished to know if it would be improper for him to make his escape, when General Floyd replied that the question was one for every man to decide for himself, but he would be glad for every one to escape that could. “Then, sir, I shall leave here,” replied General Pillow. Colonel Forrest, who was in the room and heard what passed, then spoke: “I think there is more fight in these men than you all suppose, and, if you will let me, I will take out my command.” General Pillow, responding to him, «Yes, sir; take out your command; cut your way out. ” Generals Floyd and Buckner assented, General Floyd by saying, “Yes, take out your command,” and General Buckner by expressing, ” I have no objection.” The means of getting away was then. discussed, and soon after we began to disperse. While the gentlemen were leaving the room I appr oached General Buckner and wished to know if General Pillow’s order to destroy the commissary stores should be carried out, and he answered, * Major Haynes, I countermand the order.” It may be proper for me to say that I never met General Pillow before the morning of February 9, having been upon Brig. Gen. Charles Clark’s staff since my entrance into the service, and only went to Donelson with General Pillow to take temporary charge of the commissariat. General Pillow assigned me to duty on his staff after arriving at Donelson, February 10. W. H. HAYNES, Major and Brigade Commissary. MESZ aci a P t , Morgan County, ss: Personally appeared before me, Levi Sugars, intendant of the town of Decatur, and ex officio justice of the peace, Maj. W. H. Haynes, who makes oath that the statements herein made, relating to what was said in the council of officers on the morning of February 16, 1862, is true. W. H. HAYNES, Major and Brigade Com., Prov. Army, Confederate States. Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 14th of March, 1862. LEVI SUGARS, Intendant. [Inclosure No. 6.] Hunter Nicholson’s statement. I was present at the council of war, held at Brigadier-General Pillow’s headquarters, in Dover, on Saturday night, February 15, 1862. I came into the room about 2 o’clock. There were present Generals Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner, Major Gilmer, Colonel Forrest, and several staff officers, among whom I distinctly remember Major Henry and Colonel Burch, of General Pillow’s staff. The generals were discussing the necessity and practicability of marching theforces out of the intrenchments and evacuating the place. Major Rice, a resident of Dover, and aide-de-camp of General Pillow, was describing the nature of the country and,character of the roads over which the army would have to pass. He referred to some citizen—I think a doctor, but do not remember his name—whom he represented as more familiar with the roads. In a little while, or perhaps during the conversation of Major Rice, the gentleman referred to was announced. He gave a description of the roads which, from my ignorance of the locality, lam unable to repeat. The substance was, however, that, though exceedingly difficult, it was possible to pass the roads with light baggage – trains. General Pillow asked most of the questions propounded to this gentleman, as also those to Major Rice. At this point I was called into an adjoining room, where I remained but a few minutes. When I returned Major Jones, brigade-quartermaster, was justentering the room. General Pillow at once approached him, and taking him a little one side, explained to him that it had been determined to evacuate the place, and that he must prepare to burn the quartermaster’s stores in his hands. Major Jones inquired at what time. General Pillow replied, “About daybreak; about 5.30 o’clock.” Major Jones left very soon, and 1 did not see him in the room afterwards, that Irecolleet. In a fewminutes Major Haynes, brigadecommissary, entered the room, and received similar instructions as to the commissary stores under his charge. About this time a scout was ushered in, who answered that the enemy had reoccupied the lines from which they had been driven during the fight on Saturday. General Pillow doubted if the scout was not mistaken; so another was sent out. About half an hour had elapsed when Major Haynes returned and remained near me in the room during the remainder of ¿he discussion. Just as he entered General Buckner remarked, “I am confident that the enemy will attack my lines by light, and I cannot hold them for half an hour.” “General Pillow replied quickly, “Why so; why so, general?” General Buckner replied, * Because I ean bring into action not over 4,000 men, and they demoralized by long and uninterrupted exposure and fighting, while they can bring 300 ^ OPERATIONS IN K. Y., TENN., N. ALA., AND S. W. V. A. [Omar. XVII. any number of fresh troops to the attack.” General Pillow replied, “I differ with you. I think you can hold your lines; I think you ean, sir.” General Buckner replied, “I know my position, and I know that the lines cannot be held with my troops in the^present condition.” General Floyd, it was, I think, who then remarked, “Then, gentlemen, a capitulation is all that i is left us.” To which General Pillow replied, «Tg do not think so; at any rate, we can cut our way out.” General Buekner replied, “Po cut our way out would cost three-fourths of our men, and I do not think any commander has a right to sacrifice three-fourths of his command to save one-fourth.” “To which General Floyd replied, “Certainly not.” About this time the second scout sent out returned, and reported the enemy in force occupying the position from which they had been driven. Thereupon two of Colonel Forrest’s cavalry were sent to examine the backwater and report if it could be crossed by the army. These scouts returned in a short time and reported that cavalry could pass, but infantry could not. General Buckner then asked, ” Well, gentlemen, what are we todo?” General Pillow replied, “You understand me, gentlemen; Iam for holding out at least to-day, getting boats, and crossing the command over the river. As for myself, I will never surrender the command or myself; I will die first.” General Floyd replied, “Nor will I; 1 cannot and will not surrender, but I must confess personal reasons control me.” General Buckner replied, “But such considerations should not control a general’s actions.” General Floyd replied, * Certainly not; nor would I permit it to cause me to sacrifice the command.” ‘ General Buckner replied, “Then I suppose the duty of surrendering the command will devolve on me” General Floyd asked, “How will you proceed?” General Buckner replied, “I will send a flag asking for General Grant’s quarters, that I may send a message to him. I will propose an armistice of six hours to arrange terms.” A pause here ensued. Then General Buckner asked, “Am I to consider the command as turned over tome?” General Floyd replied, “Certainly, I turn over the command.” General Pillow replied quickly, “I pass it; I will not surrender.” General Buckner then called for pen, ink, and paper, and abugler. General Floyd then said, ” Well, general, will I be permitted to take my little brigade outif I can?” General Buckner replied, * Certainly, if you can get them out before the terms of capitulation are agreed on.” Colonel Forrest then asked, ** Gentlemen, have I leave to cut my way out with my command?” General Pillow replied, “Yes, sir; cut your way out; and, continuing, ‘Gentlemen, is there anything wrong in my leaving?” General Floyd replied, “Every man must judge for himself of that.” General Pillow replied, “Then I shall leave this place.” Here General Pillow left the room, but returned in a short time, and, taking a seat between Generals Floyd and Buckner, said, “Gentlemen, in order that we may understand each other, let me state what is my position; I differ with you as to the cost of cutting our way out, but if it were ascertained that it would cost three-fourths of the command, I agree that it would be wrong to sacrifice them for the remaining fourth.” Generals Floyd and Buckner replied, “We understand you, general, and you understand us.” After this I left the room, and soon after the place. Sworn to and subscribed before me on this 18th day of March, 1862.

LEVI SUGARS,