Unknown to Judah P. Benjamin, March 11, 1862

Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: The reports of Brigadier Generals Floyd and Pillow of the defense and fall of Fort Donelson are unsatisfactory. I can but hope that explanations may be made which will change the aspect given to the affair by their statements.

In the mean time you will order General A. S. Johnston to relieve both of those officers from command, and to indicate to them that information is wanted as to their failure to give timely notice of the insufficiency of the garrison to repel the attack and their failure to attempt to save the army by evacuating the post when it was found to be untenable, and especially why they abandoned the command and by what means their escape was effected; further, to state upon what principle was a selection made of particular troops, being certain regiments of the senior general’s brigade, to whose use the transportation on hand should be appropriated.

Copies of the reports received will be furnished to me for transmission to Congress.

Very respectfully, yours,