THE FORT DONELSON VICTORY: Congratulatory Order from Gen. Halleck; Upward of Six Thousand of the Prisoners Arrived in Cairo (2/20/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 2/20/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

ST. LOUIS, Wednesday, Feb. 19.

The following order will appear in the morning papers of to-morrow:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI,

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19, 1862.

The Major-General commanding the Department congratulates Flag-Officer FOOTE, Brig.-Gen. GRANT, and the brave officers and men under their command, on the recent brilliant victories on the Tennessee and Cumberland. The war is not ended. Prepare for new conflicts and new victories! Troops are concentrating from every direction! We shall soon have an army which will be irresistible! The Union Flag must be restored everywhere, and the enthralled Union men in the South, must be set free! The soldiers and sailors of the Great West are ready and willing to do this. The time and place have been determined on! Victory and glory await the brave!

By command of Maj.-Gen. HALLECK.

N.H. MCLEAN, Assistant Adj't-General.

CAIRO, Tuesday, Feb. 18.

A large number of rebel prisoners were brought down yesterday, who belonged on the Cumberland River, and as they passed their homes they looked wistfully for some face for recognition.

Many were under the impression that they would be paroled, but when they found they were to be sent North, they were ready to take any oath.

Two-thirds of the prisoners manifest a desire to return to their allegiance, and some acknowledge that they had been humbugged into their present unfortunate position.

Six thousand prisoners have already arrived here, and others will be brought down as soon as transportation can be procured.

The following is a special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune:

FORT DONELSON, Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Two more regiments were captured to-day to the east of the intrenchments.

A number of rebel troops have come in, and delivered themselves up.

About 12,000 stand of small arms have been taken.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4039697/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Fort Donelson Victory: Congratulatory Order from Gen. Halleck – 2-3
More Good News: The Death-Blow of the Rebellion in Missouri – 3-4
The Rebellion Breaking Up: Mr. Faulkner Declares Secession to be a Failure – 4
News from Washington: Action of the House on the Treasury Note Bill – 4-5
Editorial: End of the War in Missouri-Price “Bagged” at Last – 5
The Execution Tomorrow – 5
The Day of Jubilee – 5
Arrest of Secessionists – 5

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

“The Rebellion Breaking Up: Mr. Faulkner Declares Secession to be a Failure”

Wow, and it was only the beginning of 1862

[budj]

Make no mistake; it's pronounced "KAY-ro."

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

This is my favorite Civil war photo Company B, U.S. Engineer Battalion in Petersburg, Virginia. 1864. It looks like it was taken last week not 158 years ago..

[jjotto]

Wow indeed. If Faulkner left some diaries or writings, it would be interesting reading.

CSA had suffered big defeats in Tennessee, and along the Atlantic Coast. Faulkner was on the staff of Stonewall Jackson, who had tried to resign about that time.

[buckalfa]

"CSA had suffered big defeats in Tennessee, and along the Atlantic Coast. Faulkner was on the staff of Stonewall Jackson, who had tried to resign about that time"

Even in early 1862, the CSA was pretty much facing economic defeat with the Union controlling most of the Mississippi, a mostly effective blockade of seaports, and the South starting to be cut in half via the Tennessee River campaigns. These events beg the question was a peaceful restoration of the Union possible in 1862 or was three more years of death and destruction necessary to destroy the institution of slavery?

[jjotto]

Good summary.

Generals and strategists always seem to overestimate their genius when faced with demographic, manufacturing, and logistics deficits. Many examples in history.

“In for a penny, in for a pond,” I guess.

[vetvetdoug]

The battles of Antietam, Corinth, and Iuka were the end of the Confederacy. September of 1862 the writing was on the wall.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

But just as with Stalingrad, El Alamein, Midway, and Guadalcanal, the writing on the wall doesn’t translate to the losing side throwing in the towel.

[M Kehoe]

Hi Professor.

I’ve seen this many times regarding the NYT. They go from propaganda to out right rooting for their side (sometimes the enemy).

Whether it’s 1861 or 2021, Pinch or his great grandfather, same same.

5.56mm

[colorado tanker]

President Lincoln would later say about General Grant: “I can’t spare this man–he fights.”