INCIDENT OF LOOKOUT VALLEY.-"An un- philippic from the pen of one of the fair citizens recorded incident of the midnight fight between of Memphis: Hooker's and Longstreet's forces in Lookout Valley, ten days ago, has come to my knowledge, "EDITOR BULLETIN: You call attention to Linand deserves to have a place on the record," says coln's appointment of a day of Thanksgiving for a correspondent. "A short time subsequent to the successes which have blessed our cause, and this magnificent charge on the enemy in their you hope the day will be properly observed. By breastworks by General Geary's brigade, General our cause' you mean the Union cause. I wonHoward, taking with him a small escort of cav- der how you think the people of Memphis can alry, started for that part of the field where Gen- thank God for the successes of the Union Abolieral Geary was supposed to be. He had not gone tion cause. You pretend to think that a great far when he came up with a body of infantry. Union sentiment has sprung up in Memphis, beWhat cavalry is that?' was the hail. All right,' cause you say that upwards of eleven thousand responded General Howard, at the same time persons have taken the oath of allegiance. Let calling out, What men are those?' Long- me tell you, if they have taken it, they did not street's,' was the reply. All right; come here,' do it of their own free will, and they don't feel said General Howard. The men approached. bound by it; they had to take it under a military Have we whipped those fellows?' asked General despotism, and don't feel bound to regard any Howard, in a manner to keep up the deception. oath forced upon them in that way. Do you beNo, d-n them; they were too much for us, and lieve that any preacher in Memphis will appoint drove us from our rifle pits like devils. We're services in his church at Lincoln's dictation? Let whipped ourselves.' By this time the rebels had one dare to try it, and see how his congregation gathered nearer. 'Lay down your arms,' de- will stand it. They know better. They know manded General Howard in a stern voice. The full well that the people of Memphis give thanks men surrendered. Taking his prisoners in charge, over Union disasters with sincere hearts, but don't General Howard proceeded on his way. He had rejoice at Union victories, as they call them. not gone far before another party of rebel infantry The women of Memphis will stick to the Confedcalled out, 'What cavalry is that?' 'All right,' erate cause, like Ruth clung to her mother-inwas the response again of General Howard, as law, and say to it, 'Where thou goest I will go, he proceeded. On approaching the position oc- where thou livest I will live, where thou diest I cupied by Geary, that officer had observed the will die, and there will I be buried.' But where advancing horsemen and infantry, as he supposed are your great successes? Your own papers say the prisoners to be, and supposing them to be that Lee brought off a train of captured spoils rebels, he had ordered his guns to be loaded with twelve miles long, and that Morgan destroyed canister, and in a moment more would have given seven or eight millions of dollars' worth, before the intrepid Howard and his little forces the ben-all Ohio and Indiana could stop him. Pretty efit of it. But the General who had successfully deceived the enemy found a way to make himself known to friends, and so escaped a reception of that kind."

A RAID.-A correspondent at Washington wrote: "Owing to Mosby's depredations, the word 'raid' is worked into almost every expression. I have in my employ a contraband, of double-dyed blackness, called John. I went out to my barn one morning, and, noticing that his face was wet with perspiration, remarked that he 'looked pretty warm.' 'Yes, massa,' was his reply, Ise had a pretty big raid on my muscle dis mornin', an' Ise mos' done gone.""

FEMININE WRATH. In the fall of 1863, after the great national successes at Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Gettysburg, the President of the United States appointed a day of Thanksgiving to God for the victories that had crowned the national arms.

The Bulletin, a Union paper published in Memphis, Tennessee, made a simple announcement of the fact, and remarked that there were many, no doubt, in that city who would heartily join in celebrating the day. This suggestion drew upon the editor's head the following glowing and defiant

dear success, this. Still I won't rejoice over it at Lincoln's dictation. But wait till President Davis' day comes round. Perhaps by that time Meade may get another whipping, and if you don't see rejoicing and thanksgiving then, you may well believe that you and your officious local fail to see half that exists in Memphis. Now you won't publish this, perhaps, because it don't suit you. You can say the reason is, because I don't put my real name to it. You can do as you please about it. I choose to sign it.

MARY LEE THORNE.

RELENTLESS CONSCRIPTION.—The rebel conscript act, which was enforced on and after the 20th April, 1862, brought dismay to thousands of Southern families. A large portion of the rebel army, at that time, was composed of men who had enlisted for twelve and three months, and whose time would expire in May, when their return was eagerly and anxiously anticipated by their families, for many of whom no pecuniary provision had been made after the expiration of the time enlisted for. One of the regiments under Bragg's command at this time was composed of men from East Tennessee, most of them poor, and leaving at home small provision for their wives and children. Of this regiment, one company, at the expiration of the twelve months of their enlistment, laid down their arms, and de

manded permission to return to their families. having been an eye-witness to the part acted in By threat and argument, most of them were in- it by General Floyd, it has suggested itself that duced to return to duty; but three or four held a few thoughts thereon would not be inapproout, declaring that they would insist on their priate. I first saw General Floyd, at Nashville, right to go home; but all these, save one, were in January, 1862. He was then on his way to at last convinced that there was no alternative join General A. S. Johnston, whose headquarters but death or obedience, and, at whatever sacrifice were at Bowling Green, on Green River, Kenof feeling, concluded to shoulder arms again, and tucky. General Floyd had his command with return to duty. One man, however, firmer than him, the same that served with him in West Virthe rest, and who was continually haunted by the ginia. It was then supposed that the great batmemory of his destitute family at home, steadily tle of the war would take place at or near Bowrefused obedience to the new and terrible law. ling Green, which would decide the question He said he had fought faithfully and willingly for whether Kentucky was ours or belonged to the his country, but his time had expired, and he de- Federals. General Buell commanded the Fedmanded, as a right, that he should go home and eral forces, which occupied the line of Green Rivmake proper provision for the support of his family, er, and his army was rapidly reënforced, until, on when he promised to return and become a voluntary the 1st of February, 1862, it numbered one hunconscript. Argument, persuasion, threat, impris-dred thousand men. It was given out that Genonment were powerless to move him from this position. At last he was tried by court-martial for mutiny, and sentenced to be shot on the following day. He received his sentence with perfeet coolness, declaring that he was right, and if they chose to shoot him, they might do so. His case elicited universal sympathy, and Bragg was persuaded, by the entreaties of some of his officers, to extend the condemned man three days of grace. He was allowed the liberty of the camp, and every argument used to persuade him to get away, which he could easily do. "No," he replied to all such suggestions; he had done nothing wrong, and he would not sneak away, as though he were guilty. He wished nothing unjust or wrong; his family at home were starving; his first duty was to provide for them. The three days passed; and the Crescent regiment, which was enlisted for three months, and which was, perhaps, as anxious to return home as any other in the field, was detailed to complete the tragedy. The army was drawn up, enclosing the Crescent regiment, for fear, it was said, they should refuse to obey orders. The doomed man was brought out, and marched, with a firm step, to his stand beside the coffin prepared to receive his dead body. At the appointed moment he bared his breast, gave the signal to fire, and fell, in the same moment, upon his coffin, a lifeless corpse. A squad of men were immediately detailed to bury him, and the army was marched back to camp. The unfortunate regiment, which was chosen as the instrument of this terrible despotism, was sickened by the sight, as though there had been administered to them the most powerful emetic; and from that time on, upon the name of Braxton Bragg were heaped curses, both loud and deep; but open mutiny was effectually suppressed.

eral Johnston's army was also one hundred thousand strong, and that the line of Green River would be held. A line of defence had been drawn from Bowling Green westward to Columbus, on the Mississippi, embracing Forts Henry, on the Tennessee River, and Donelson, on the Cumberland. The latter place was selected by Governor Harris, of Tennessee, on account of the natural strength of the position, and because it was the key of Nashville. This point was strongly fortified. Most of the heavy guns were mounted under the supervision of General Buckner, who took command of the post in January, 1862. Thus, on the 1st of February, 1862, the people who were south of this military line felt perfectly secure from the horrors of invasion, fully confident that the tide of war would roll towards the Ohio, instead of south, on the Cumberland and Tennessee. With the accomplished Sidney Johnston, commanding an army one hundred thousand strong, in Central Kentucky, and the people of that gallant State rising in arms, it was believed that the enemy would be beaten, and his flying cohorts driven out of the State. Such was the feeling of the people of Tennessee and Southern Kentucky on the 1st of February, 1862. Fatal security! It lost us an empire, not yet recovered.

Early in February General Gideon J. Pillow assumed command of the forces at Fort Donelson. He was the universal choice of the people of Tennessee for that position. On arriving at the fort he commenced work with his usual energy. It was under his direction that the rifle pits were dug, earthworks thrown up, timber and undergrowth cut down, and guns mounted, to prepare for a land attack from the enemy. His presence seemed to inspire every man with confidence, and he infused new energy into every laggard. I think it was on the 12th of February that General Floyd arrived at the fort, from Bowling Green, and assumed command of all the forces. He immediately examined the earthworks and defences, and pronounced everything that had Having recently read a notice of the death of been done "good." For a day or two previous General Floyd, my thoughts went back to the the gunboats of the enemy had been seen hoverdays of Fort Donelson, and the period imme-ing about the point below, and everything was in diately following that disaster to our arms. Hav- preparation to give them a warm reception. The ing taken a humble part in those affairs, and scouts brought in word that the enemy was land

RECOLLECTIONS OF JOHN B. FLOYD.-A "Soldier" of the South contributed the following story to a Confederate journal:

mined to commence the attack on Sunday morning at daylight.

ing a large force below the point, and it then became apparent that the ditching and digging were not labor lost. Our entire force, all told, Some time later in the night another meeting amounted to thirteen thousand men. The fight of general officers was held, I understood at the was commenced by the enemy's gunboats on request of General Buckner, at which he stated Thursday, the 13th, and continued through three that the men were physically worn out and incadays. From prisoners, which were taken on Fri-pable of fighting any more, and that he was in day, we learned that the enemy's land force was thirty thousand strong, and that they were being daily reenforced with fresh troops. The history of the three days' fight is well known. I do not desire to enter into an account of each day's fight; suffice it to say that the enemy was repulsed at all points with great slaughter, and that he gained no material advantage until Saturday evening, when, by the loss of a battery, our line was bent back, and we stood in great danger of being flanked. During the three days' fight the gunboats had made no impression on the fort, while the fort had disabled two of the gunboats, and injured, to some extent, a third. No boat could stand a fire from heavy guns mounted on a bluff one hundred feet above the river. The terrible plunging fire of solid shot was certain destruction to all below. In Saturday's fight we were so overwhelmed by numbers that we were forced to give back.

On

favor of surrendering; that they were entirely surrounded by the enemy, and that even if they succeeded in cutting their way out, that there was not sufficient river transportation to convey the troops to Nashville; that an attack next morning would end only in a wanton destruction of life, and that he could not see any benefit that would result from it. General Pillow spoke in favor of the attack next morning. He thought the men capable of another effort, and he spoke eloquently against a surrender, which would dim all the glory that had been achieved. He eulogized the troops; said they were not lacking in strength or spirit; that they were capable of one more effort, and that effort should be made; that he would never surrender to the enemy. General Floyd said he was opposed to surrendering; that he could not and would not surrender; that he knew the men were worn out, yet he thought almost the entire command could be saved by a vigorous Our line of defence once lost, we were then at attack next morning. General Buckner replied a great disadvantage. The weather was terrible. that the men were exhausted, and could fight no It had been sleeting and snowing for two days and more, and that he would stay with his men. nights, and was bitter cold. Several of the men General Floyd said, "I cannot surrender; I pass had frozen to death in the trenches. The rifle pits the command over to you, General Pillow." were knee-deep in water and ice. Many of the General Pillow said, "Nor can I surrender; I men had not tasted food for two days. Some pass the command to General Buckner." General were physically exhausted from hunger, loss of Buckner said, "I accept the command." sleep, and cold. More than three fourths of the these facts becoming known to the men, all was whole command were raw troops, and had never commotion. Many prepared to leave at once. faced an enemy before. Some murmuring was It was given out that all that wanted to could heard among the men, such as, "We can't fight now leave, as the way to Nashville was open. forever; if Johnston don't send us reënforcements Many crossed the river, and went on foot on to we ought to leave here." In this state of affairs Nashville. Colonel Forrest, of the Tennessee cava council of war was held late on Saturday even-alry, now General Forrest, said that he would ing. It was admitted that the place could not form a rear guard of his command, and protect all be held without reënforcements. General Pillow who would come out. Many availed themselves believed that reënforcements would yet arrive, and of this offer, and Colonel Forrest kept his word. he was in favor of commencing a vigorous attack General Floyd brought out almost his entire comon the enemy next morning (Sunday), to regain mand, which had come with him from Virginia. our former line, and hold that position at all General Pillow was instrumental in bringing hazards until help came. He said that he had several of the men out. He made personal appeals promised Governor Harris that he would hold to many of the officers commanding Tennessee that place at all hazards and defend the capital, troops not to remain, which was responded to. and he was in favor of holding it. General Floyd It is my opinion that the entire command could said that no more aid would come; that he had have been saved had General Floyd's plan been brought the last available man that General adopted. As it was, more than four thousand Johnston could spare; that he had but twenty- men left the fort and the trenches on that night, five thousand men left; and that he thought it and arrived safe at Nashville. All left who chose best to make a vigorous attack on the enemy to, and those who remained chose to remain. next morning, and, under cover of the attack, to Indeed, many left the fort after it had been surretire the whole command. To this General rendered, on Sunday, and walked all the way to Buckner made some objection, but finally he as- Nashville. Eleven members of a Texas regiment sented to it. It was admitted by all that the came into camp at Murfreesboro', thirteen days place could not be longer held without reënforce- after the surrender, having left the fort on Monments, and after General Floyd's statement it day morning after the surrender. The report that was seen that it was impossible to be reënforced. the fort was surrounded by the enemy was a misThe plan of General Floyd was assented to by take. It was not even invested on Sunday evenGenerals Buckner and Pillow, and it was deter-ing, as our men were continually leaving the

from Seward to Garrison. They all, from Lincoln to the lowest minion, hated, with a venomous hatred, John B. Floyd. Therefore he could not surrender. To that noble old man it would have been too deep a humiliation. Had he surrendered, the vile Northern rabble would have hooted and howled at his heels, from the Ohio to the St. Lawrence. He would have been hawked at by the Yankee owls in every city and village through which he passed. Therefore General Floyd

fort from morning until night on that day. About six thousand men remained with General Buckner, and he surrendered these with the fort on Sunday, the 16th of February. Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing was not more than one thousand. The loss of the enemy was immense; it could not have been less than six thousand in killed and wounded. The ground on the slope in front of the rifle pits was literally covered with his dead and dying. Never were troops handled better than ours were at Fort Donelson. Never" could not surrender." Did he do wrong, then, did men fight with greater resolution. The force brought against them was immensely superior in men and munitions of war, and for three days they held out, fighting each day fresh troops, and repulsing them with terrible slaughter. That the victory was not ours is not the fault of those who fought on that ensanguined field. Had five thousand fresh troops arrived on Saturday evening the victory would have been ours.