Dearest Fred, 

The 15th saw the forces under Pillow assaulting McClernand's line. When it was pushed back onto Bucker's line, they succeeded in forcing a gap into the Yankee lines, leaving a wide open road for them to march out and on to Nashville--which was the original plan. General Floyd, partly due, I suppose to a lack of knowledge and partly due to the petty wranglings of his subordinates, ordered us back into our previous positions; essentially, the day's fighting was a waste of effort.

That night, it was determined that Fort Donelson, along with the army, those brave lads in gray! should be surrendered to Grant. General's Floyd and Pillow took there own selves off, as neither would surrender themselves, and left General Buckner, who had been friends with Grant prior to the war, to the distasteful duty of surrendering. I am sure it was distasteful, despite the fact that he felt it necessary--as you may see by reading the enclosed reports.

Colonel N.B. Forrest was allowed during the night to make off with his cavalry intact via a backwater. Forrest and his men kindly helped out a number of infantry men who decided to throw their lot in with him, rather than sit and swallow the bitter pill of surrender.  Others would simply walk through the Yankee lines the next day in a rather nonchalant fashion. (You may inform Charles that I was among the latter.)

That is a brief outline of the events. It was a disastrous, not to mention rather ignominious, situation. The surrender of Fort Donelson left Tennessee wide open to the Yankee invaders.

You will find included parts of General Gideon Pillow's report.

Here is another "inside view" of the Confederate council:

There are, you may be assured more (and Federal) reports, but it would take more time than I have (or you probably have at the current time) to copy them over for you.

The fall of Fort Donelson was a somber time for the Confederacy...

Grandfather

Dear Freddy,

The second day of movement against Fort Donelson (February 14, 1862), saw primarily action from the river and little on the land-front.

Commodore Andrew Foote, the antagonist at Fort Henry, you will recall, steamed up the Cumberland River with six vessels. The four ironclads and two wooden gunboats began bombarding the fort. Very little damage was done to Donelson, but the guns of the fort beat back the Yankee boats. Foote himself was wounded, his flagship and one other ironclad disabled, to the degree that they were unable to be steered. The other two were damaged as well. 

Two cold armies sat and looked at each other--waiting. 

In the Confederate headquarters, a council of war took place. It was decided that the very next day, the Confederates would evince a breakout--lead by Pillow--and head for Nashville. This break would be attempted at the southern end of the Federal line--their right, across from McClernand.

They began to set the stage for the dawn breakout...

Monday's letter shall contain the outcome. Do pay diligent heed to the preaching of the Word tomorrow, Fred.

Affectionately,

Grandfather

Dear Fredrick,

I trust your Lord's Day was restful. Do tell me about the sermon...I should be most interested to hear your thoughts upon it.

The main events of interest from the 22nd  to the 23rd of November, 1861 were concentrated in Florida with the two-day bombardment of Pensacola. 

You may find the Union reports to be somewhat, shall I say, repetitive, but I have included more than one for the slight differences in perspective. 

The following are the Confederate reports. I want you to note the religious tenor of General Bragg's reports; a tenor quite absent in that of the Union officers.

There were a variety of smaller events on the 24th (a Sunday, as we might note from General Bragg's first report). Union forces mounted an expedition on Tybee Island, Georgia. Skirmishes took place around Lancaster and Johnstown, Missouri.

General Forrest set out on an expedition from Casyville to Eddyville Kentucky.

Tomorrow's letter will not be near as long as this one...but I shall let you wait and see why tomorrow. 

I regret that you will be unable to return home for Thanksgiving. I do hope you shall have an enjoyable time at the headmaster's. I shall miss you greatly.

Love,

Grandfather

My Dear Freddy,

There were a couple of actions in the western theater on November 13, 1861. Both continued for two or more days. Likewise, both were Federal advances.

The first was from Greenville to Doniphan (both Missouri) on the 13th-15th. As you may see by looking at the map, there was a rail road between these two towns. Below, you will find the report, that the Federal officer in command sent to his superior:

"Report of Capt HP Hawkins Independent Company Missouri Cavalry Patterson Mo.                                                                                             Sunday pm      November 16 1861 
Sir: In conformity with your desire expressed in order of 12th instant and received at Greenville I visited Doniphan Ripley County and went within 6 miles of the State line. I have just returned to this place with my company all safe. I succeeded in capturing the lieutenant in command of the rebel pickets at Doniphan. Owing to our want of knowledge of their location the rest were enabled to escape by a most precipitate retreat. From the manner of their start would not be astonished to hear they were still running. We followed them on the Pitman Ferry road some 2 miles south of Doniphan and would have gone through to the ferry but prudence dictated a retreat. We had accomplished all we expected. We routed the pickets captured 1 or 2 horses, several guns, pistols, blankets, saddles, &c. I am reliably informed that Colonel Borland is in command of the forces about Pocahontas. The militia of ten counties is ordered out for thirty days to capture Pilot Knob. I do not think the colonel will cross the State line. The infantry (3,000 to be increased to 10,000) is stationed at Walnut Springs 5 miles north of Pocahontas. The cavalry (1,700) are stationed as follows: 1,000 are stationed 5 miles south of Pitman's Ferry, 400 are stationed at different points between the main body and the ferry, 300 were stationed 3 miles south of town the pickets stationed at Doniphan were about 15 in charge of a lieutenant. He reports the pickets numerous and from 10 to 20 at each post. I find the southern part of the State stripped of almost every kind of produce and many families along our route are absolutely suffering for many of the necessaries of life. I found the inhabitants in great fear outrages supposed to be committed by the Federal troops.  I adopted a mild and uniform course of treatment towards those persons with whom we came in contact. It was expected by the rebel citizens of Doniphan that we would destroy their town. Mr Leeper, myself and one or two others acquainted with the families of some of the prominent, called on their families and advised the men to remain at home live as they had, heretofore loyal citizens. I am well satisfied our trip below has done much good towards reconciliation and establishing friendly feeling towards our Union troops. My orders are to remain at Greenville till further orders. Want subsistence and shoeing of horses compelled me to return to this point. It is 10 miles north of Greenville and a much more desirable place to camp. Will remain here until further orders. My men are all good condition. Many of my horses are badly used up. Hoping the course pursued by the officers and men of my command will meet your approbation. I have the honor to remain your obedient servant, HENRY P HAWKINS Commanding Independent Missouri Cavalry 
[to] Col William P Carlin Comdg Post Pilot Knob, Mo. 

The second of these actions was began in Texas County, Missouri and moved westward into Wright County, Missouri. These two counties are to the westward of  Greenville. This Federal expedition was pursued from the 13th to the 18th. 

I have attached a copy of the reports here.

Do you and Charles take the time to plot these courses out. I would be interested in your discussion as you do so, but as I cannot be there to overhear you, perhaps you might give yourself the task of writing up your own report for your grandfather.

Lovingly,

James B. Hamilton

My Dearest Grandson,

As promised, today's letter contains an account of the fall of Port Royal to the Federals. You will recall that General Lee had taken command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida just days prior to this engagement. 

Before I actually take you too the attack, Fred, allow me to give a little groundwork for it. This was the third attack on Confederate ports. It would also be the third success. The previous two were Hatteras Inlet (North Carolina) and Ship Island off New Orleans. These engagements took place in August and September, respectively; but our purpose here is not to draw out the details of those attacks at this point. 

The commanding officer in charge of the Port Royal escapade was Captain Samuel DuPont. DuPont set sail from Hampton Roads in late October with sealed orders and 74 vessels plus a landing force of 12,000. 

One way or another, the target of the expedition was discovered by our intelligence men and Forts Walker and Beauregard were duly warned. The weather caused problems for DuPont, whose fleet ran into a severe storm which scattered his shipping. By the 7th, he was anchored just outside the bay and many of his ships had found their way back to him. He was ready for an attack that no longer contained an element of surprise.

Thursday, 7 Novemeber, 1861. Eight o'clock a.m.

Captain Samuel DuPont commenced his ingenious battle plan. I will here attempt a sketch at a battle map for you.

As you will be able to see, DuPont's plan consisted of an expanding elliptical line of attack--his gunboats raking the forts with each pass.

He divided his ships into a main squadron, consisting of nine of the heaviest of the frigates and sloops, and a flanking squadron of five gunboats. These all entered the sound in parallel columns, the lighter squadron ranged to starboard. As they passed midway between the forts, Beauregard on the north, Walker three miles to the south, the gunboats were the target of the fort's fire, but they returned said fire vigorously.

Roughly two miles into the sound, the main force turned to the south and came round to move past Fort Walker, the weaker of the two forts, while keeping up a scathing cannonade. They continued this maneuver all the way around in a giant ellipses to give Fort Beauregard the same treatment.

While the above maneuvering was underway, the flanking squadron peeled off to engage the four Confederate boats--three of which were no more than tugs mounting but a single gun apiece! These gunboats, after firing once or twice, promptly retreated up Skull Creek...where they were essentially useless to the fight, being bottled up by the Yankee boats. 

Regrettably for our side, the gunners in the forts had had little to no practice with their artillery pieces. No only were they unskilled in the handling of their guns, it soon became apparent that the shot was frequently of the wrong size and the quality of the power was quite poor. It may be needless to remark at this point that the toll they took on the Union vessels was extremely light.

To make matters worse, Fort Walker was rather weak on the northern side as the it had been built primarily for the purpose of defending directly out to sea and no more. DuPont had discovered this and thereby concentrated his fire upon the northward side of the fort. The gunboats which had the Confederates bottled up in Skull Creek were able to assist in the cannonade of Fort Walker's northern wall from where they were stationed.

By early afternoon, Fort Walker was unable to withstand the Yankee fire and thereby lowered her flag. At 2:20 the Federals, having landed, raised the Union flag over the ramparts of the damaged fort.  At sunset, Fort Beauregard likewise lowered her flag. DuPont would occupy it the following morning. 

The battle was over. The Confederacy had lost a third port.  However, for reasons that I cannot elucidate upon, the Union would never exploit their hold in the heart of secessionist county was well as they might have--at least on land--though indeed Port Royal served them well as a base for the blockading Union fleet. 

The casualties were light on both sides. The Confederates suffered 11 killed, 48 wounded, 3 captured, and 4 missing. The Federals: 8 killed and 23 wounded.

.....

Your loving grandfather,

James B. Hamilton