it as the post of danger, it being nearer the enemy.  But when he was summoned to surrender by a band of guerillas, his constitutional weakness overcame him.  He inquired the number of men the enemy had, and receiving a response indicating a force greater than his own he said if he could be satisfied of that fact he would surrender.  Arrangements were made for him to count the guerillas, and having satisfied himself that the enemy had the greater force he surrendered and informed his subordinate at Donelson of the fact, advising him to do the same.  The guerillas paroled their prisoners and moved upon Donelson, but the officer in command at that point marched out to meet them and drove them away.

Among other embarrassments, at the time of which I now write, was the fact that the government wanted to get out all the cotton possible from the South and directed me to give every facility toward that end.  Pay in gold was authorized, and stations on the Mississippi River and on the railroad in our possession had to be designated where cotton would be received.  This opened to the enemy not only the means of converting cotton into money, which had a value all over the world and which they so much needed, but it afforded them means of obtaining accurate and intelligent information in regard to our position and strength.  It was also demoralizing to the troops.  Citizens obtaining permits from the treasury department had to be protected within our lines and given facilities to get out cotton by which they realized enormous profits.  Men who had enlisted to fight the battles of their country did not like to be engaged in protecting a traffic which went to the support of an enemy they had to fight, and the profits of which went to men who shared none of their dangers.

On the 30th of August Colonel M. D. Leggett, near Bolivar, with the 20th and 29th Ohio volunteer infantry, was attacked by a force supposed to be about 4,000 strong.  The enemy was driven away with a loss of more than one hundred men.  On the 1st of September the bridge guard at Medon was attacked by guerillas.  The guard held the position until reinforced, when the enemy were routed leaving about fifty of their number on the field dead or wounded, our loss being only two killed and fifteen wounded.  On the same day Colonel Dennis, with a force of less than 500 infantry and two pieces of artillery, met the cavalry of the enemy in strong force, a few miles west of Medon, and drove them away with great loss.  Our troops buried 179 of the enemy’s dead, left upon the field.  Afterwards it was found that all the houses in the vicinity of the battlefield were turned into hospitals for the wounded.  Our loss, as reported at the time, was forty-five killed and wounded.  On the 2d of September I was ordered to send more reinforcements to Buell.  Jackson and Bolivar were yet threatened, but I sent the reinforcements.  On the 4th I received direct orders to send Granger’s division also to Louisville, Kentucky.