“Well, here we are, and it is useless to renew the attack with any hope of success. The men are exhausted,” said General Floyd,—a stout, heavy man, with thick lips, a large nose, evil eyes, and coarse features.
“We can cut our way out,” said Major Brown, commanding the Twentieth Mississippi,—a tall, black-haired, impetuous, fiery man.
“Some of us might escape in that way, but the attempt would be attended with great slaughter,” responded General Floyd.
“My troops are so worn out and cut to pieces and demoralized, that I can’t make another fight,” said Buckner.
“My troops will fight till they die,” answered Major Brown, setting his teeth together.
“It will cost the command three quarters of its present number to cut its way through, and it is wrong to sacrifice three quarters of a command to save the other quarter,” Buckner continued.
“No officer has a right to cause such a sacrifice,” said Major Gilmer, of General Pillow’s staff.
“But we can hold out another day, and by that time we can get steamboats here to take us across the river,” said General Pillow.
“No, I can’t hold my position a half-hour, and the Yankees will renew the attack at daybreak,” Buckner replied.
“Then we have got to surrender, for aught I see,” said an officer.