S. G. HICKS,
Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Commanding Post.
Captain J. H. Odlin,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Headquarters Confederate States,
Before Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864.
Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to avoid the shedding of blood, and therefore demand the unconditional surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I, however, be compelled to take the place, no quarter will be shown to the negro troops whatever; the white troops will be treated as prisoners of war.I am, sir, yours,
A. BUFORD, Brigadier General.
The Commanding Officer
United States Forces, Columbus, Kentucky.
Headquarters of the Post,
Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864.
General: Your communication of this date to hand. In reply, I would state that, being placed by my government with adequate force to hold and repel all enemies from my post, surrender is out of the question.I am, general, very respectfully,
WILLIAM HUDSON LAWRENCE,
Colonel 34th New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Post.Brigadier General A. Buford
Commanding Confederate forces before Columbus, Ky.
The following affidavit was furnished, at the request of the committee, by General W. S. Rosecrans, from St. Louis:
"Headquarters Department of the Missouri,
"Saint Louis, April 26, 1864.