This operator afterwards proved to be a rebel; he deserted his post after a short time and went south taking his dispatches with him.

A telegram from General McClellan to me of February 16th, the day of the surrender, directing me to report in full the situation, was not received at my headquarters until the 3d of March.
On the 2d of March I received orders dated March 1st to move my command back to Fort Henry, leaving only a small garrison at Donelson.

From Fort Henry expeditions were to be sent against Eastport, Mississippi, and Paris, Tennessee.

We started from Donelson on the 4th, and the same day I was back on the Tennessee River.

On March 4th I also received the following dispatch from General Halleck: MAJ.-GEN.