Unconditional Surrender

The energy with which the war is now being conducted and the unparalleled success that have followed the Federal arms since the new year dawned upon us, fill the loyal heart with joy and cause the hope to arise, that this unnatural rebellion will soon be suppressed.  Wherever we have met the rebels, in skirmish, on the battle field, or strongly entrenched in their forts, whether few or many in number, invariably have we defeated them. Right has proven stronger than might.  It has infused a heroism into the hearts of its defenders that has made them invincible.  It has banished all fear from their breasts and made them brave as lions.  The deluded rebels are beginning to appreciate the fact, it is quite patent to their understandings, that they are not only fighting in a bad cause, but in a hopeless one.  The leaders know now, if they didn’t comprehend it before, that there is no alternative left them but unconditional surrender.  We like that, it smacks of good, strong old Saxon.  It is a part of the programme that was laid down in the beginning of the struggle, when big and little pro-slavery sheets all over the north, from the N. Y. Herald to the Davenport Democrat, opposed it and thought it would never do to “coerce” the South.  We remember very distinctly that when we spoke of “subduing” the South our neighbor pitched into us as though we had committed some gross injustice, in fact was severing the brotherly ties that bound us to the South.  He has learned better since and now talks as flippantly as anybody about unconditional surrender.  When Col. Poor, the rebel officer, appeared with a white flag at Roanoke Island and asked to see the officer in command of the Federal forces, the following conversation ensued:

Col. Poor – Are you the Commander of the Union forces?

Gen. Foster – Yes, sir.

Col. Poor – I came, sir, to ask what terms of capitulation you will grant to our army.

Gen. Foster – None whatever, sir. – Nothing but an immediate and unconditional surrender.

As there was no other alternative the conditions were complied with.  But all of the watchwords of the war there are none so good as Gen. Grant’s reply to the rebel Buckner’s request for a negotiation of the terms of surrender at Fort Donelson: – Said Gen. Grant:

“I will accept no terms but unconditional, immediate surrender; I propose to move immediately upon your works.”

Now that was to the point.  Buckner could see it.  And at the same time he saw that his policy was immediate compliance.  It was just what should have been said to Buckner and what should be said to the rebels generally.  The time for negotiation and compromise has past.  Nothing but unconditional surrender or subjection will now satisfy the bold spirits of the North, and the man who breathes any other sentiment let him be ranked among the rebels.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 27, 1862, p. 2