Gen. Buckner asked leave for an interview with Gen. Grant. It was given and I was present. Some business about rations was transacted. Grant is about forty-five years of age, sandy complexion, reddish beard, medium hight [sic], twinkling eyes, and weighs 170 pounds. He smokes continually.
Buckner is about the same age and hight, very broad across the chest, and may weigh 180 lb. His hair is cloudy with coming [gray], and pushed back behind his ears. His beard is in the French style. He wore a light gray overcoat and had a plaid scarf thickly and loose folded around his neck. He is a man of ability. I notice that he uses such phrases as “Like I do.” In their business, the negro question came up, and Gen. Grant decided that no negroes found within the lines should be suffered to depart, for the reason that 200 had long worked upon the fortifications; officers could take their servants along, but they could not be liberated. – “We want laborers, let the negroes works for us.” A saw a master receive this decision – he retired silent and sullen. –{Ft. Donelson cor. N. Y. Tribune.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2
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