Grant had sent us by telegraphic dispatch, several of the company officers asked me to sit down and write a short statement of the facts as to the surrender. Just as we were going into Saint Louis I sat down and hastily drew for the company officers such a statement as a favor to them, acting, as I supposed, as a mere secretary. I read it over to them, and some of them took it and read it for themselves. One or two read it before it was finished. There had been a difference of opinion as to the surrender between most of them and myself. I was opposed to it, as every one of them well knew, and I supposed they wished to justify their votes by the circumstances, which I was willing they should undertake to do. I had no earthly object to represent them improperly, as we well understood our relative positions on the subject of the surrender.

Previous to that unfortunate affair not a word within my recollection of unpleasantness ever passed between myself and any on of the company officers concerned. For nearly four months I had been separated from them and had a separate command at Fort Donelson of the balance of our regiment. I had never visited Clarksville but once, and then to stay but a very short time, which visit was made nearly three months before the surrender. I was at this time, as I supposed, upon a mere visit, expecting to very shortly return to my own command at Fort Donelson. I had thrown up a small fort at Donelson, the old fort of the enemy being greatly too large for my small force to occupy. I had got up a couple of pieces of artillery that were attempted to be disabled by the enemy at the old fort, repaired them, and so arranged the little fort, as I believed, and as I expressed to Colonel Mason, I could defend and hold it against any force that could, in the then condition of the country, be brought against it.

I was at Clarksville but a short time when the attack was made, and knew little or nothing about the approaches to the town or the arrangements made by our force to resist attacks, and though believing the force menacing us much superior to us in numbers, I thought we ought to fight with the hope of driving the enemy back. For the first time I had unpleasant words with some of the company officers.

I think Colonel Mason committed a great error in calling the company officers together, and so expressed my opinion at the time. I had the men drawn in line ready to fight when he came and when the flag of truce came, and I thought then, as I think now, a good fight could have been made. But the vote stood greatly against it; that is to say, when first taken four company officers with myself voted to fight and balance to surrender, and part of the latter were exceedingly eager so to do. Now that the Government has condemned the act of surrender I am informed that the officers who voted to surrender desire to excuse their conduct by saying, among other things, that they did not understand a statement they asked me to write for them. It was right their position should be known.

They voted to surrender and of course advised it. If they had done otherwise no responsibility but to fight would have rested on them. In this I only desire to set myself right, and having done so I

subscribe myself, very respectfully,

GEO. W. ANDREWS,

Lieutenant-Colonel Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR.