To the Senate of the Confederate States.
I transmit herewith a report and accompanying papers from the Secretary of State, ad interim, in answer to a resolution[1] of the Senate of the 3d instant.
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Sir: Annexed I submit a letter from the Secretary of the Navy indicating a plan for the further defense of the Bay of Mobile and the Alabama River, asking for an appropriation to carry it into execution.
The general purpose and means proposed are similar to those authorized by an act of the Provisional Congress for the better defense of the Mississippi River.
I commend the proposition to the favorable consideration of Congress and would suggest, if it be adopted, that the disbursement of the money be made in the manner provided for appropriations for the Navy.
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
I transmit herewith copies of such official reports as have been received at the War Department of the defense and fall of Fort Donelson. They will be found incomplete and unsatisfactory. Instructions have been given to furnish further information upon the several points not made intelligible by the reports. It is not stated that reinforcements were at any time asked for; nor is it demonstrated to have been impossible to have saved the army by evacuating the position; nor is it known by what means it was found practicable to withdraw a part of the garrison, leaving the remainder to surrender; nor upon what authority or principle of action the senior Generals abandoned responsibility, by transferring the command to a junior officer.
In a former communication to Congress I presented the propriety of a suspension of judgment in relation to the disaster at
- ↑ Requesting the President to communicate to Congress copies of all correspondence with Confederate commissioners abroad.
