appointment of commissioners to agree upon terms of surrender.
But Grant had made up his mind that compromise was out of place
in civil war and that absolute defeat or victory were the only
alternatives. So he instantly wrote back the famous letter which
quickly earned him the appropriate nickname--suggested by his own
initials--of Unconditional Surrender Grant.


Hd Qrs., Army in the Field
Camp near Donelson Feb'y 18th 1882

Gen. S.B. Buckner,
Confed. Army.

Sir: Yours of this date proposing armistice, and appointment of
Commissioners to settle terms of capitulation is just received.
No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be
accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works

I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obt. sert.,
U.S. GRANT
Brig. Gen.

Grant and Buckner were old army friends; so their personal talk
was very pleasant at the little tavern where Buckner and his
staff had just breakfasted off corn bread and coffee, which was
all the Confederate stores afforded.

Donelson at once became, like Grant, a name to conjure with. The