Starbuck Offers Terms to Lewis: Night of August 20th, 1861

A courier has passed through the lines on Clinton Pike between the Headquarters of Major General E. J. Starbuck at Shingleton and that of Brigadier General Solomon Lewis at Carothers. The correspondence (unedited) appears below. The response from the Federal officer is not yet known.

                                                                                                                                 20 August, 1861

To: Brigadier General Solomon Lewis, U.S.,

Commanding Union Forces at Carothers

Sir,

            You and your men have fought gallantly over the past two days, and I commend you for it. As soldiers, you have more than won my respect. However, you now have your backs to the wall. I have a substantial force deployed at Lebanon – if you are beaten at Carothers, you will have no line of retreat. That being the case, and in order to avoid further effusion of blood, I offer you the following terms of surrender:

1: Your men will turn over to me all of your small arms, artillery pieces, ammunition of all kinds, and all other supplies and implements of war in your possession. You and your officers will be allowed to retain your swords and sidearms, and your men will be allowed to retain their personal possessions. Your rations will not be confiscated, and your regiments will be allowed to retain their colours.

2: Having fulfilled the above conditions, you and your troops will be allowed to march – entirely unmolested, I give you my solemn word – back into Union lines via Lebanon, Bonnett, Orr Tavern, and Riverside.

If you do not agree to these terms, combat will ensue at Carothers on 21 August.

I am, sir, very respectfully yours,

-Maj. Gen’l. E. J. Starbuck, C.S.,

Com’ding. Department of Tennessee