The generals blamed one another.

Floyd favored the surrender of the army, but fancying that the Union troops hated him with special vindictiveness, and that he would not be safe as a prisoner, decided to escape.
Pillow declared that Grant could yet be beaten, but after a while changed to the view of Floyd.

They yet had two small steamers in the Cumberland which could carry them up the river.

They left the command to Buckner, the third in rank, and told him he could make the surrender.
The black-bearded Forrest said grimly: "I ain't goin' to surrender my cavalry, not to nobody," and by devious paths he led them away through the darkness and to liberty.

Colonel George Kenton rode with him.
The rumor that a surrender was impending spread to the soldiers.