Fort Donelson and Shiloh

59

Fort Henry, but this was brought up next day, asthe forces were insufficient to surround the works.During; the 13th the investment was T . . ,

completed. McClernand held the Char- Fort Donel-lotte road with his right and stretched son 'his left nearly as far as Indian creek. On his leftcame the centre division under Lew Wallace , andbeyond, stretching northward to Hickman’s creek,was stationed C. F. Smith with the left wing.The line was still a slender one, and Grant’s con-duct in coming up so quickly had been markedby audacity. It is seldom in history that a forcebehind entrenchments has allowed itself to bequietly invested by a force no greater than itself.If the enemy had harassed him on the march fromFort Henry, or vigorously attacked him on themorning of the 13th, it might have interfered seri-ously with his plans ; but during those two daysthe Confederates behaved as if paralyzed. Grant’sconduct indicates that he gauged the calibre ofPillow and Floyd, and took it into the account.When his lines were completed on the 13th, heordered an attack by way of feeling the enemy’sstrength. None of the works were carried, butMcClernand ’s hold upon the Charlotte road becamefirmer.

The night was a dismal one for the soldiers.Their supplies were delayed, and food was getting