"We have collected an immense siege-park. All the world is expecting us to begin, and up to this moment the guns are standing idle. It has certainly damaged us with the neutral powers. The effect of the success of Sedan has been lessened quite enormously in consequence."

BISMARCK,

"It was such as Montchenu who made the chief cause of the Revolution. Before it such a man as Bertrand, who is worth an army of Montchenus, could not be a sous-lieutenant while vieux enfans like him would be generals. God help the nation that is governed by such! In my time most of the generals of whose deeds France is so proud sprung from that very class of plebeians so much despised by him."— NAPOLEON.

CHAPTER IV.

UNDER A CLOUD.

His plans of battle, methods of operation, style of communication with superiors and departments to which he was obliged to report, the personal characteristics all so much applauded now, were matters of serious objection and denunciation at the beginning of Grant's career.

"I am going to attack Fort Donelson to-morrow."

"Do you know how strong it is?"

"Not exactly. But I think I can take it. At all events I can try."

This sounds, well as we scan the words; but at the time it was held to be unmilitary, and poor tactics.

"Where shall I find you?"

'Probably at headquarters. If you don't, come to the front wherever you hear the heaviest firing. We thrill with patriotic response as we read that answer to-day; but, when uttered, it was pronounced claptrap and bravado.

"You are up early, general!"

"Yes: I got up at two o'clock, and have been

working ever since, trying to study out the plans of old Pap Price."

We see in this incident the peculiarities of a watchful soldier; but, before Grant's fame was assured, such conversation was held to be very undignified, coarse, and inexcusable. Rumors of incapacity, suspicions as to unquestioned loyalty, damaging insinuations both as to habits and ambitious designs, were not unfrequent before the battle of Pittsburg Landing. A crushing blow was intended to be made by the Confederacy at this place to annihilate Grant in his unintrenched position, and was commenced by the Confederate generals with every prospect of success.

Adopting the "forty centuries" air with which Napoleon addressed his soldiers at the Pyramids, Beauregard said the night before the encounter at Pittsburg Landing, "Yonder is the camp of the enemy. There we sleep to-morrow night." The secrecy of the Confederate attack had been so well kept, that our army was virtually caught napping. History has it that the first rebel shots surprised many at breakfast, some in partial dress, some with equipments in disorder, but found none expecting an engagement. Grant began to study the nature of the movement of the enemy from the firing, rather than to give way to his evident surprise. Making all preparations to hurry re-enforcements forward, he ordered the ground to be held if possible till succor should come. The position of our army was excellent, but without

other than natural defences.

Sherman had the

key of the position, and was clinging to it with the grip of death, when Grant came up to consult with him.

"I fear we shall run out of ammunition,” said Sherman. "Oh," said Grant, "I have provided for that!" But, though the ammunition was provided for, the first day, with a persistency of ill fortune that became proverbial, was a defeat; and Beauregard with his rebels did sleep in the loyal camp one night. The fighting had been dogged in its resistance and deadly in its results on both sides.

Victory seemed so sure for the rebels, that word was sent, "We have this morning attacked the enemy in a strong position in front of Pittsburg, and after a severe battle of ten hours, thanks to Almighty God, gained a complete victory, driving the enemy from every position." With Grant it is always the "home stretch" that tells. As at Donelson, the rebel jubilation was premature. "We must fire the first gun to-morrow morning : the advantage will be with the attacking party," was the order of Grant for the second day's fight at Pittsburg. At dawn the guns began to crack. During the day two hesitating regiments were personally rallied and led into action by Grant. The fighting was fiercely stubborn; the generalship in action masterly. Re-enforcements coming in to settle the issue, the Confederates were driven back, the ground was fully recovered, and the rebel designs entirely frustrated. It was a narrow escape

from what threatened to be an extermination of our army in that locality. Though it did not conclude with the capture of so much of the enemy as to utterly cripple him, yet it altered the whole phase of the campaign in that section, and was a greater victory than was conceded at the moment.1

Because unintrenched, Grant was bitterly assailed in military circles. Said Turenne, "When a man has committed no faults in war, he could only have been engaged in it a short time." So far as military science, through its books and precedents taught, the battles of Donelson and Pittsburg, as battles, were at fault in many particulars. That of Donelson was big with risks. To boldly undertake an assault upon a strong natural fortification that was aided by great military preparation, with less troops to attack than there were inside for defence, was in violation of every example and advice in war. The battle was fought because Grant believed the Confederate officers in command were

1 Nothing in the literature of war could be more ridiculous than Beauregard's letter, sent by flag of truce, asking permission to bury the Confederate dead at this battle: "At the close of the conflict yesterday, my forces being so exhausted by the extraordinary length of time during which they were engaged with yours on that and the previous day, and it being apparent that you had received and were still receiving re-enforcements, I felt it was my duty to withdraw my troops from the immediate scene of conflict!" Another specimen of rebel war gasconade is the following from the same source: "Soldiers of Shiloh and Elkton, we are about to meet once more in the shock of battle the invaders of our soil. . . . Let the impending battle decide our fate, and add a more illustrious page to the history of our revolution, one to which your children will point with noble pride, saying, 'Our fathers were at the battle of Corinth." After this bulletin, his army quietly packed up, and sneaked away without a shot.

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