At his right hand was the swarthy and confident Beauregard, great with the prestige of Bull Run, and Hardee, Bragg, Breckinridge and Polk.

And there were many brilliant colonels, too, foremost among whom was George Kenton.
A tremor passed through the North when it was learned that Grant intended to plunge into the winter forest, cross the Cumberland, and lay siege to Donelson.

He was going beyond the plans of his superior, Halleck, at St.Louis.He was too daring, he would lose his army, away down there in the Confederacy.

But others remembered his successes, particularly at Belmont and Fort Henry.

They said that nothing could be won in war without risk, and they spoke of his daring and decision.