Some of the Northern wounded had crawled away or had been carried to their own camp, but others and the numerous dead still lay upon the ground.
The cold increased.

The Southern winter is subject to violent changes.
The clouds which had floated up without ceasing were massing heavily.
Now the young troops regretted bitterly the blankets that they had dropped on the way or left at Fort Henry.

Detachments were sent back to regain as many as possible, but long before they could return a sharp wind with an edge of ice sprang up, the clouds opened and great flakes poured down, driven into the eyes of the soldiers by the wind.
The situation was enough to cause the stoutest heart to weaken, but the unflinching Grant held on.

The Confederate army within the works was sheltered at least in part, but his own, outside, and with the desolate forest rimming it around, lay exposed fully to the storm.

Dick, at intervals, saw the short, thickset figure of the commander passing among the men, and giving them orders or encouragement.