It was a difficult task to get twenty thousand raw farmer youths in proper position.

They moved about often without cohesion and sometimes without understanding their orders.

Great gaps remained in the line, and a daring and skilful foe might cut the besieging force asunder.
But Grant had put his heavy guns in place, and throughout the day he maintained a slow but steady fire upon the fort.

Great shells and solid shot curved and fell upon Donelson.

Grant did not know what damage they were doing, but he shrewdly calculated that they would unsteady the nerves of the raw troops within.