Spring was now breaking through the crust of winter.

Touches of green were appearing on the forests and in the fields.

Now and then the wonderful pungent odor of the wilderness came to them and life seemed to have taken on new zest.

They were but boys in years, and the terrible scenes of Donelson could not linger with them long.
They found Colonel Newcomb and the little detachment of Pennsylvanians with Grant, and Colonel Winchester, resuming command of his regiment, camped by their side, delighted to be with old friends again.

Colonel Winchester had lost a portion of his regiment, but there were excuses.
It had happened in a country well known to the enemy and but little known to him, and he had been attacked in overwhelming force by the rough-riding Forrest, who was long to be a terror to the Union divisions.