Grant, as he wrote long afterward, had come prepared with a plan of campaign for Sheridan, but, as he wrote, "seeing that he was so clear and so positive in his views I said nothing about this and did not take it out of my pocket." It was a quality of Grant's greatness, like that of Lee, to listen to a lieutenant, and when he thought his plan was better than his own to adopt the lieutenant's and put his own away.
In that memorable interview, from which such stirring campaigns dated, Grant was impressed more and more by the earnestness and clearness of the famous Little Phil, and, when they parted, he gave him a free rein and an open road.

Sheridan, when they rode away from the conference, was sober and thoughtful.

He was to carry out his own plan, but the full weight of the responsibility would be his, and it was very great for a young man who was not much more than thirty.
But Dick and his comrades felt exultation, and did not try to hide it.
Now that Grant himself had come to see Sheridan the army was bound to move.

Pennington looked toward the South and waved his hand.
"You've been waiting for us a long time, old Jube," he said, "but we're coming.

And you'll see and hear our resistless tread." "But don't forget, Frank," said Warner soberly, "that we'll have a big bill of lives to pay.