Owen Wister, Ulysses S. Grant

[64] river, were broken by Pope and Foote in March and April. On land it grew plain that somewhere about Corinth the armies must try a big conclusion. This happened not as Grant expected. Restored to command, he had rejoined the army up the Tennessee River, and had approved — wisely, according to many good opinions — the position at Pittsburg Landing in the enemy's country, selected by C. F. Smith. But he looked for no battle just here. And here Sidney Johnston surprised him. On Sunday and Monday, April 6 and 7, was fought the battle of Shiloh, Buell arriving in time to re-enforce Grant for Monday's fight. The words of Buell are the words of an imbittered rival; but they tell the unanswerable truth.

“An army comprising seventy regiments of infantry, twenty battalions of artillery, and a sufficiency of cavalry, lay for two weeks and more in isolated camps, with a river in its rear and a hostile army ”