William A. Crafts, Life of Ulysses S. Grant: His Boyhood, Campaigns, and Services, Military and Civil.

“I didn't intend to be beaten,” was Grant's reply.

“But suppose, in spite of all your efforts, you had been defeated?”

“Well, there were the transports.”

“But all your transports would not carry more than ten thousand men, and you had forty thousand.”

“Well,” replied Grant, “they would have been sufficient for all that would have been left of us.”

As soon as the rebels showed signs of exhaustion in their last efforts against his left, Grant was giving orders to assume the offensive on the morrow. He believed that, as at Fort Donelson, the condition of either side was such that the party first attacking would be successful. He would then have at least one division of Buell's army, and Wallace's division, to strengthen him, and he was confident of success. His preparations were made promptly and decisively. His shattered brigades were reorganized, stragglers were returned to their places, and ample supplies brought up. Buell's army, as it arrived, was placed in position on the left, and Wallace's division on the right, and by early morning the new line was formed. Grant gave his orders personally to each division commander, and after completing his plans, he lay down on the ground, with the stump of a tree for a pillow, and slept soundly in spite of the raging storm. The attack was made this time by the Union troops, and the rebels were beaten back. The battle was severe, though not so fierce as on the previous day. The rebels retired slowly, but were at last driven from the field, and retreated rapidly towards Corinth. Grant's plans were carried out, and he was ever active on the field in