"It seems that we do not make headway, sir," he said to Colonel
Winchester, who also stood by him, looking and listening.
"Not that I can perceive," replied the colonel, "and yet with the rush
of forty thousand fresh troops of ours upon the field I deemed victory
quick and easy. How the battle grows! How the South fights!"
Colonel Winchester walked away presently and joined Sherman, who was
eagerly watching the mighty conflict, into which he knew that his own
worn and shattered troops must sooner or later be drawn. He walked up
and down in front of his lines, saying little but seeing everything.
His tall form was seen by all his men. He, too, must have felt a
singular thrill at that moment. He must have known that his star was
rising. He, more than any other, with his valor, penetrating mind and
decision had saved the Northern army from complete destruction the
first day at Shiloh. He had not been able to avert defeat, but he had
prevented utter ruin. His division alone had held together in the face
of the Southern attack until night came.
Sherman must have recalled, too, how his statement that the North would
need 200,000 troops in the west alone had been sneered at, and he had
been called mad. But he neither boasted nor predicted, continuing to
watch intently the swelling battle.
"I had enough fighting yesterday to last me a hundred years," said
Warner to Dick, "but it seems that I'm to have more today.
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