ceasing were massing heavily.
Now the young troops regretted bitterly the blankets that they had
dropped on the way or left at Fort Henry. Detachments were sent back to
regain as many as possible, but long before they could return a sharp
wind with an edge of ice sprang up, the clouds opened and great flakes
poured down, driven into the eyes of the soldiers by the wind.

The situation was enough to cause the stoutest heart to weaken, but the
unflinching Grant held on. The Confederate army within the works was
sheltered at least in part, but his own, outside, and with the desolate
forest rimming it around, lay exposed fully to the storm. Dick, at
intervals, saw the short, thickset figure of the commander passing among
the men, and giving them orders or encouragement. Once he saw his
face clearly. The lips were pressed tightly together, and the whole
countenance expressed the grimmest determination. Dick was confirmed
anew in his belief that the chief would never turn back.

The spectacle, nevertheless, was appalling. The snow drove harder and
harder. It was not merely a passing shower of flakes. It was a storm.
The snow soon lay upon the ground an inch deep, then three inches,
then four and still it gained. Through the darkness and the storm the
Southern cannon crashed at intervals, sending shells at random into
the Union camp or over it. There was full need then for the indomitable
spirit of Grant and those around him to encourage anew the thousands of
boys who had so lately left the farms or the lumber yards.

Dick and his comrades, careless of the risk, searched over the
battlefield for the wounded who were yet there. They carried lanterns,
but the darkness was so great and the snow drove so hard and lay so deep
that they knew many would never be found.

Back beyond the range of the fort's cannon men were building fires with
what wood they could secure from the forest. All the tents they had were
set up, and the men tried to cook food and make coffee, in order that
some degree of warmth and cheer might be provided for the army beset so
sorely.

The snow, after a while, slackening somewhat, was succeeded by cold much
greater than ever. The shivering men bent over the fires and lamented
anew the discarded blankets. Dick did not sleep an instant that terrible
night. He could not. He, Pennington, and Warner, relieved from staff
service, worked all through the cold and darkness, helping the wounded
and seeking wood f