The silent and inflexible Grant had struck the first great blow
for the North. The immense Confederate line in the west was driven
far southward, and the capital of one of the most vigorous of the
secessionist states was now held by the Union.

But a little later, news not so pleasant came to them. The energy
and success of Grant had aroused jealousy. Halleck, his superior, the
general of books and maps at St. Louis, said that he had transcended
the limits of his command. He was infringing upon territory of other
Northern generals. Halleck had not found him to be the yielding
subordinate who would win successes and let others have the credit.

Grant was practically relieved of his command, and when Dick heard it he
felt a throb of rage. Boy as he was, he knew that what had been won must
be held. Johnston had stopped at Murfreesborough, thirty or forty miles
away. His troops had recovered from their panic, caused by the fall of
Donelson. Fresh regiments and brigades were joining him. His army was
rising to forty thousand men, and officers like Colonel Winchester began
to feel apprehensive.

Now came a period of waiting. The Northern leaders, as happened so
often in this war, were uncertain of their authority, and were at
cross-purposes. They seldom had the power of initiative that was
permitted to the Southern generals, and of which they made such good
use. Dick saw that the impression made by Donelson was fading. The North
was reaping no harvest, and the South was lifting up its head again.

While he was in Nashville he received a letter from his mother in reply
to one of his that he had written to her just after Donelson. She was
very thankful that her son had gone safely through the battle, and since
he must fight in war, which was terrible in any aspect, she was glad
that he had borne himself bravely. She was glad that Colonel Kenton had
escaped capture. Her brother-in-law was always good to her and was
a good man. She had also received a letter from his son, her nephew,
written from Richmond, She loved Harry Kenton, too, and sympathized with
him, but she could not see how both sides could prevail.

Dick read the letter over and over again and there was a warm glow about
his heart. What a brave woman his mother was! She said nothing about his
coming back home, or leaving the war. He wrote a long reply, and he
told her only of the lighter and more cheerful events that they had
encountered. He described Warner, Pe