Conduct of the War contain original
matter in addition to what appears in reports of battles and operations.

The reports of the Adjutant-Generals of the different States, printed
during the war, often supplement the official reports on file in
Washington.

Some regimental histories, printed soon after the close of the war,
contain diaries and letters and narrate incidents which enable us in
some cases to fix dates, the place of camps, and positions in battle,
which could hardly otherwise be determined with precision. Newspaper
correspondents, while narrating what they personally saw, give
descriptions which impart animation to the sedate statements of official
reports.

Colonel William Preston Johnston's life of his father, General A.S.
Johnston, can be used in some respects as authority. He served first in
the Army of Northern Virginia, and was, most of the war, on the staff of
Jefferson Davis. He thus, after his father's death, became possessed of
a valuable collection of authentic official papers. When he was
preparing the biography, all papers of value in private hands in the
South were open to his use.

Letters and memoranda preserved by Colonel Charles Whittlesey, and some
of my own, have been of service.

I am under obligation to Colonel Scott for permission to freely read and
copy, in his office, the reports compiled under his direction. To
Ex-President Hayes for the loan of a set of the series of Military
Reports, both National and Confederate, so far as printed, though not
yet issued. To the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio for the
unrestricted use of its library. To Colonel Charles Whittlesey of
Cleveland, and Major E.C. Dawes, of Cincinnati, for the use of original
manuscripts as well as printed reports.

M.F. FORCE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

PRELIMINARY, 1

CHAPTER II.
FORT HENRY, 24

CHAPTER III.
FORT DONELSON, 33

CHAPTER IV.
NEW MADRID AND ISLAND NUMBER TEN, 66

CHAPTER V.
THE GATHERING OF THE FORCES, 91

CHAPTER VI.

SHILOH--SUNDAY, 122

CHAPTER VII.
SHILOH--NIGHT, AND MONDAY, 160

CHAPTER VIII.
CORINTH,