victory, was grave, even gloomy.
But Beauregard, volatile and sanguine, rejoiced. For him the triumph was
won already. After their great achievement in placing their army, unseen
and unknown, within cannon shot of the Union force, failure was to him
impossible.

Breckinridge, like his chief, Johnston, was also grave and did not say
much. Hardee, as became one of his severe military training, discussed
the details, the placing of the brigades and the time of attack by each.
Polk, the bishop-general, and Bragg, also had their part.

As they talked in low tones they moved the men over their chessboard.
Now and then an aide was summoned, and soon departed swiftly and in
silence to move a battery or a regiment a little closer to the Union
lines, but always he carried the injunction that no noise be made. Not
a sound that could be heard three hundred yards away came from all that
great army, lying there in the deep woods and poised for its spring.

Meanwhile security reigned in the Union camp. The farm lads of the west
and northwest had talked much over their fires. They had eaten good
suppers, and by and by they fell asleep. But many of the officers still
sat by the coals and discussed the march against the Southern army at
Corinth, when the men of Buell should join those of Grant. The pickets,
although the gaps yet remained between those of the different brigades,
walked back and forth and wondered at the gloom and intensity of the
woods in front of them, but did not dream of that which lay in the heart
of the darkness.

The Southern generals in the ravine lingered yet a little longer. A
diagram had been drawn upon a piece of paper. It showed the position
of every Southern brigade, regiment, and battery, and of every Northern
division, too. It showed every curve of the Tennessee, the winding lines
of the three creeks, Owl, Lick, and Snake, and the hills and marshes.

The last detail of the plan was agreed upon finally, and they made it
very simple, lest their brigades and regiments should lose touch and
become confused in the great forest. They were to attack continually
by the right, press the Union army toward the right always, in order
to rush in and separate it from Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee,
and from the fleet and its stores. Then they meant to drive it into the
marshes enclosed by the river and Snake Creek and destroy it.

The six generals rose, leaving the little fire to sputter out. General
Johnston w