Halleck: "It has been
reported that, soon after the battle of Fort Donelson, Brigadier-General
Grant left his command without leave. By direction of the President, the
Secretary of War directs you to ascertain and report whether General
Grant left his command at any time without proper authority, and if so,
for how long; whether he has made to you proper reports and returns of
his forces; whether he has committed any acts which were unauthorized or
not in accordance with military subordination or propriety, and if so,
what?" On the 13th Halleck telegraphed to Grant, who had asked to be
relieved if his course was not satisfactory, or until he could be set
right: "You cannot be relieved from your command. There is no good
reason for it. I am certain that all which the authorities at Washington
ask is, that you enforce discipline and punish the disorderly....
Instead of relieving you, I wish you, as soon as your new army is in the
field, to assume the immediate command and lead it on to new victories."
To this Grant replied next day: "After your letter enclosing copy of an
anonymous letter upon which severe censure was based, I felt as though
it would be impossible for me to serve longer without a court of
inquiry. Your telegram of yesterday, however, places such a different
phase upon my position that I will again assume command, and give every
effort to the success of our cause. Under the worst circumstances I
would do the same." On the 15th General Halleck replied to the
Adjutant-General of the Army, fully exonerating General Grant. General
C.F. Smith felt keenly the injustice done to Grant, and gladly
relinquished command of the expedition when Grant assumed it.

Meanwhile the army with its stores had been gathering on a fleet of
boats between Fort Henry and the railroad bridge. To the three divisions
of Fort Donelson, First, Second, and Third, commanded by C.F. Smith,
McClernand, and Lewis Wallace, were added a fourth, commanded by
Brigadier-General S.A. Hurlbut, and a fifth by Brigadier-General W. T.
Sherman. While C.F. Smith commanded the expedition, his division was
commanded by W.H.L. Wallace, who had been promoted to brigadier-general.
The steamer Golden State, with one-half of the Fortieth Illinois,
reached Savannah, on the right bank of the river, on March 5th. The
Forty-sixth Ohio arrived the next day. Behind these was the fleet of
more than eighty steamboats, carrying the five divisions and convoyed by
three