Grant's trials and tribulations as a general after his victory at Fort Donelson is the scope of this 88-day period.

The end of the Confederate power in western Kentucky and Ten-nessee began with the Union's capture of Fort Henry on February 6. After the victory at Fort Donelson on February 16, Union occupation of the region was only a matter of time. Tried and tested in the victory at Fort Henry, Grant seemed to be on his own as a general. Yet, his direct links with Halleck broken, and with unsatisfactory communications with Gen-eral George W. Cullum, Halleck's Chief of...