The superiority in men and materiel, on the part of the North, was much more in evidence than before. Lincoln had asked Congress for 400,000 men and 400 million dollars the year before, and the legislature had largely granted his request.

The fighting quality of the Southern soldiers remained in high regard, but the spirit of the Confederate leaders lagged after the surrender of Fort Donelson. How could Generals John Floyd and Nathan Forrest have snuck away in such a cowardly fashion? The former was deprived of his command.