Gen. Grant did not have Fort Donelson surrounded. Steamboats traffic up the Cumberland River was not impeded as fresh troops were constantly arriving as wounded and sick soldiers were leaving for Clarksville, plus the scurrying Pillow and Floyd with some of his Virginia troops. If Polk at Columbus and Johnston at Bowling Green had properly mounted a counter-move on Gen. Grant, the Union army could have been virtually wiped out. Both Polk and Johnston had the use of railroad lines that could bring troops close to the seat of war on the twin rivers. Unfortunately Polk concentrated his large army around Columbus while Grant drew off most of his troops for the twin rivers campaign leaving Cairo and Paducah virtually unprotected from any potential move by Polk.