While stationed in Cairo, Illinois he convinced his commanding officer to attack Fort Henry and won the battle. He was offered a truce but said, “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” Content with the first significant victory since the Union’s defeat at Bull Run, President Lincoln promoted Grant to Major General. On April 6, 1862, Confederate General Johnston attacked Grant’s badly defended advance force in Shiloh. The first day of battle ended badly for the Union and the army was almost driven into the river. The next morning when reinforcements arrived, Grant called for an attack. They drove the Confederate Army back and they retreated to Corinth. Grant stood out from the rest of the generals because he was willing to go on the offensive instead of waiting for the Confederates to attack. Shiloh was seen as a victory in Washington even though it cost the Union many lives. However, it was just the first of many bloody battles of the civil