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FECT OF THE RETREAT FROM SPRINGFIELD. THE MISSOURI MILITIA IN SERVICE. NEW MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. CONCENTRATION OF FEDERAL FORCES. HUNTER'S REPUDIATION THE FREMONT PRICE "TREATY. THE "TREATY" AND HUNTER'S REASONS FOR REPUDIATING IT. FREMONT'S ERRORS.

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Affairs in Missouri.

Battle of Belmont.

IN Chapter IX. Division | from this purpose, and also V. we record the events of to prevent him from reenFremont's rule in Missouri, ending with his forcing Jeff Thompson's command, defeated suspension from command and the retreat of at Fredericksburg-which command Grant his army by orders of his successor, General hoped to capture or disperse by an expediHunter. We may now resume the narrative, tion under Colonel Ogilvie, then in the field considering events which transpired pending -a movement was ordered upon Belmont, General Halleck's assumption of the chief led by General Grant in person, assisted by command in that department. General McClernand. Wednesday evening, The operations of General Grant in the Nov. 6th, the Seventh Iowa, Colonel Lanman, District of Southeastern Missouri, during the Twenty-seventh Illinois, Colonel Buford, early part of November, properly belong to a Twenty-ninth, Colonel Fouke, Thirtieth, record of the campaign in Missouri, although Colonel Logan, Twenty-second, Colonel he acted independently and reported directly Dougherty. Taylor's battery of six pieces and to headquarters at Washington. two companies of cavalry, making in all a While Fremont was press-force of two thousand eight hundred and ing forward to engage the eighty-six, took steamers at Cairo for pas forces of Price and McCullough, apprehen- sage down the river. The transports, escortsions were entertained by General Grant of ed by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, lay the Confederate General Polk, commanding all night at a point about nine miles below at Columbus, Kentucky, pushing reenforce- Cairo, and on Thursday morning proceede ments forward from Belmont and New Madrid, to Lucas' Dead four miles above Belmon., thus to overpower Fremont by the mere where the troupe debarked and took up thea strength of numbers. To divert the enemy march fc. tne elemny's camp at Belmont. The

Battle of Belmont.

Battle of Belmont.

Battle of Belmont.

gunboats proceeded down | infantry and artillery, and the river to engage the after a desperate resistance batteries above Columbus. Grant in his re- drove the enemy back the third time, forcing port said of his disposition of forces: "Know- them to seek cover among thick woods and ing that Columbus was strongly garrisoned, brush, protected by the heavy guns at CoI asked General Smith, commanding at Pa- lumbus. While this struggle was going on ducah, Ky., to make demonstrations in the a tremendous fire from the Twenty-seventh, same directions. He did so, by ordering a which had approached the abattis on the small force to Mayfield, and another in the right and rear of the tents, was heard. About direction of Columbus, not to approach near- the same time the Seventh and Twenty-secer, however, than twelve or fifteen miles. I ond, which had passed the rear of the Thirtieth also sent a small force on the Kentucky side, and Thirty-first, hastened up, and, closing some twelve miles from Columbus. All this the space between them and the Twenty-sevserved to distract the enemy, and lead him enth, poured a deadly fire upon the enemy. to think he was to be attacked in his strong- A combined movement was now made upon ly fortified position." three sides of the enemy's works, and, driving him across the abattis, we followed close upon his heels into the clear space around his camp."

The enemy was on the alert. The Federals moved forward to find their antagonists drawn up in a good position, nearly two miles in advance of their entrenched camp on the river, immediately opposite and protected by the Columbus batteries. Grant said: "At daylight we proceeded down the river to a point just out of range of the rebel guns, and debarked on the Missouri shore. From here the troops were marched by a flank for about one mile towards Belmont, and then drawn up in line, one battalion having been left as a reserve near the transports. Two companies from each regiment, five skeletons in number, were thrown out as skirmishers to ascertain the position of the enemy.

"It was but a few moments before they met him, and a general engagement ensued. The balance of my force, with the exception of the reserve, was then thrown forward, all as skirmishers, and the enemy driven, foot by foot, and from tree to tree back to their encampment on the river's bank, a distance of over two miles. Here they had strengthened their position by felling the timber for several hundred yards around their camp, and making a sort of abattis.

"Our men charged through this, driving the enemy over the river banks and into their transports in quick time, leaving us in possession of everything not exceedingly portable."

slain.

him.

In this fierce contest many brave men were Grant's horse was there killed under McClernand's horse was struck several Colonel Lanmann fell. Yet, considering the exposure and daring of officers and men, the loss was comparatively small.

times.

But, the victory, though won, was not secure. Bishop Polk, in his special dispatch to Jefferson Davis, said:

"The enemy came down on the opposite side of the river Belmont to-day, about seven thousand five hundred strong, landed under cover of gunboats, and attacked Colonel Tappan's camp. I sent over three regiments, under General Pillow, to his relief, then at intervals three others, then General Cheat ham. I then took over two others in person, to support a flank movement which I had directed. It was a hard fought battle, lasting from half-past ten A. M. to five P. M. They took Beltzhoover's batte ry, four pieces of which we recaptured. The enemy were thoroughly routed. We purrued them to their boats, seven miles, then drove their boats before us. The road was strewn with their dead and wounded, guns, ammunition and equipments. Our loss is considerable-theirs heavy."

The first three Confederate regiments unThis brief mention covers much gallant ac- der Pillow participated in the early fight, tion. The fight was one of great obstinacy and were driven back into the timber after and was only won by the unflinching nerve attempting to cut McClerland's line. The of the assailants. McClernand, after advert- other reenforcements sent over by Polk, uning to the enemy's attempt to cut his line der Cheatham and others, joined Pillow's and his disposition to avert their design, thus forces above the camp, with the well conceivcharacterised the struggle which followed: ed purpose of cutting off the Federal retreat "We again opened a deadly fire from both to the transports, four miles away. Even

BATTLE OF BELMONT.

413

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Battle of Belmont.

Battle of Belmont.

In this ratio

while the Illinois and Iowa | engaged, in killed, wound-
"boys" were shouting for ed and missing, as three
the Union in the captured camp, the enemy hundred and sixty-four.
was planting his forces, three to one, in the
way of a retreat. Eight full regiments, in
addition to such of Tappan's finely armed
brigade as could be gathered, were thus
thrown into position on the line. Grant was
not caught unawares. Almost as soon as the
camp was captured he fired its property and
sounded the retreat. He said:

their total loss must have reached a number
but little short of one thousand.

"Belmont is on low ground, and every foot of it commanded by the guns on the opposite shore, and, of course, could not be held for a single hour after the enemy became aware of the withdrawal of their troops. Having no wagons with me I could not move any of the captured property, consequently gave orders for its destruction. Their tents, blan

kets, &c., were set on fire, and we retreated, taking

As wil be inferred from General Polk's dispatch to Jefferson Davis, the Confederates claimed a great victory. Davis returned his congratulations to General Polk. “Accept," he said, "for yourself and the officers and men under your command, my sincere thanks for the glorious contribution you have just made to our common cause." And, in his message of November 18th, he referred to the battle of Belmont as one of the "glorious victories" which had blessed the Confederate arms. He did not, of course, allude to the

guns which Grant had carried away—to the
entrenched encampment destroyed to the
true nature of the Federal “advance.”

their artillery with us, two pieces being drawn by
hand, and one by an inefficient team, were spiked
and left in the woods, bringing two to this place,
"Before getting fairly under way, the enemy
made his appearance again and attempted to sur-
round us. Our troops were not in the least dis;
couraged, but charged the enemy and again defeat-field-was only a partial success.
ed him."

McClernand, in his report, detailed with
much pride the splendid conduct of his men
in the retreat. It was a fight in solid column,
the artillery opening the way before them.
The enemy, easily broken, fought with great
irregularity. A lack of generalship was
shown in their manœuvres. Had they been
well ordered the route to the transports must
have been thick with Federal dead.

The dispatch of Colonel Ogilvie from Cairo, and the movement of troops from Cape Girardeau and Ironton-all designed to surprise Jefferson Thompson's camp at Bloom

After a

painful march through the Big Mingo swamp, Ogilvie arrived at Bloomfield on the morning of November 7th, to find Thompson and his braves gone: they had incontinently fled to the swamps.

These dashes by Grant served the good purpose of inspiriting the troops if nothing else. Long inactivity in camp rendered them uneasy, while their employment in active service excited that emulation which is the best

The official returns gave the following ta- assurance of success. The retreat of Freble of Federal loss:

ment's advance upon Springfield, and the

Killed. Wounded. Missing. centralization of his forces at Rolla, St.

Seventh Iowa regiment...........26
Twenty-second Illinois regiment...26
Twenty-seventh Illinois regiment.10
Thirtieth Illinois regiment..... 9
Thirty-first Illinois regiment......10

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folly had ordered the advance or the retreat. One thing was not left in doubt-its results. The withdrawal to the line of the Pacific railway left a shadow over Southern Missouri which grew lurid with fire and blood. The Unionists of all that section were, from that hour, exiles, or, if they remained, it was to endure a savage persecution. Pillage, violence, murder, stalked unchecked up to the very heart of the State; mercy was forgotten to men, and pity scorned to women and children; wherever the cut-throats of Texas, Arkansas and the border moved, their track was marked with desolation.

Missouri State Militia

in Service.

ar

Victor Hugo says: "The brutalities of progress are called revolutions; when they are past this is apparent, namely, that the human race has been harshly treated, but has, nevertheless, advanced." It will be hard for those who suffered the brutalities of the revolution in Missouri to discover its beneficence. If, out of the fire and blood came no just apprehension of the monster iniquity which was the very soul of that revo- | lution, the Missouri people suffered in vain. The great novelist will find his assumption of good from evil only sustained by its negative application to the secession revoluion. November 7th, an rangement was announced, by orders from headquarters at Washington, whereby the Missouri State militia were to be called into the field to the aid of the United States forces in suppressing the rebellion. This was effected by Governor Gamble's personal application to the War Office. The terms of the arrangement gave the organization of the troops to the Governor, who was to appoint, as their Major General, the General commanding the Department of the West. This implied the fact of the troops being under control of the United States authorities. They were to be armed, clothed, subsisted and paid as any other forces of like arms of the service. All Home and State Guards were, by this agreement, enlisted in the war at once, and soon gave to the Department commander large reenforcements to his ranks.

Nov. 9th, the War Department announced the reorganization of the departments of the West, of the Ohio, and of the Cumberland, viz.:

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State of Kansas, the Indian Territory west of Ark

"2. The Department of Kansas, to include the

ansas, and the Territories of Nebraska, Colorado

and Dacotah, to be commanded by Major General Hunter. Headquarters at Fort Leavenworth.

"3. The Department of the Missouri, to include the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, and that portion of Kentucky west of the Cumberland river, to be commanded by Major General H. W. Halleck, United States Army.

4. The Department of the Ohio, to consist of the States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and that portion of Kentucky east of the Cumberland river, and the State of Tennessee, to be commanded by Brigadier General D. C. Buell. Headquarters at Louis

ville.

"5. The Department of Western Virginia, to consist of that portion of Virginia included in the old Department of the Ohio, to be commanded by Brig. adier General W. S. Rosecrans, United States Army."

Concentration of Federal Forces.

General Hunter, during the brief term of his temporary command in Missouri, did little else than to concentrate troops, preparatory to turning them over to General Halleck. His orders promulgated from St. Louis Nov. 12th, enjoined upon all commanders of troops to "avoid extensive movements which offer battle or divide and prolong our lines, until further concert and concentration of action can be arranged, and instructions giving full and concise reports will be forwarded immediately to Brigadier General Curtis, St. Louis, giving the strength, position and condition of every command in the department."

Hunter arrived in St. Louis November 15th. General Lane's brigade, withdrawing from Springfield, eventually retired to Fort Scott in Kansas. The divisions of Pope, McKin stry and Hunter marched to the line of the Pacific railway, to await Halleck's orders. The divisions of Siegel and Asboth soon followed. Upon Halleck's arrival in St. Louis, November 18th, he convened the Generals of divisions to a conference, and was then prepared to assume the duties of his command.

The Fremont-Price "Treaty."

THE FREEMONT PRICE TREATY.

415

The Fremont-Price "Treaty."

One of Hunter's first | acts, after assuming command, was to repudiate the proposed "treaty" between Fremont and Price, regarding the conduct of the war in Missouri, which was then only awaiting the rebel General's signature to become effective. The document, though properly belonging to the history of Fremont's "Hundred Days," is here given to indicate the policy adopted by the new directors of affairs. This import-ders made and provided for such offenses. ant and rather novel arrangement between belligerents was as follows:

"1. No arrests whatever on account of political opinions, or for the merely private expression of the same, shall hereafter be made within the limits of the State of Missouri, and all persons

"Whereas, Major - General Sterling Price, commanding the Missouri State Guard, by letter dated at his headquarters near Neosho, Missouri, October 26th, 1861, has expressed a desire to enter into some arrangement with Major-General John C. Fremont, commanding the forces of the United States, to facilitate the future exchange of prisoners of war released to parole; also, that all persons heretofore arrested for the mere expression of political opinions, may be released from confinement or parole; also, that in future the war be confined exclusively to the armies in the field, and has authorized and

empowered Major Henry W. Williams and D. Robert Barclay, Esqs., to enter into such an arrangement in his behalf;

"And whereas, Major-General John C. Fremont concurs with Major-General Price;

"Now, therefore, It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between Major-General John C. Fremont and Major-General Sterling Price, as follows, to wit: "First A joint proclamation shall be issued, signed by Major General John C. Fremont and Major-General Price, in proper person, in the following language, to wit:

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who may have been arrested, and are now held to released. But it is expressly declared that nothing answer upon such charges only, shall be forthwith in this proclamation shall be construed to bar or interfere with any of the usual and regular proceedings of the established courts and statutes and or

"2. All peaceably disposed citizens who may have been driven from their homes because of their political opinions, or who may have left them from fear of force and violence, are hereby advised and permitted to return, upon the faith of our positive assurances, that while so returning they shall receive protection from both armies in the field, whenever it can be given.

"3. All bodies of armed men acting without the

authority or recognition of the Major-Generals before named, and not legitimately connected with the armies in the field, are hereby ordered at once to disband.

"4. Any violation of either of the foregoing articles shall subject the offender to the penalty of military law, according to the nature of the offense.

"In testimony whereof, the aforesaid John Charles Fremont, at Springfield, Missouri, on the first day of November, A. D. 1861, and Major-General Sterl -, on this day of Novem. ing Price, at ber, A. D. 1861, have hereunto set their hands, and hereby mutually pledge their earnest efforts to the enforcement of the above articles of agreement, according to their full tenor and effect, to the best of their ability.

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Second Brigadier-General Samuel R. Curtis, or the officer in command at Benton Barracks, is hereby authorized and empowered to represent Major-General Fremont; and Colonel D. H. Arm

"To all peaceably disposed citizens of the State of Mix-strong, Honorable J. Richard Barrett and Colonel

souri, greeting:

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"Whereas, A solemn agreement has been entered into by Major Generals Fremont and Price, respectively commanding antagonistic forces in the State of Missouri, to the effect, that in future arrests or forcible interference by armed or unarmed parties of citizens within the limits of said State for the mere entertainment or expression of political opinions, shall hereafter cease; that families now broken up for such cause may be reunited, and that the war now progressing shall be exclusively confined to armies in the field; therefore, be it known to all whom it may concern

Robert M. Renick, or either of them, are hereby authorized and empowered to represent Major-General Price; and the parties so named are hereby authorized, whenever applied to for that purpose, to nego tiate for the exchange of any and all persons who may hereafter be taken prisoners of war and released on parole; such exchanges to be made upon the plan heretofore approved and acted upon, to wit: grade for grade, or two officers of lower grade as an equivalent in rank for one of a higher grade, as shall be thought just and equitable.

"Thus done and agreed at Springfield, Missouri, this first day of November, 1861.

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