CHAPTER II.

The War in the West-Minor Operations-Death of Majors Gavitt and Tanner-Sketches of their Lives-Battle of Belmont-Grant's First Action-Polk Crosses to Relieve his Men -Desperate Fighting-Grant Succeeds in Reaching his Gunboats-Sketches of McClurken, Wentz, Bielaski, and Shipley-The Port Royal Expedition-A Foothold in South Carolina— Operations with no Great Result-The Slidell-Mason Affair-Commodore Wilkes-Attitude of the British Government-Slidell and Mason Given up-Pope's Missouri Campaign-The Confederate Line in the West-Preparations to Break it.

THE war in the West still partook of the character of scattered unconnected operations, which had no bearing on each other, or on any general result. The following sketch will give an account of two of these minor operations in Missouri, in which the gallant Majors Gavitt and Tanner fell.

The rapid change of commanders in Missouri and the uncertain movements of the army had given the Confederates fresh courage. Many of the people of Missouri sympathized with them, and before long the State swarmed with small hostile parties. These were met in turn by United States troops and local troops, giving the war a terrible character, desolating the whole State, and imbittering the feelings of the people against each other. Such operations are the unfortunate result of civil war, where neighbor is arrayed against neighbor, and even brother against brother.

The following sketches of two meritorious Indiana officers who fell at this period in Missouri, will give an idea of some of these minor operations.

MAJOR JOHN SMITH GAVITT, IND. V.

KILLED AT FREDERICKTOWN, MISSOURI, SEPT. 21, 1861.

JOHN SMITH GAVITT was born in Madison, Jefferson county, Indiana, March 18, 1826. At an early age he moved, with his parents, to Vanderburgh, of which he was a citizen at the time of his death. Reared amid the scenes of a frontier life, he grew up a wild boy, fearless of danger, living in the midst of excitement and turmoil, beloved by his friends, feared by his enemies, and admired by all who appreciated his many good qualities. In July, 1848, he left the home of his boyhood for California. With all the energy of his nature, he threw himself into the contest for wealth in that land of gold, and was so far successful as to return with a handsome fortune. The party with which he intended to sail becoming dissatisfied with Major Gavitt, he withdrew from the organization which had been perfected, and went out relying upon his own resources for success. The sequel of the undertaking was illustrative of the character of the man. He succeeded where others failed, and many of the party who had abandoned Major Gavitt were indebted to him in the far West-for clothing and food, and the means to regain their homes.

After his return, he was elected to the sheriffalty of Vanderburgh

county, and after serving two years, returned to California, but in 1852 and in 1858 was again elected sheriff. He filled the office to which he was thus three times called by the people with an ability rarely equalled in the State, and his skill as a detective officer was acknowledged by the police department of all our Western cities.

Major Gavitt was an active politician, a democrat of the State Rights school, and a firm and unwavering supporter of Mr. Douglas, whose nomination he warmly urged at Charleston and Baltimore, incurring the resentment of that section of the body which there initiated the present troubles, by disorganizing the democratic party, and insuring its defeat, in order to make that very defeat a pretext for an unconstitutional attempt to revolutionize the country, seize the federal government, and by terror of arms force the North into submission.

Major Gavitt was so obnoxious to the extreme advocates of Breckenridge, that on one occasion a personal collision had well-nigh ensued, but his undaunted bearing and courage so established his character, that no further difficulty occurred.

When the attempt of the disorganizers to carry out in our happy land the course which has ruined Mexico failed, and they found it necessary to make a real war where they intended only a demonstration, Gavitt rallied to the support of the government constitutionally formed. He left his business, and enlisted for the war. He was appointed major of the First Regiment of Indiana Cavalry, and left Evansville with his command for Missouri in August.

He was stationed at Pilot Knob, and soon had occasion for active service. He was virtually commander of the regiment, and on the 15th of October he set out, at the head of the First Indiana Cavalry, to support Major Hawkins of the Independent Missouri Cavalry, and with Colonel