GENERALS APPOINTED WITH GRANT,

53

George A. McCall......Resigned.

Win. R. Montgomery...Not in active field service.

Philip Kearny..

Joseph Hooker....

.Dead.

.Commanding Grand Division under General Grant.

John W. Phelps........Resigned.

ULYSSES S. GRANT.....Lieutenant-General.

Joseph J. Reynolds.....Commanding troops at New Orleans.

Benjamin F. Kelly.....Commanding Department of Western Virginia.

John A. McClernand.. Not in active field service.

General Grant was half-way down the list, and less than three years afterward commanded as much territory, and as many troops in active service, as the other thirtythree generals combined.

Immediately following his promotion was an order to proceed to Southern Missouri, where General Jeff. Thompson was prepared to advance upon the Union lines. The first point of military rendezvous was Ironton, from which, with brief delay, he moved forward to Marble Creek, building fortifications there, and leaving a garrison for their defense. Thence he rapidly advanced to Jefferson City, threatened by the enemy. For ten days these troops protected the town.

During these Missouri campaigns, there occurred an amusing scene to enliven the marches, and fling its cheerful light over many a subsequent encampment of the actors in the practical comedy. It is related by a staffofficer: "The hero and veteran, who was citizen, captain, colonel, brigadier and major-general, within a space of nine months, though a rigid disciplinarian, and a perfect

Ironsides in the discharge of his official duties, could enjoy a good joke, and is always ready to perpetrate one when an opportunity presents. Indeed, among his acquaintances he is as much renowned for his eccentric humor as he is for his skill and bravery as a commander.

"When Graut was a brigadier in Missouri, he commanded an expedition against the rebels under Jeff. Thompson, in Northeast Arkansas. The distance from the starting-point of the expedition to the supposed rendezvous of the rebels was about one hundred and ten miles, and the greater portion of the route lay through a howling wilderness. The imaginary suffering that our soldiers endured during the first two days of their march was enormous. It was impossible to steal or 'confiscate' uncultivated real estate, and not a hog, or a chicken, or an ear of corn was anywhere to be seen. On the third day, however, affairs looked more hopeful, for a few small specks of ground, in a state of partial cultivation, were here and there visible. On that day, Lieutenant Wickfield, of an Indiana cavalry regiment, commanded the advance-guard, consisting of eight mounted men. About noon he came up to a small farm-house, from the outward appearance of which he judged that there might be something fit to eat inside. He halted his company, dismounted, and with two second-lieutenants entered the dwelling. He knew that Grant's incipient fame had already gone out through all that country, and it occurred to him that by representing himself to be the general he might obtain the best the house afforded. So, assuming a very imperative demeanor, he accosted the inmates of the house, and told them he must have something for himself and staff to eat. They desired to know who he was, and he told them that he was Brigadier-General Grant. At the sound of that name they flew around with alarming alacrity, and served up about all they had in the house, taking great pains all the while to make loud professions of loyalty. The lieutenants ate as much as they could of the not over-sumptuous meal, but which was, nevertheless, good for that country, and demanded what was to pay. 'Nothing.' And they went on their way rejoicing.

AMUSING INCIDENT IN THE MISSOURI CAMPAIGN.

55

"In the meantime, General Grant, who had halted his army a few miles further back for a brief resting-spell, came in sight of, and was rather favorably impressed with the appearance of this same house. Riding up to the fence in front of the door, he desired to know if they would cook him a meal.

"No,' said a female, in a gruff voice; 'General Grant and his staff have just been here, and eaten every thing in the house except one pumpkin-pie.'

"Humph,' murmured Grant; 'what is your name?' "Selvidge,' replied the woman.

"Casting a half-dollar in at the door, he asked if she would keep that pie till he sent an officer for it; to which she replied that she would.

"That evening, after the camping-ground had been selected, the various regiments were notified that there would be a grand parade at half-past six, for orders. Officers would see that their men all turned out, &c.

"In five minutes the camp was in a perfect uproar, and filled with all sorts of rumors. Some thought the enemy were upon them, it being so unusual to have parades when on a march.

"At half-past six the parade was formed, ten columns deep, and nearly a quarter of a mile in length.

"After the usual routine of ceremonies, the acting assistant adjutant-general read the following order :

["SPECIAL ORDER, No. —.].

"Lieutenant Wickfield, of the

"HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD.

Indiana cavalry, having on this

day eaten every thing in Mrs. Selvidge's house, at the crossing of the Ironton and Pocahontas and Black River and Cape Girardeau Roads, except one pumpkin-pie, Lieutenant Wickfield is hereby ordered to return with an escort of one hundred cavalry, and eat that pie also.

"U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding.

"Grant's orders were law, and no soldier ever attempted to evade them. At seven o'clock the lieutenant filed out of camp with his hundred men, amid the cheers of the entire army. The escort concurred in stating that he devoured the whole of the pie, and seemed to relish it."

With the advent of autumn, General Grant was ordered to yet greater duties. The important post of Cairo was placed under his command. The town is situated on low land upon the banks of the Mississippi, in that part of Illinois called "Egypt." The forces here were increased by the addition of another brigade, which had been organized for, and was under the command of, Brigadier-General John A. McClernand.

The post at Cairo included within its jurisdiction the Missouri shore of the Mississippi River, from Cape Girardeau to New Madrid, and the opposite Illinois shore, to the point of land on which Cairo stood. It commanded the mouth of the Ohio River, and was the key to the Upper Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. Its importance as a defensive military position, and also as a base of operations, at the early stages of the war, was without estimate; and, as a permanent base of supplies, its loss would be severely felt by the Union army.

At this time, the State of Kentucky was in that incomprehensible condition designated as neutral; but as the line that separated Tennessee, which had seceded, from Kentucky, which had not, was merely an imaginary one; and, as the rebel forces of the seceding States were stationed so closely on these borders, it is not strange that they often crossed the line into the neutral State, especially when it was to their advantage.

General Grant no sooner found out that this course of policy was being adopted by the rebels, and that they had actually encroached upon the State of Kentucky, and were fortifying Columbus and Hickman, on the Mississippi River, and Bowling Green on the Big Barren River, than he ordered the seizure of Paducah, a valuable post at the mouth of the Tennessee River. This village was occupied on September 6, 1861, and within nineteen days he also held possession of Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland River. By these movements he not only blockaded the rivers leading up into the rebel States, against the running of supplies and contraband articles for the use of those who were up in arms against the Government, but he also secured two fine bases for further operations, and

GENERAL GRANT AT PACUCAH, KENTUCKY.

57

cleared out the guerrillas, who were trying to blockade the Ohio River below those points. He also garrisoned each of these places with a force sufficient to hold them, but still retained his head-quarters at Cairo, which had then become the head-quarters of the sub-department or District of Southeast Missouri.

At the time when General Grant took possession of Paducah, he found secession flags flying in different parts of the city, in expectation of greeting the arrival of the rebel forces, which were reported to be nearly four thousand strong, and not many miles distant. The landing of the Union troops was a signal for a general uprising of the loyal citizens of the place, who, being properly supported, in effect, if not in fact, at once tore down from the houses of the rebel sympathizers the secession flags which they had raised.

General Grant immediately took possession of the telegraph-office, railroad dépôt, hospitals, and other points of importance, after which he issued the following proclamation to the citizens:

TO THE CITIZENS OF PADUCAH:

PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, September 6, 1861.

I am come among you, not as an enemy, but as your fellow-citizen; not to maltreat you nor annoy you, but to respect and enforce the rights of all loyal citizens. An enemy, in rebellion against our common Government, has taken possession of, and planted its guns on the soil of Kentucky, and fired upon you. Columbus and Hickman are in his hands. He is moving upon your city. I am here to defend you against this enemy, to assist the authority and sovereignty of your Government. I have nothing to do with opinions, and shall deal only with armed rebellion, and its aiders and abettors. You can pursue your usual avocations without fear. The strong arm of the Government is here to protect its friends, and punish its enemies. Whenever it is manifest that you are able to defend yourselves, and maintain the authority of the Government, and protect the rights of loyal citizens, I shall withdraw the forces under my command. U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding.

The tone of the proclamation speaks well for the temper of the soldier, who, although in the midst of enemies, and with the power in his hands, yet refused to use that power further than he, of actual necessity, was called upon to do by the exigencies of his position.