General Grant, when in camp at Cairo, presented little, in fact nothing, of the gewgaws and trappings which are generally attached to the attire of a general; and, in this respect, he showed a marked contrast between himself and some of his sub-lieutenants, whose bright buttons and glittering shoulder-straps were perfectly resplendent. The General, instead, would move about the camp with his attire carelessly thrown on, and left to fall as it pleased. In fact, he seemed to care nothing at all about his personal appearance, and in the place of the usual military hat and gold cord, he wore an old battered black hat, generally designated as a "stove-pipe," an article that neither of his subordinates would have stooped to pick up, even if un'observed. In his mouth he carried a black-looking cigar, and he seemed to be perpetually smoking. In connection with these facts, a detractor of General Grant was, on one occasion, speaking rather sarcastically of the stove-pipe General and his passion for cigars, when he was taken up by one of Grant's friends, who said: "Such a bright stove-pipe as Grant should be excused for smoking." Several reconnoissances were made down the Mississippi River, and inland from the Ohio River, and occasionally skirmishes would also take place. At these contests prisoners would sometimes be taken on both sides, and the following correspondence was the result of these captures: HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER AT CAIRO AND BIRD'S POINT: I have in my camp a number of prisoners of the Federal army, and am informed there are prisoners belonging to the Missouri State troops in yours. I propose an exchange of these prisoners, and for that purpose send Captain Polk of the artillery, and Lieutenant Smith of the infantry, both of the Confederate States Army, with a flag of truce, to deliver to you this communication, and to know your pleasure in regard to my proposition. The principles recognized in the exchange of prisoners effected on the 3d of September, between Brigadier General Pillow, of the Confederate Army, and Colonel Wallace, of the United States Army, are those I propose as the basis of that now contemplated. Respectfully, your obedient servant, L. POLK, Major-General Commanding. GEN. GRANT-GEN. POLK-AND COL. PLUMMER. 59 To which communication General Grant dispatched the following reply: DISTRICT OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, } HEAD-QUARTERS, CAIRO, October 14, 1861. GENERAL:-Yours of this date is just received. In regard to an exchange of prisoners, as proposed, I can, of my own accordance, make none. I recognize no "Southern Confederacy" myself, but will communicate with higher authorities for their views. Should I not be sustained, I will find means of communicating with you. Respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding. To Major-General POLK, Columbus, Kentucky. October 16th, General Grant ordered a part of his troops, under Colonel Plummer, then stationed at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to march toward Fredericktown, by way of Jackson and Dallas, and, joining Colonel Carlin, who was moving in another direction, check the progress of General Jeff. Thompson, advancing northward, and, if possible, defeat the rebel columns. The mild, soft morning of October 21st brought the hostile forces together. Thompson had three thousand five hundred men, while our forces numbered a few hundred more. For more than two hours the battle raged, when the rebels were forced to yield, and retreated, followed the next day by a fruitless pursuit, when the victors returned to their former position. The correspondence between the gallant Plummer and his superior officer reveals the magnanimous, sympathetic nature of the latter, which could drop a tear over the slain on the country's altar: COLONEL PLUMMER TO GENERAL GRANT. HEAD-QUARTERS, CAMP FREMONT, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO, October 28, 1961.} GENERAL:-Pursuant to your order of the 16th, I left this post on the 18th instant, with about fifteen hundred men, and marched upon Fredericktown, via Jackson and Dallas, where I arrived at twelve o'clock on Monday, the 21st instant, finding there Colonel Carlin, with about three thousand men, who had arrived at nine o'clock that morning. He gave me a portion of his command, which I united with my own, and immediately started in pursuit of Thompson, who was reported to have evacuated the town the day before and retreated toward Greenville. I found him, however, occupying a position about one mile out of town, on the Greenville Road, which he has held since about nine o'clock ▲ M., and immediately attacked him. The battle lasted about two hours and a half, and resulted in the total defeat of Thompson, and rout of all his forces, consisting of about three thousand five hundred men. Their loss was severe, ours very light. Among their killed was Lowe. On the following day I pursued Thompson twenty-two miles on the Greenville Road, for the purpose of capturing his train, but finding further pursuit useless, and believing Pilot Knob secure and the object of the expedition accomplished, I returned to this post, where I arrived last evening, having been absent seven days and a half. I brought with me forty-two prisoners, one iron twelve-pounder fieldpiece, a number of small-arms and horses taken upon the field. I will forward a detailed report of the battle as soon as reports from colonels of regiments and commanders of corps are received. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. PLUMMER, Colonel Eleventh Missouri Volunteers Commanding. TO ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Head-Quarters District Southeast Missouri, Cairo, Illinois. GENERAL GRANT TO COLONEL PLUMMER. HEAD-QUARTERS, DISTRICT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, Į Colonel J. B. PLUMMER, commanding United States Forces, Cape Girardeau, Missouri: COLONEL:-Your report of the expedition under your command is received. I congratulate you, and the officers and soldiers of the expedition, upon the result. But little doubt can be entertained of the success of our arms, when not opposed by superior numbers; and in the action of Fredericktown they have given proof of courage and determination which shows that they would undergo any fatigue or hardship to meet our rebellious brethren, even at great odds. Our loss, small as it was, is to be regretted; but the friends and relatives of those who fell can congratulate themselves in the midst of their affliction, that they fell in maintaining the cause of constitutional freedom and the integrity of a flag erected in the first instance at a sacrifice of many of the noblest lives that ever graced a nation. In conclusion, say to your troops they have done nobly. It goes to prove that much more may be expected of them when the country and our great cause calls upon them. Yours, &c., U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding. Having thus secured the information he required relative to the position of Jeff. Thompson's forces, and also having learned that others were concentrating at the rebel GEN. GRANT AND THE AFFAIR AT BELMONT. 61 camp at Belmont, Missouri, General Grant, at the head of two brigades, commanded respectively by General McClernand and himself, left Cairo on November 6th, 1861, for that point. On the opposite Kentucky shore the rebels had fortified a position at Columbus, which was to command the camp at Belmont, as well as to blockade the Mississippi River. The two United States brigades landed at Belmont at eight o'clock of the morning of November 7th, were at once formed into line of battle, and immediately attacked the rebel works, where they found the enemy in force under General Cheatham. The rebel forces were driven to and through their camp, and their battery of twelve guns was captured. The camp was then burned, and the enemy's baggage and horses taken. Several prisoners also fell into the hands of the Union troops, and the attack was a complete triumph. But at the very moment when victory was deemed certain, several large bodies of rebel troops from Columbus and Hickman crossed the Mississippi River and re-enforced those at Belmont. This re-enforcement made the enemy numerically stronger than the forces under General Grant, and after another severe fight, the Union troops had to withdraw to their transports, their retreat being well covered by the ordnance of the gunboats. The following is from a private letter from General Grant to his father, written on the night of the 8th : "Day before yesterday I left Cairo with about three thousand men, in five steamers, convoyed by two gunboats, and proceeded down the river to within about twelve miles of Columbus. The next morning the boats were dropped just out of range of the enemy's batteries, and the troops debarked. During this operation our gun· boats exercised the rebels by throwing shells into their camps and batteries. When all ready, we proceeded about one mile toward Belmont, opposite Columbus, when I formed the troops into line, and ordered two companies from each regiment to deploy as skirmishers, and push on through the woods and discover the position of the enemy. They had gone but a little way when they were fired upon, and the ball may be said to have fairly opened. "The whole command, with the exception of a small reserve, was then deployed in like manner and ordered forward. The order was obeyed with great alacrity, the men all showing great courage. I can say with great gratification that every colonel, without a single exception, set an example to their commands that inspired a confidence that will always insure victory when there is the slightest possibility of gaining one. I feel truly proud to command such men. "From here we fought our way from tree to tree through the woods to Belmont, about two and a half miles, the enemy contesting every foot of ground. Here the enemy had strengthened their position by felling the trees for two or three hundred yards, and sharpening their limbs, making a sort of abatis. Our men charged through, making the victory complete, giving us possession of their camp and garrison equipage, artillery, and every thing else. "We got a great many prisoners. The majority, however, succeeded in getting aboard their steamers and pushing across the river. We burned every thing possible, and started back, having accomplished all that we went for, and even more. Belmont is entirely covered by the batteries from Columbus, and is worth nothing as a military position-cannot be held without Columbus. "The object of the expedition was to prevent the enemy from sending a force into Missouri to cut off troops I had sent there for a special purpose, and to prevent re-enforcing Price. "Besides being well fortified at Columbus, their number far exceeded ours, and it would have been folly to have attacked them. We found the Confederates well armed and brave. On our return, stragglers, that had been left in our rear (now front), fired into us, and more recrossed the river and gave us battle for a full mile, and afterward at the boats when we were embarking. "There was no hasty retreating or running away. Taking into account the object of the expedition, the |