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CHAPTER V.

BELMONT, FORT HENRY, AND FORT DONELson.

The post of Cairo included within its jurisdiction both banks of the Mississippi from Cape Girardeau to New Madrid, and the whole of Western Kentucky on the Ohio River. Its importance as a strategic point is evident at a glance; situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, it is the natural base for a military movement. upon the South, as also as a defensive military position, It is said that in the first consultation General Scott had with Mr. Lincoln's cabinet at the opening of the war, he placed his finger on the map at Cairo and spoke of it as in every way one of the most important points in the country as a base of supplies, and for military operations.

At the time of General Grant's taking command at Cairo, the State of Kentucky had assumed a nominal neutrality, the secession element was very strong and at many points the rebel forces were received with joyous welcome, while everything was done to prevent the progress of the Union armies. The Confederates had seized Hickman, Bowling Green, Columbus, fortified Fort Henry commanding the Tennessee River, and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. As soon as Grant found out that the rebels had encroached upon Kentucky, he ordered the seizure of Paducah, a valuable port at the mouth of the Tennessee River. At the time of taking possession of Paducah Grant found secession flags flying in various

parts of the city, in expectation of the speedy arrival of the rebel forces. Occupying the telegraph office, hospitals and all points of importance, he issued the following proclamation to the citizens:

PADUCAH, KY., September 6, 1861.

TO THE CITIZENS OF PADUCAH:-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 enemics. 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.

This proclamation is of importance as being the first public expression of one who has shown that in statesmanship he is as reliable as in war. Its tone was admirable, and represented the spirit of the Union people.

Following up the occupation of Paducah, General Grant advanced and occupied Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland River, thus effectually blockading the entrance to or emergence from the rebel States by those important

streams.

The Confederates had assembled in great force at Columbus, on the Kentucky shore of the Mississippi below Cairo, and were sending their forces across the river to General Price at Belmont, Missouri. It is not the purpose of this biography to give a history of the movements of

the army generally, only touching briefly the movements. in which General Grant was personally concerned.

On the evening of November 6, General Grant in person, with three thousand one hundred and fourteen men embarked on transports, convoyed by two gunboats, proceeded down the river and landed near Belmont on the west bank just outside the range of the Confederate batteries at Columbus. General Grant in a letter to his father, states that: "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 reinforcing Price."

On the morning of November 7, General Grant formed his small force into line of battle and immediately attacked the rebel force under General Cheatham, driving them. from their camp and capturing a battery of twelve guns; the camp was then burned, and the enemy's baggage and horses taken. Belmont, being situated on low ground, was commanded by the batteries on the bluffs at Columbus and could be made untenable at any time. Grant, seeing this, and the Confederates having sent over large bodies of troops from Columbus, and reinforced those at Belmont, making the enemy numerically stronger than the Union troops, concluded to withdraw his little army to his transports, the retreat being covered by the ordnance of the gunboats. In this engagement there were 7,000 Confederates, and 2,850 Union troops. Confederate loss was 875, Union loss 400. After his return to Cairo with his forces, General Grant issued the following order congratulating his troops: HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI,

CAIRO, November 6, 1861.

The General commanding this military district, returns his thanks to the troops under his command at the battle of Belmont on yesterday.

It has been his fortune to have been in all the battles fought in Mexico by Generals Scott and Taylor, save Buena Vista, and he never saw one more hotly contested, or where troops behaved with more gallantry.

Such courage will insure victory wherever our flag may be borne and protected by such a class of men.

To the brave men who fell, the sympathy of the country is due, and will be manifested in a manner unmistakable.

U. S. GRANT, Brigadier-General Commanding.

General Halleck, at this time commanding the Department of the Missouri, appreciating the military ability

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of General Grant in reorganizing his department into proper military districts, issued an order constituting the "District of Cairo," and extending the command until it became one of the largest divisions in the country, appointing General Grant to be the chief in command.

General Grant at once began organizing the new troops added to his command. On Jauuary 15 he made a strong reconnoissance from Paducah toward Columbus and other points in Kentucky; having ascertained and accomplished all that he desired, he withdrew his forces to Cairo.

Strongly impressed with the importance of driving the rebels from the State of Kentucky, General Grant visited General Halleck and asked permission to undertake the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson. On the 30th day of January he received the desired permission, and within three days, with the aid of Commodore Foote, a combined naval and land expedition set out for Fort Henry, ninety miles above the mouth of the Tennessee River. The land forces consisted of 17,000 men under General Grant, and a fleet of seven gunboats, four of which were ironclad, under command of Commodore A. H. Foote.

On the morning of February 6, 1862, the gunboats opened fire upon the Fort. After about two hours and a quarter's engagement the rebels, finding that their line of retreat was cut off by the Union troops, who had been landed about four miles below the fort, intending to attack the fort in the rear, while the gunboats attacked the front, lowered their flag and surrendered before the military forces could arrive, General Grant arriving within an hour after it had capitulated, when Commodore Foote turned over the captured fort and prisoners to the army. General Grant telegraphed to General Halleck: "Fort Henry is ours. Gunboats silenced the batteries before the investment was completed. I shall take and destroy Fort Donelson on the 8th, and return to Fort Henry." The fall of Fort Henry opened the Tennessee to the Union gunboats and pierced the Confederate line of defense across the State of Kentucky.

General Grant lost no time in preparing for a vigorous movement on Fort Donelson, twelve miles distant, having ordered reinforcements to be sent up the river from Cairo. In the meantime the Confederates, alarmed by their defeat on the Tennessee, concentrated all the force tha they

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