Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-29
n R14.E

il0bl
President Iincoln's call for troops TO aid in
suppressing the rebellion was made April 10,
1861, and April 10 Il. S. Grant was drilling u
company of volunteers at Galcna, with whom
he went four days later to Springfield, H. In
May Gov. Yates offered him the Colonclcy of the
Twenty first Illinois Regiment, of which he took
command early i'm June and marched at once TO
Missouri, reporting to Gen. Pope, by whom he
was stationed at Mexico, about fifty miles north
of the Missouri River. Aug. he was commits
stoned by the President as Brigadicr General of
Volunteers. Aug. he was transferred by Ere
mont to lronton, Mo, and fortnight later to
Jefferson City. Sep /, by direction of Fremont
hc took command of the District of Southeast
Missouri, and Sept. made his headquarters
at Cairo. Mt the mouth of the Ohio. His first
movement was to seize IaduCah, ut the mouth
OF the Tennessee River, Sep &, aud Smithland,
ut the mouth of the Cumberland, Sep -.
On Nov. he made u vigorous attack ON the
Confederate camp at Belmont. lie drove
the rebels down TO the river bank and burned
their camps and stores, but rC-cnfOrcements
having been sent by Gen. Polk across the river,
and the guns of Columbus brought to bear on
the Union position, Grant was forced TO retire
For the following two months nc was employed
i'm usciplining his troops. making no movement
save Reconnaissance toward Columbus In Jan
uary. Preparations were now set on foot for an
attack upon Forts Henry and Donelson, the
former of which commanded the Tennessee
River, and the latter the Cumberland, near the
dividing line between Kentucky and Tennessee.
With this object Grant started from Paducah
Feb. with a force of 1000 men, To he aided bv
feet of gunboats under Commodore Foote.
Fort Henry was captured Feb. g. its batteries
slltnt 81 DN inc IRE Oh INC DOllS nc
fore the land forces arrived. The most of the
Confederate troops escaped across the country
TO Fort DOnelson. twelve miles distant. Gen.
Grant transported his forces over he same road
surrounded that tort, and Feb ~, ~ soon rs the
gunboats had come up the river to cooperate
with him, began the attack upon the rebel
works. The battle was scVcrc,i and ended Feb
16 I'm the unconditional surrender of tho Confcd-
crate forces under Gen. Buckner. Grant was
commissioned Major General of Volunteers from
the date of that victory and Immediately
achieved national fame Gen. Halleck, however,
was preiudicCd against him at this time, aud
used his utmost cndcayOr to deprive Grant
of the honors of the DonGlson victory, giving
the credit of II in his report to Gen G. r. Smith,
Grants second IN command. The Government,
however, had perception enough To understand
the truth and TO give Grant his we'll deserved
promotion. Whether from irritation at this act
of the Secretary of War or other motive Ia not
known, but Gen. ialleck immedia,ely began
preparations for an expedition into Tennessee,
the command OF which was given TO Gen. Smith,
and Gen. Grant for alleged disregard of orders
was placed under arrest After u few DAYS.
however he was freed from this restraint, and
again joined his command, with Headquarters
at Savanna, Tenn. Gen. Smith had camped
with the troops at the point where the battle Of
Shiloh was aft rward fought, near lfttsburg
Landing, on the west bank of the Tennessee
River, some miles aJove Sayanna. There Gen.
Smith was taken Ill with sickness from which
he never recovered, and Gen. Grant was placed
In chief command. At daybreak of April the
camp nj Pittsburg Landing was attacked by
large force under Gen. A. ;. Johnston. and
driven back with heavy loss Gen. Grant speed
ilv arrived ON the field of battle and reformed
the lines. Rc-enforccments under Gen. Buell.
coming up in the night, the battlc was renewed
the next morning, aud the 1ufcderatcs were
defeated and forced to rctrxrt To Corinth
Gen Grant was slightly wounded In this battle
II was of the most holly contested fights
Of the war, and the losses on both sides
were terrible False reports concerning Grant =
conduct i'm this battle were circulated, and for
time the great Goneral-whose military genius,
however had not vet been fully shown was
under n cloud Ilallcck Joined the army few
dava after tho fight at Shiloh. aud took personal
supervision OF the siege Of COrinth. During the
fighting i'm that locality the next two months
Grant was left in camp, though still retaining