New-York tribune., 1885-07-24

W1ckneld, VINO was III auvance VI DIikNoAcA wv"
eral Grant. stopped at farmhouse for dinner, and
ii occurred to him that the party would get much
better fare, in disloya region. If he should rep
resent himself % the general In COM
mand, The hint was sufficient, and the
best dinner the house could afford was prepared,
while the inmates were profuse in their dcclara-
tons of loyalty. The party devoured everything,
and passed on. Soon afterward General Grant him
self appeared. and wanted dinner. The woman
SAID she couldn't givo them anything but one
pumpkin pie; General Grant and his party had
iust been there and eaten up everything but that.
General Grant made no reply but to toss half
dollar to the woman, and ask her to keep that pie
until no should send for it. Then they galloped
off. That evening the brigade was ordered out to
hear special order read There was great excite
ment. The air was full of speculations as to the
important movement that might be coming This
order was read to the listening army:
Lieutenant wictsa Of IN Vr nsi1pa csy1 ho,s sas
the crossing OF the Ironton and Pocahontas ana Black
p. s" weieid is hereby ordered to
u. s. GRANT. Brigadier-Gcneral.
Orders were orders. of course, and Lieutenant
Wickfeld and his escort soon filed out of tho camp
amid the cheers and laughter of the troops Inc
lieutenant must have been something of humor-
ist too in his way, for tho story says that he ate
the pic with great rcIish But he accepted the
lesson.
Grant was now placed IN command of the District
of Southeast Missouri with headquarters at Cairo.
HIS troops were soon Increased by the accession OF
General McCernand's brigade. Cairo. being at the
confluence Of the Ohio and Missis-
sippi Rivers, was the key OF the
West. The surrounding country was full OF
disaffection and disorder and distrust prevailed.
Kentucky. which professed to be q Union State aud
did furnish many gallant soldiers for the old flag,
was used IA place of refuge for rebel marauders
and free lances. Grant, with his clear military
eye, saw the point which must be occupied 10
command this troublesome territory. lie TOOK
possession on September @. 1851. OF Paduoan, IN
Kentucky, O place on the Ohio River near the
mouth of tho Tennessee, thus commanding that
stream and all It's branches IN the interior which
the Robcls had been using. The proclamation
which he issned is well worth quoting:
anu come among you not enemy but ns yonr
and nforce tho rights OF all loyal citlens am
here 10 defend you against the common enemy, VINO '
planted his guns on your soil and red upon you aud to
assert the authority and sovereignty OF your uo'MI M
deal only with armed rebellion and s aiders and aDet
tors You can pursue your usual avoca!ions "ithonl @
its friends and punish it's rncpes Whenever " s
manifest that are able to defend ri
of loyal citizens shall withdraw the forces under my
command
The occnpation of Paducah was prompt action
taken without communicating with Fremont lwhp
had succeeded Pope as commander OF the Depart
|ment OF the Missouri because the Rebels held both
Hickman and Columbus on the Mississippi side OF
Kentucky, and Bowling Green in the centre OF the
state. and Grant felt that no time was to be lost
In like manner smithand. which commanded the
mouth of the Cumberland. was occupied also. In
these steps Grant showed the quick decision OF The
born commander. This rare ability was recognized
almost as promptly as il was displayed. One Of the
most interesting features of his history and that Of
he WARRIOR they IN large part the sarne-is hi
rapid progress from post to post of danger and re-
sponsiblity. Men seemed to feel as he approachen
each new difficulty that this was the man born io
he occasion. Early in November bo was ordered u
make dcmonsi ration in the direction of Belmont
. point on the west bank of the Mississippi abou
.ighteen miles below Cairo. the object being to pre-
vent the crossing of hostile troops into Missouri
lie received his orders November .. and on t.e
Stn he moved with 3. 100 men on transports On
the 9TH ne landed at Belmont. broke up and de
troyed tho camp under heavy IRE from Io,@'ne
reinforcements arrived from the eastern bank i
intercept him. His troops were raw ana bis onca'
we're disturbed n the idea OF beng surrounded
ut Grant soon rallied his forces and, charging tnc
rnemy cut his way ont. lie reached his transports ~
afcty and returned 10 Cairo. having accompnshri
900 men against Grants 5000. Thor loss Wa
jI2 aud his AS. Grant lost horse but hs troops
arr,~d % two niece. 90 artillery and 900 prisoners
4 The following graphic account OF General Grant $
first engagement IN the Rebellion Is taken from his
an oblography:
A soon s they saw they decamped as fast as thcli
horses would CORY them. kept my men IN tbc rank
and forbade their entering any Of the deserted houses O
falng ANYTHING from them We halted AT night on the
road and proceeded the next morning 81 an carry n"I
arri, had been encamped IN creek bottom Tor the
sake OF being water The hills on ciirr seo OF WI
...l.If ilera
than 100 feet A. approached the brow oi ne MI
from which 1pccicl could see Harrl-s camp
and uos.ihy lind his ready formed io mret - 'ly
heart kept getting higher and higher un IL elt 10 '
a. tbnugh IL was In my throat would have INen any
thing then have been back In Illinois but ma no
The moral courage to halt and consider what to 90;
kept right on When reached point from whch th'
valley below was IN full view halted The place Whcr'
Iarri, had been encamped few days before was stl
g there and the marks OF a recent encanpment VIZ
Mainly visible, but troops were gone MY hear' ~
.umci ia paee IL occurred TO Al once tht Iiatrh
had been as afraid of me as had been OF MIN
Tis was a view the question had never taken before
but IL was forgot afcrward From tha even
IN The close Of the never experienced uspidauo
upon confronting an enemy