The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-04-02

Ho wanted 10 take Columbus, an impoi-
tant point on tho rivor twenty miles below
Cairo, but not until tho 9th OF November was
hO ordered 10 move down tho river Ilo had
alO0 mon on transports, conveyed by two
gunboata. A section OF artillery, two
squadrons OF cavalry and Ave regiments
constituted his force, Some OF his mon had
only been In possession Of their arms q fow
days, and were ~ raw az ohlldron aud ~ un.
disciplined as cowboys, McClornand was
the only general officer In his command, and
ho had mover heard thoping Of an unfrlendly
bullet Logan, now no we'll known, was
with him ~ colonel On the 7th hO landed
NJ Hunters Point, on tho Missouri side, and
marched on Belmont. near which tho Con
fcdcntcl had pitched thoir camp, by Q
o'clock his ontiro command, except one
battalion guarding tho transports, was In q
warm engagement, tho gunboats being en-
gagged with tho batteries az Columbus. The
fight lasted four hours, Grant with
tho akirmsh line. His horse wa,
shot undor him. McClomand lost three
horses, aud every colonel, M we'll rs the raw
recruits, fought furiously without 0inching
Thoy drove tho Confcdoratos 70 the river
bank, took several hundred prisoners, cop
turod all tho artillery and broke up tho
camp, Victory, however, was TOO much for
tho Federal troops, They became disor
ganizcd, and instead OF following up tho
enemy a. ho covered on tho river bank, the
soldiers sot about plundcring, whllo their Of
ilcors, untaught IN tho propriotlog of military
life, mndo patriotic stump speeches, To
stop the plundoring Grant ordered his etaif
oGcors 10 eot tho camp on lro, Tho men re-
Transports began Meanwhile Confederate
reonforccmonts arrived, and combining with
the defeated, cut Grant Off from his trans
ports. 1--WE aro aurromded,n mld AN Of
flcor Of his gtUii, riding up, somewhat agi.
tatcd, "Woll, v said Grant, III that IA 80 wo
must cut our way out On We cut our way ln"-.
ono Of tho condensed epcoohog OF wisdom
aud determination for which hc nftorward
grew famous uo charged and dispersed
tho onomy, meeting with but slight ro-
distance.
Tho danger OF this, his frIt fight was not
yot over however Ho pushed on 10 tho
landing, got most OF his forco aboard seeing
10 everything In person, his officers being too
lncA1oIlcnCcu 70 OAoCuUo nW OfuOTt WltnOuu
special directions, A forco OF men had boon
sent 10 gather up the wounded, aud when tho
main body was nearly embarked no rodo
back 10 withdraw tho roar guards, which
wero 10 have covered tho mon bringing In
tho wounded They, being unsophIsticatcd
In military obsorvances, bad thought ft 10
rotlro, and had returned 10 the Transports,
Grant found himself outside OF his own
troops with tho oncmy advancing upon him
and firing on his Transports lIo saw that
The mon In search OF tho wounded could not
bo eaycd aud rode slowly buck 10 tho trans
porta. Az ho wore prlyatos ovoycoat ho
was not recognized a. an officer Getting
near tho Transports ho gallopod swiftly 10 tho
rivor his horse aiding down the bunk on its
launches; plank was put out for him, over
which he trotted hla horse aboard through
rain Of mussotry. His convoy OF gunboats
then opened on tho Confedoiatos with groat
destruction. aud mnall loss themselves, and
by o'clock tho transports woro ont OF range
This battle confirmed Grant IN ispolicy of
tho delay" ON which ho always afterwards
acted. This engagement strengthened tho
confidence OF bla soldiers and mndo thcn
courageous for tho future, Long afterwards
tho "Bolmont men" wprc among the sturdiost
soldiers In tho army Of tho reunossco.