Crawford avalanche., 1885-07-30

President Lincolns call for troops to aid in
suppressng the rebellion was made April Is,
1861, and April 10 U. s. Grant was drilling
he went four days later to Springfield, III. In
May Gov. Yates offered him the Colonelcy OF the
Twenty-irst Illinois Regiment, OF which he took
command early in June and marched at once TO
Missouri, reporting to Gen. Pope, by whom he
was stat Oned at Mexico, about nifty miles north
of the Missouri River. Aug. he was commits
stoned by the President as BriRadier General or
Volunteers. Aug. he was transferred by FIRE.
mont to lronton, Mo-, and q fortnight later TO
Jefferson City. Sep. !, by direction OF Fremont,
he took command OF the District OF Southeast
Missouri, and Sept. made his headquarters
at Cairo. at the mouth OF the Ohio. His hrst
movement was to seize faducah, at the mouth
OF the Tennessee River, Sep u, ana Smlthland,
at the mouth OF the Cumberland, Sep. -.
On Nov. he made a vigorous attack on the
Confederate camp at Belmont; lie drove
the rebels down to the river bank and burned
their camps and stores, but re-enforcements
having been sent by Gen. POLK across the river,
and the guns of Columbus brought TO boar on
the Union position, Grant was forced to retire.
For the following two months he was employed
in discipning his troops, making no movement
save a reconnaissance toward columbus IN jan
uary. rcIarations were now set on foot Tor an
attack uJon 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 5000 men, to be aided by
feet of gunboats under Commodore Eoote.
Fort Henry was captured Feb. G, its batteries
having been silenccd by the fire of the boats be-
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 the same road,
surrounded that fort, and Feb. IA, as soon as the
gunboats had come up the river to cooperate
with him, began the attack upon the rebel
works. The battle was severe.' and ended Feb.
l6 in the unconditional surrender OF the Confed-
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 prejudiced against him at this time, and
used his utmost endeavor TO deprive Grant
of the honors OF the Donelson victory, giving
the credit of II in his report to Gen. O. r. Smith,
Grants second in command. The Government,
however had perception enough TO understand
the truth and to give Grant his well-deserved
promotion. Whether from irritation at this act
OF the Secretary OF war or other motive IS not
preparations for an expedition into Tennessee,
the command OF which was given TO Gen. Smith,
and Gen. Grant for alleged disIegard OF orders
was placed under arrest After few DAYS,
however, he was freed from tlhs restraint, and
again Joined his command, with headquarters
at savanna Tenn Gen Ihero n asd asd oamped amp ~
Shiloh was afterward fought near Pittsburg
Landing, ON the west bank OF the Tennessee
River. some miles aJove Savanna, 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 at Pittsburg Landing was ISss IaJsacked by
driven back with heavy loss. Gen Grautspced-
| fly arrived on the field OF battle and reformed
the lines. Re-enforcements under Gen. Buell.
coming up In the night, the battle was renewed
the next morning and the Confederates were
defeated and forced TO retreat TO Corinth
Gen. Grant was slightly wounded In this battle
| IL was one OF the most hotly contested fights
| Of the war, and the losses on both sides
were terrible. False reports concerning Grant 8
conduct I'm this battle were circulated, and for
| however, had not vet been fully shown was
| under cloud. Halleck Joined the army few
days after tho fight at shiloh. ana took personal