Sept 30 1861 Wrote Capt. McKeever, “Our pickets were attacked today below Norfolk. A Rebel mortally wounded reports Pillow Twenty Thousand moving on Mayfield. We are threatened towards Charleston.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 329
O.R., I, iii, 510
Vicinity of Grant's command at Cairo Ill.
Wrote Julia, “All is very quiet here now. Every day or two I have reconnaissances made down near the enemy and occasionally we surprise a scouting party of the enemy. A day or two ago some of my Cavalry got into a nest of them and killed ten or twelve, took four prisoners and four horses, and a lot of shotguns and rifles. I will send Fred one of the rifles the first opportunity. By the way, I would like to take Fred with me the balance of the Campaign. Won’t you let him come? If you will send him down when father comes, I will take good care of him. Gen. McClernand has his son, about the same age, with him and so have several other officers.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 327-8
Sept 29 1861 Wrote Capt. Chauncy McKeever, Assistant Adjutant General for the Western Department, “Everything here is quiet, and no rumors to disturb it. I have heard this evening that Hardee has arrived at New Madrid from Bloomfield, probably to re-enforce Johnston at Columbus. I scarcely credit the rumor, but it may be true.”
“I have in confinement here a soldier charged with willful and malicious murder, committed upon a fellow soldier. The crime was perpetrated in Missouri, where it is impossible to bring a criminal to justice by usual process. By law he cannot be tried in any court out of the State where the offense was committed. I would, therefore, ask if he cannot be tried by a military commission.”
“The cold season is now so nearly at hand, that it is time to think of providing winter quarters for the garrison that must necessarily occupy this place. Log huts could be cheaply built, but even they would call for the outlay of some money. Credit will not do at this place longer. I understand that the credit of the Government has been already used
to the extent of some hundred thousand dollars, and no money ever paid out. This causes much murmuring among the citizens, and unless the paymaster is soon sent to pay off the troops the same may be expected from the soldiers. I would respectfully urge, therefore, that funds be ordered here for the quartermasters department, and also that the troops be paid off as soon as practicable.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 321-2
O.R., I, iii, 509
Sept 26 1861 Wrote Gen McClernand, “I have caused the arrest, and confinement, of three citizens of Blandville by the names of Blak, Corbett and Vaughan. The two latter are held as hostages for the safety and return of a Mr. Mercer, a Union man and citizen of Ky. who was arrested by the rebels and carried into Columbus a few days since.”
“The former I propose sending to St. Louis charged with recruiting a company for the southern army.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 316-7
Sept 25 1861 Wrote Julia, “I received three letters from you today all written last month and two of them a month or more ago. You complain of my not writing. It may be that you have not received all my letters but I do not think that I have ever gone a whole week without writing and generally not more than three or four days.”
“All is quiet here now. How long it will remain so is impossible to tell. If I had troops enough not long. My force I look upon as sufficient to hold this place but not sufficient to make an aggressive movement against the large force now occupying Columbus. I see from father’s letter that he expects to come by here. I shall be very glad to see him.”
“The news from Lexington today is bad but is considerably relieved by the report that the rebels are about to be taken and Lexington retaken.”
…
“Give my love to all at home. Kiss the children for me. Did you get the watch I sent you and $21 00 in money? I want the other sent to me. It is important that I should have a correct time piece and the one I had gets sometimes an hour out of the way in a single day. Do you see much of our neighbors? How much I long to be back in Galena for a day or two.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant p 311-2
Sept 24 1861 Wrote Gen Frémont, “I have no new move of the enemy to report. I still continue active reconnaissances, and have, I believe, driven the enemy back to Columbus and Belmont.”
“Every day our advance scouts come in sight of parties of Rebels, but they always retreat upon sight of our troops.”
“I have withdrawn all the troops from Fort Jefferson and strengthened the command at Norfolk. Should reinforcements be sent here however I will retake that position. It was only abandoned this morning.”
“The three men reported missing by me day before yesterday have all returned with the loss of one Horse.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 306-7
O.R., I, iii, 504-5
Sept 23 1861 Wrote Gen Frémont, “Information from Columbus indicates the rebels are crossing to Belmont, taking away two gun boats. The third is laid up & weakening my force as has been done may force me to abandon Norfolk & Fort Jefferson. I will hold on to them as long as it is prudent. Our pickets had a passage at arms last night one & a half miles below Hunters, three men & horses missing.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 300-1
National Archives, RG 393, Western Dept. Telegrams
Sept 22 1861 Wrote Julia, “Father’s letter giving an account of Simps last moments made me sad. I have felt sad all day long. Why did not Mary go out with father?”
“I regret exceedingly that my force here has been, from necessity, kept too much reduced to admit of an advance upon Columbus. Taking possession of Paducah has necessarily taken off a large force and to advance, a Garrison must be left to occupy the positions around Cairo. I would like to have the honor of commanding the Army that makes the advance down the river, but unless I am able to do it soon cannot expect it. There are too many Generals who rank me that have commands inferior to mine for me to retain it.”
“Kiss all the children for me. Jess is to have two bits to spend for himself and Martha Rebecca the same. One at a time however is enough for them to spend their money.”
The Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 300
Wrote Gen. Frémont, “Made reconnaissance today in force to within five miles of Columbus Kentucky shore by Gun boats. No enemy nearer than Columbus. From Gunboats their encampments look large.”
Papers of Ulysses S Grant, Vol 2, p 292
National Archives, RG 393, Western Dept. Telegrams
Sept 21 1861 Wrote Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General U.S.A., “Complaint has just been lodged with me by a Mr. Wm. W. Howell of Jackson Missouri that on or about the 8th day of the present month he lost a negro Boy, said to have been carried off by some of the members of the 19th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers.”
“The 19th is now in or about Washington City and I respectfully refer the matter for investigation.”
“The Boy is described as being 21 years old, full 6 feet high, of dark copper color, foot remarkably large, and he answers to the name of Will.”
The Papers of U. S. Grant, Vol. 2, p 291
National Archives, RG 393, USG Hd. Qrs. Correspondence.