Southernmost Illinois History

of Alexander, Pulaski, Union, Johnson, Massac and nearby counties
southernmostillinoishistory.net

Gen. Grant at Cairo

General Ulysses Grant served in the Army in the 1840s and early '50s, including involvement in the War with Mexico. He farmed in St. Louis in the 1850s, and returned to his hometown of Galena, where he was working in a family business when the Civil War began.

Grant did not become General-in-Chief of Union forces until March 1864. Meantime, Cairo is one of the places that helped him advance quickly through the ranks. Here is a timeline of his career. This link is part of an extensive Southern Illinois University study of Grant.

Grant led war activity in the interior of Southeast Missouri (Ironton, Greenville), then central Missouri, before being sent to Cape Girardeau. Only a few days later, he was sent to Cairo (good overview of Grant's Cairo war activities).

Grant stayed in the St. Charles Hotel, near the Ohio River. Here are photos of Cairo during the Civil War years.

Grant became friends with Cairo businessman Charles A. Galigher who built a 14-room Magnolia Manor in 1869. In 1880, affter Grant retired as President, he visited the home for a reception in his honor. The home is open as a tourist site.

Grant's trip to Paducah came just a few days after he came to Cairo. He succeeded in keeping the Ohio River open for Union commerce. Note that the "Battle of Paducah" was also a one-day affair, but much later in the war.

The Southern Illinois University site says Grant was at Cairo from September, 1861, to Feb. 17, 1862. Activities included:

• being engaged in the seizure of Paducah, Ky., at the mouth of Tennessee River, Sep. 6, 1861,
• expedition to and combat of Belmont, Mo., Nov. 7, 1861,
• armed reconnoissances into Western Kentucky, making demonstrations upon the Rebel defenses at Columbus, Ky., and Ft. Henry, Ten., Jan. 10-22, 1862

Grant's memoirs are online, from more than one source. Chapters 19-23 are of the most interest to those interested in Grant's time in Cairo.

• Chapter 19 from bartleby.com
• Chapter 19 from worldwideschool.org

Columbus-Belmont State Park perhaps 40 minutes south of Cairo, is a recommended visit. For a daylong visit, cross the Hickman-Dorena ferry and stop by the East Prairie, MO museum, in the town's old city hall.

Short summary of Battle of Belmont from National Park Service

More detailed Battle of Belmont information, from National Park Service's "Vicksburg Campaign Trail".

Battle at Columbus-Belmont (from KY state parks. Click for full text)

A year before the Perryville clash, Confederate forces led by Gen. Leonidas Polk marched up from Tennessee to seize a strategic location -- a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River at the small town of Columbus, Ky. Rivers were the interstate highways of the 19th century, and none was more strategically important than the Mississippi. It was a direct route into the heart of Dixie.

Knowing that, Gen. Polk set about establishing a fort to defend the river. Fort De Russey became a fortress, bristling with heavy cannon, and laced with high trenches called redoubts to provide protection for infantry. Far down the steep cliff at the river, Confederate engineers laid explosive charges in the river to destroy Union ships. The Rebels even laid a massive chain across the river to try to deter boats. The centerpiece of the fort's defenses was a huge artillery piece, the "Lady Polk" (named for some reason for the general's wife). The eight-ton rifled gun fired 128-pound projectiles for miles.

From his command in southern Illinois, U.S Gen. Ulysses S. Grant prepared for his first major engagement of the war. He floated down the Mississippi River with 3,100 troops, planning to attack a Rebel camp across the river at the town of Belmont, MO. With that base secured, he would then take on Fort De Russey. On Nov. 7, 1861, the battle was joined.

The Federal troops send the Rebels running from their encampment in Missouri. But the Rebels regroup and counterattack, eventually advancing on the Federals' flank. Grant orders the camp torched and he and his troops fight their way to their boats to withdraw upstream. By day's end, the battle is over, resulting in the loss of 1,000 lives. The battle's toll didn't end on that day. Artillerymen make a fatal mistake when they failed to unload the Lady Polk. During its firing, the gun's barrel expanded; when it cooled, unfired projectiles were lodged in the barrel. When it was then fired two days later, the massive gun exploded, killing 18 men and wounding 20 more.

Civil war activity in Jackson Purchase-West Kentucky & Cairo IL from Murray State University

Grant, in chapter 20 of his memoirs, defends the Battle of Belmont.

Belmont was severely criticised in the North as a wholly unnecessary battle, barren of results, or the possibility of them from the beginning. If it had not been fought, Colonel Oglesby would probably have been captured or destroyed with his three thousand men. Then I should have been culpable indeed.

See more on Col. Oglesby of Southeast Missouri, Grant, and the first edition of the "Stars and Stripes". The Stars and Stripes museum is at Bloomfield, MO, one hour west of Cairo.

Cairo's role in the early Union strategy

Grant's report on capture of Ft. Donelson

Insight: Grant's family, character, marriage PBS

Lt. Gen. Grant was a "come from behind" guy.

Capture of Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson

Grant's biography from americancivilwar.com including his work in Cairo