nd thus strip his
fortifications so as to make easier the work of the columns advancing
from Paducah and Mayfield. He therefore held his men with him and did
not interfere with Grant's movements.

Grant pushed on through the cornfields and woods for a mile or more,
and then rearranged his lines and pushed forward a heavy line of
skirmishers. By this time the enemy in camp at Belmont had learned of
the movement, and started out to meet it. The two lines of skirmishers
soon came in contact, and there was a spiteful, bickering fire opened
between them. Both sides were expert woodsmen and riflemen, and thoroly
at home at this kind of work. The Union line pressed the Confederates
slowly back for four hours, receiving and inflicting considerable
losses. Grant's horse was shot under him, but he got another, and kept
his place in the advance, directing and encouraging the men, whom he
says acted like veterans and behaved as well as any troops in the world
could have done.

266

He pushed the enemy so closely that when the latter reached the abatis
they broke into confusion and rushed over the river bank for shelter,
yielding possession of their camp to the victorious Unionists.

This triumph completely intoxicated the victors. They broke ranks, threw
down their guns, began rummaging through the camps for trophies, running
up and down and cheering wildly. Their officers were no better than
they. Many of them had been political "spellbinders" in civil life and
very naturally proceeded to "improve the occasion" by getting on
stumps and delivering enthusiastic Union speeches and addresses of
congratulation over the gallantry of their men and the wonderful victory
achieved. In vain did Gen. Grant try to recall them to a sense of
soldierly duty and discipline. He alone appeared to comprehend the
object of the expedition, and what was necessary to be next done. He
could not rally enough men to go down the river bank and capture
the garrison which was sheltered there. A number of the men who were
attracted by the captured cannon began firing them with great jubilation
down the river at steamboats which they saw there, and Grant tried to
have them, since they would fire guns, turn them upon the steamers which
were coming across from Columbus loaded with troops. Polk had at last
waked up to what was being done across the river, and began a fire upon
Belmont from his siege guns, while he hurried troops aboard steamers to
recover th