-two miles without further result, returned to
Fredericktown the 23d, and on the 24th began his march back to Cape
Girardeau.

Colonel Plummer's loss was 6 killed and 60 wounded. He took 80
prisoners, 38 of them wounded; captured one iron twelve-pounder gun, a
number of small arms and horses, and buried 158 of Thompson's dead
before leaving Fredericktown. Thompson's following was demoralized by
this defeat, and Southeast Missouri after it enjoyed comparative quiet.

The State of Kentucky at first undertook to hold the position of armed
neutrality in the civil war. On September 4, 1861, Gen. Leonidas Polk,
moving up from Tennessee with a considerable force into Western
Kentucky, seized Hickman and Columbus on the Mississippi, and threatened
Paducah on the Ohio. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, appointed brigadier-general
of volunteers on August 7, 1861, to date from May 17th, assumed command
on September 1st, by order of General Fremont, of the District of
Southeast Missouri. This district included not only the southeastern
part of Missouri, but also Southern Illinois, and so much of Western
Kentucky and Tennessee as might fall into possession of the national
forces. General Grant arrived at Cairo on September 2d, established his
headquarters there on the 4th, and next day heard of the action of
General Polk. He immediately notified General Fremont, and also the
Legislature of Kentucky, then in session at Frankfort, of the fact.
Getting further information in the day, he telegraphed to General
Fremont he would go to Paducah unless orders to the contrary should be
received. He started in the night with two regiments and a battery, and
arrived at Paducah at half-past six next morning. General L. Tilghman
being in the city with his staff and a single company of recruits,
hurried away by rail, and Grant occupied the city without opposition.
The Legislature passed a resolution "that Kentucky expects the
Confederate or Tennessee troops to be withdrawn from her soil
unconditionally." Polk remained, and Kentucky as a State was ranged in
support of the government.

General Grant, leaving a sufficient garrison, returned at noon to Cairo
to find there permission from Fremont to take Paducah if he felt strong
enough, and also a reprimand for communicating directly with a
legislature. General C.F. Smith was put in command of Paducah next day
by Fremont, with orders to report directly to Fremont. A few weeks
later, Smith occupied and garriso