Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/53

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 29 Mattoon. The regiment was transferred to Springfield, and on July 3 he went with it from that place to Palmyra, Mo., thence to Salt River, where it guarded a portion of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad, and thence to the town of Mexico, where Gen. Pope was stationed as commander of the military district. On July 31 Grant was assigned to the command of a sub-district under Gen. Pope, his troops consisting of three regiments of infantry and a section of artillery. He was ap pointed a brigadier-general of volunteers on August 7, the commission being dated back to May 17, and was ordered to Ironton, Mo., to take com mand of a district in that part of the state, where he arrived August 8. Ten days afterward he was ordered to St. Louis, and thence to Jefferson City. Eight days later he was directed to report in person at St. Louis, and on reaching there found that he had been assigned to the command of the district of southeastern Missouri, embracing all the terri tory in Missouri south of St. Louis, and all southern Illinois, with permanent headquarters at Cairo. He established temporary headquarters at Cape Giradeau, on the Mississippi, to superintend the fitting out of an expedition against the Con federate Col. Jeff. Thompson, and arrived at Cairo on September 4. The next day he received information that the enemy was about to seize Paducah, Ky., at the