Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/54

 30 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS mouth of the Tennessee, having already occupied Columbus and Hickman. He moved that night with two regiments of infantry and one battery of artillery, and occupied Paducah the next morning. He issued a proclamation to the citizens, saying, &quot;I have nothing to do with opinions, and shall deal only with armed rebellion and its aiders and abet tors.&quot; Kentucky had declared an intention to re main neutral in the war, and this prompt occupa tion of Paducah prevented the Confederates from getting a foothold there, and did much toward re taining the state within the Union lines. Gen. Sterling Price was advancing into Missouri with a Confederate force, and Grant was ordered, November 1, to make a demonstration on both sides of the Mississippi, to prevent troops from being sent from Columbus and other points to re-enforce Price. On November 6 Grant moved down the river with about 3,000 men on steamboats, accom panied by two gun-boats, debarked a few men on the Kentucky side that night, and learned that troops of the enemy were being ferried across from Columbus to re-enforce those on the west side of the river. A Confederate camp was established opposite, at Belmont, and Grant decided to attack it. On the morning of the 7th he debarked his troops three miles above the place, left a strong guard near the landing, and marched to the attack with about 2,500 men. A spirited engagement took