Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/55

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 31 place, in which Grant s horse was shot under him. The enemy was routed and his camp captured, but he soon rallied, and was re-enforced by detach ments ferried across from Columbus, and Grant fell back and re-embarked. He got his men safely on the steamboats, and was himself the last one in the command to step aboard. He captured 175 prisoners and two guns, and spiked four other pieces, and lost 485 men. The Confederates lost 642. The opposing troops, including re-enforce ments sent from Columbus, numbered about 7,000. In January, 1862, he made a reconnoissance in force toward Columbus. He was struck with the advantage possessed by the enemy in holding Fort Henry on Tennessee river, and Fort Donelson on the Cumberland, and conceived the idea of captur ing them before they could be further strength ened, by means of an expedition composed of the troops under his command, assisted by the gun boats. He went to St. Louis and submitted his proposition to the department commander, Gen. Halleck, but was listened to with impatience, and his views were not approved. On January 28 he telegraphed Halleck, renewing the suggestion, and saying, &quot;If permitted, I could take and hold Fort Henry on the Tennessee.&quot; Com. Foote, com manding the gun-boats, sent a similar despatch. On the 29th Grant also wrote urging the expedi tion. Assent was obtained on February 1, and the