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had been faithless to their will; that instead of enforcing neutrality, they had sought to make the
State a fortress in which the armed forces of the
United States might securely prepare to subjugate alike the people of
Kentucky and of the
Southern States.
He declared that the
Confederate troops occupied
Bowling Green as a defensive position, and that he renewed the pledge previously given by their commanders, to retire as soon as the
Federal forces would in like manner withdraw.
But the first serious collision of arms in
Kentucky was to occur in the neighbourhood of the waters of the
Ohio and the
Tennessee; and to that end of the line of operations we must now take the attention of the reader.
The battle of Belmont.
Gen. Polk had for some time been strengthening his position at
Columbus, and had also occupied
Belmont, a small village on the
Missouri shore, so as to command both banks of the stream.
With a view of surprising the small Confederate force on the west bank,
Gen. U. S. Grant collected a fleet of large river steamboats, and embarking at night, steamed down the river unobserved.
Within a few miles of
Columbus and
Belmont the river makes a sudden bend, and behind this bend
Grant disembarked his forces, and began to advance towards
Belmont, through the woods.
When the morning of the 7th of November broke, the action commenced; the first intimation of the enemy's presence being a succession of rapid volleys.
The troops were soon under arms, but the sudden surprise precluded all idea of a regular line or plan of battle.
It appears that when the enemy was reported landing troops a few miles above, the garrison in
Belmont consisted of only two regiments.
Gen. Pillow, with four regiments, immediately crossed, and assumed command.
He had scarcely done so, when
Grant's advance opened fire, and the fight soon became fierce and obstinate.
The enemy made a desperate attempt to turn the left wing of the
Confederates, but was defeated by the destructive fire of
Beltzhoover's battery.
This wing was severely taxed, as was also the right.
Finding that they stood firm and unbroken, and, anxious for decisive action before reinforcements could reach
Pillow,
Grant repeatedly hurled his strongest force at the
Confederate centre, which was in the open field.
The centre evidently faltered under these heavy and repeated attacks.
Pillow ordered a charge, and the first line of the enemy was driven upon their reserves.
But ammunition now began to fail, and word came that the wings could not maintain their position if the centre gave in, as there was every reason to fear it would do. Again a charge was ordered, which
