Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[17] troops on their triple decks. He was anxious to get back to his own steamers before these reenforcements could arrive, and strove to re-form his men, but in vain; they behaved like so many schoolboys, until, finally, to stop the plundering, he ordered his staff officers to set the camps on fire. This drew the attention of the artillerists at Columbus, who speedily opened on the national troops, when, perceiving the necessity of discipline, the men returned to the ranks, and the march to the transports began. Meanwhile, the defeated rebels, finding no notice was taken of them, had re-formed under the bank, and in the woods on the point of land just above Belmont; three fresh regiments from Columbus had also arrived, and the combined force, passing along under the bank, interposed between Grant and his transports. It was instantly cried: ‘We are surrounded!’ and at first some confusion prevailed. An officer of Grant's staff, lately from civil life, rode up, a little flustered, with the intelligence. ‘Well,’ said Grant, ‘if that is so, we must cut our way out as we cut our way in.’ The men were brave enough, but it had not occurred to them before, that being surrounded, there was any thing to do but surrender. Grant, however, remarked: ‘We have whipped them once, and I think we can do it again;’ and as soon as the troops found that their leader meant to fight, the confusion was past; they promptly charged and dispersed the rebel line, which made but a faint resistance, not half so vigorous as that of the morning, and disappeared a second time over the banks.

It was necessary, however, to lose no time, for reenforcements were still crossing the river in large numbers. Grant pushed on to the landing, and