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GENERAL POLK AND THE BATTLE OF BELMONT.
A'-'&r Hr
In a note to the editors Colonel Frederick D. Grantsays of this picture: “ It was taken in Cairo , Ill., in 1861,and is a remarkably good picture of General Grant ashe looked at that time. He had always worn his beardtrimmed short until he was appointed colonel of the21st Illinois ; but during the time that he was serving inMissouri he did not trim his beard, nor did he do so onbeing stationed at Cairo after his appointment as briga-dier-general. After he had fought the battle of Belmont,he sent for his family to come on from Galena and make
him a visit. This picture had been taken just beforethe visit, and one of the first things that my mothersaid to him was, that she did not like the length ofhis beard. Later in the winter, and a short time afterour arrival in Cairo , General Grant got permissionto go to St. Louis on business connected with his com-mand. During that visit he was shaved — the firsttime in my recollection that he ever was shaved;the second aud only other instance was when he wasPresident. ”
The battle of Belmont was long and severe. Beginning at half-past 10o’clock in the morning, it did not end until sunset. The losses on both sidesbear evidence of the character of the fighting. The Confederate loss was
tween the rebels and our transports. The captainof a boat that had just pushed out, but had notstarted, recognized me and ordered the engineernot to start the engine; he then had a plank runout for me. My horse seemed to take in the sit-uation. There was no path down the bank, andevery one acquainted with the Mississippi River
knows that its banks, in a natural state, do notvary at any great angle from the perpendicular.My horse put his fore feet over the bank withouthesitation or urging, and, with his hind feet wellunder him, slid down the bank and trotted aboardthe boat, twelve or fifteen feet away, over a singlegang-plank.”—[“ Personal Memoirs.”]