I want to hear from you or Mary often.  I sent you the Daily Democrat, thinking that would keep you better posted in this section than I could, and it is a cheap correspondent.

I wrote to you that I should like to have Mary go out to Galena and stay some time.  I do not want Julia to leave Galena, being anxious to retain my residence after the many kindnesses received from the people there.

I only arrived at this place last night and cannot tell you much about things here.  The people however are generally reported to be secessionists.

ULYS.

[September 4th, Grant had removed headquarters from Cape Girardeau to Cairo, Ill.  Hearing that the Confederates were about to seize Paducah, Ky., he went there immediately, arriving there a few hours before the enemy, who returned to Columbus.  Before leaving Grant addressed a short proclamation to the citizens promising them protection.  Troops were left to guard the city.

To his sister Mary.]

Cairo,
September 11th, 1861.

Dear sister: 

Your letter with a short one from Father was received yesterday, and having a little time I answer it.

The troops under me and the rebel forces are getting so close together however that I have to watch all points.  Since taking command I have taken possession of the Kentucky bank opposite here, fortified it and placed four large pieces in position.  Have occupied Norfolk, Missouri, and taken possession of Paducah.  My troops are so close to the enemy as to occasionally exchange shots with the pickets.  To day, or rather last night, sixty or seventy rebels came upon seventeen of our men and were repulsed with a loss of two men killed on their side, none hurt on ours.  Yesterday there was skirmishing all day.  We had but two wounded however, whilst the loss must have been considerable on the other.

What future operations will be, of course I don’t know.  I could not write about it in advance if I did.  The rebel force numerically is much stronger than ours, but the difference is more than made up by having truth and justice on our side, whilst on the other they are cheered on by falsehood and deception.  This war however is formidable and I regret to say cannot end so soon as I anticipated at first.

Father asks for a position for Albert Griffith.  I have no place to give and at best could use only my influence.  I receive letters from all over the country for such places, but do not answer them.  I never asked for my present position, but now that I have it I intend to perform the duties as rigidly as I know how without looking out for places for others.  I should be very glad if I had a position within my own gift for Al. but I have not.

My duties are very laborious and have been from the start.  It is a rare thing that I get to bed before two or three o’clock in the morning and am usually wakened in the morning before getting awake in a natural way.  Now, however, my staff are getting a little in the way of this kind of business and can help me.