Gibson, Randall Lee (1832-1892) to his father Tobias Gibson

Excerpt:
"... as yet the unity of the defenses is not entirely preserved. But much may be done on short notice and I have no idea that we should ever be driven from Columbus. I feel however that the best way to defend ourselves, is to march a column at once from Bowling Green on Paducah and from here against Cairo - the one taking Paducah and Both at the same time attacking Cairo and then advancing on St. Louis. In my judgement this could even be done with success. Delay is in their favor and if we give them time to complete their great fleet, they will give us trouble both here and at Fort Pillow and may pass - but while their gunboats may go by their transports cannot. On the whole I regard our position as secure and impregnable - I wish we had a few more of West Pointers and old army officers high in command amongst us. Living here is abundant and the army is well supplied & their spirit high.
I have been on two excursions lately. One with a Flag of Truce up the River in charge of Gen'l Cheatham to convey Col. Daugherty wounded & taken prisoner in the Battle of Belmont to Gen'l Grant comdg. army at Cairo. Our boats met about seven miles above this and were lashed together & turned up stream. Gen'l Cheatham, CoL Lappan & a few other officers - some from my Regiment went up. On the other side were Gen'l Grant - & others whose names escape me. I was introduced to Col. Daugherty at request & while I could not help but feel sympathy with a man on his back - with one leg less - having had it amputated three different times - yet I could take no interest in conversation with him and retired quickly. And so, with the Federal officers generally to all appearances, there had been a meeting of friends shaking hands, & drinking toasts but I did not partake of any sociability of feeling that way may have existed. Gen'l Grant had somewhat the appearance of a Southerner but the rest seemed to me impudent - upstarts. Some among them made known their confidence in the "On to New Orleans" intention and all of them declared they were fighting for us - that they came to save not to destroy - Gen'l Grant - even saying he would resign his commission if war should be made against slavery - but it was evident from the whole tenor of their remarks that their purpose individually was subjugation and confiscation. I am thoroughly disgusted with the whole party.
Maj. Gen'l Polk having been informed that the enemy were in force again near the field of Belmont in a woods just opposite. I received an order about 9 o'clock to put my Regiment with no noise under arms as soon as possible & report. In about half hour I reported according to orders and taking his steam boats we ascended the River about five miles and debarked - went about 11/2 miles, to where we supposed they were laid on our arms or scouted all night and marched back reaching Camp about 10 o'clock next day. We were drawn up at the forks of a road with the main body and some Companies sent forward and on the sides as skirmishers. But the enemy must have received notice in some way retired. However, we had them alarmed and once I thought we had them. It turned out to be horses running by us and not Cavalry as we supposed. Not a gun was fired and we saw no Yankees - but the officers & men throughout the whole affair behaved with coolness and promptness. I think now I have the best Regiment at Columbus and the opinion is not confined to me by any means. As I said we did not return in boats but marched back through the county by passing through corn fields and woods and cutting down fences at random. Maybe people won't suffer at the seat of war both in property and mind - we are very particular on our side to allow no pillage indeed there is no disposition to do so but such is not the case with the arch enemy. We marched right through the old battlefield & maybe it won't present a sense of desolation. It looks like it had been struck by constant strikes of lightening. I counted as I marched along twelve dead horses and the trees & earth looked scorched & in places torn up. The result was a very decided victory on our part but we suffered terribly in the morning - all of which is attributed to a mistake of Brig. Gen'l Pillow in taking up his line of battle in an open field while the enemy were sheltered by the woods & passed a deadly fire on us of artillery & musketry - while unseen for the main part. Cheatham I expect won the battle. Butler was sent forward to see whether certain parties were enemies or friends and was shot down. He was found by his brother and told him at once he was going to die & to receive his messages. He died without a murmur. He told his brother to tell his Father that he had died as a Butler and that if the position be occupied was unmilitary, it should be borne in mind, that he was there, under the orders of his Col. ..."