Jan. 8, 1862

Jan. 8, 1862:　 Pres. Lincoln’s obvious impatience at the stagnant state of the Federal armies finally prompts Gen. Halleck in the West to order Gen. Grant, at Cairo, Illinois, to make a convincing feint up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, and thus keep the Confederates from moving against Buell in Kentucky. On this date, Grant orders a flotilla of three gunboats under Andrew S. Foote to steam up the Cumberland River, and another force of two gunboats to steam up (South, that is) the Tennessee, to threaten the Rebel line just south of the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Troops under Gen. C.F. Smith will accompany the Cumberland incursion, and Grant will proceed up the Tennessee with more of his troops.

--Battle of Silver Creek, Missouri: 800 Confederate troops under Col. Poindexter, having established a camp here, in northeast Missouri near Glasgow, present a threat to Union control of the area.  Union cavalry from the 1^st and 2^nd Missouri regiments, the 1^st Iowa Cavalry, and the 4^th Ohio Cavalry under the command of Major Torrence and Major Hubbard, advance to the Rebel camp, attack, and scatter the Rebel troops.  The Union troops destroy the camp.  Frank Moore, a Union soldiers, observes—"The rebels made but a feeble resistance, owing to the want of an efficient commander. They were routed completely, after only half an hour’s resistance. In their flight they left everything; most of them losing overcoats, guns, etc. Some of their horses broke away, and others were cut loose, and but for the lateness of the hour the Federals might have secured a large number of these animals. The Federals burned the rebel camp, consisting of one hundred and five tents, twenty-five wagons, flour, meal, bacon, and an immense number of saddles, bridles, overcoats, carpet-bags, blankets; together with eighty-seven kegs of powder. The rout was most complete."

Union victory.　　　　Losses: U.S.　    11
                                                    C.S.　　80