[After taking charge of his new regiment, Grant was encamped a short
time near Springfield. A month was spent in drill and discipline; when
the time came for the mustering into the national service of those who
were willing to enter, the regiment went in as a body. July 3d he was
ordered to Quincy, Mo. While here he was ordered to move against
Colonel Tom Harris, a Confederate, who was encamped on a creek with
high hills on both sides. Grant approached the place with much
uneasiness, expecting to find Harris and his men drawn up ready to
meet him. Instead, they had fled. He realized then that Harris had had
quite as much fear of him as he had had of Harris. This experience was
a valuable lesson to him; remembering it, he never again felt
trepidation before encountering an enemy.]
East Quincy, Mo.,
July 13th, 1861.