January 12, 1862 (Saturday): The Five Mile Zone

General Ulysses S. Grant

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF CAIRO,

Cairo, January 12, 1862.

General E. A. PAINE,

      Commanding Second Brigade, Bird’s Point, Mo.:

   The citizens brought in under directions of yesterday may be put in tents, as suggested by you.  They can use the tents of troops who do not go out with you or such surplus tents as may be in the hands of troops at Bird’s Point.  If you have reason to believe that the parties guilty of shooting our pickets are discovered, inform me, and I will order a court or commission that will act without delay.

                                                                      U. S. GRANT,

                                                            Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Series I., Vol. 8, Part 1, Page 495.

After four pickets of the 2^nd brigade were shot and killed, presumably by civilians, Grant ordered Paine to evacuate every resident within 5 miles of his camp and shoot any civilian found thereafter within the radius until the assassins were captured.  Women and children were allowed to move outside the line.  Here he directs Paine in the provision of tents for the civilians.