Two days later the Colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois Volunteers, who was in command at Cairo, took possession of Paducah.

It was the first important step in a military career which fills the most brilliant pages in the military annals of our country.

The name of the Illinois Colonel was Ulysses S.Grant.
EFFECT OF REBEL VICTORY AT BULL RUN.
The Confederate victory at Bull Run produced great effect throughout the South.

The fall of Sumter had been a signal encouragement to those who had joined the revolt against the Union, but as no blood had been spilled, and as the garrison had been starved out rather than shelled out, there was a limit to enthusiasm over the result.
But now a pitched battle had been fought within cannon sound of the National Capital, and the forces of the Union had been put to flight.

Jefferson Davis had come from Richmond during the battle, and telegraphed to the Confederate Congress that the night had "closed upon a hard-fought field," but that the enemy were routed, and had "precipitately fled, abandoning a large amount of arms, knapsacks, and baggage;" that "too high praise cannot be bestowed upon the skill of the Confederate officers or the gallantry of all their troops;" that "the Confederate force was fifteen thousand, and the Union army was thirty-five thousand." He evidently knew the effect which these figures would have upon the pride of the South, and he did not at the moment stop to verify his statements.
The actual force under McDowell was much less, that under Beauregard much greater, than Mr.Davis stated.