A week after he was sworn in, an important victory was won at Mill Springs, Kentucky, by General George H.Thomas.

The Confederate commander, General Zollicoffer, was killed, and a very decisive check was put to a new development of Secession sympathy which was foreshadowed in Kentucky.

A few days later, on the 27th of January, under the inspiration of Mr.Stanton, the President issued a somewhat remarkable order commanding "a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces on the 22d of February." He especially directed that the army at and about Fortress Monroe, the Army of the Potomac, the Army of Western Virginia, the army near Munfordsville, Kentucky, the army and flotilla at Cairo, and the naval force in the Gulf of Mexico be ready for a movement on that day.

The order did not mean what was stated on its face.

It was evidently intended to mislead somebody.
The Illinois colonel who had taken possession of Paducah in the preceding September was now known as Brigadier-General Grant.