Hi Richard,

The 31,000 figure for that time frame is WAY too high! Here's Grant's own report from the OR's for late October, 1861:

Abstract from the tri-monthly report of the District of Southeast Missouri, commanded by Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant, U. S. Army.
OCTOBER 31, 1861.
------------Present for duty.---------

Commanding officer Troops
Brig. Gen. McClernand First Brigade (Cairo and Mound City).
Col. R. J. Oglesby Second Brigade (Bird's Point, Mo.)
W. H. L. Wallace Third Brigade (Bird's Point, Mo.)
Col. John Cook Fourth Brigade (Fort Holt, Ky.).
Col. J. B. Plummer Fifth Brigade (Cape Girardeau, Mo.)

Grand aggregate, 11,161.

Not even 12,000 men.

I don't think that Cairo/Bird's Point.Ft. Jefferson/Ft. Holt had that many men until right before the Henry/Doneslon Campaign jumped off.

Magoffin's papers might yeild some clues to the Oglesby affair, as will Paducah and Evansville period newspapers.

Greg Biggs