butIsawandfelt，andwasofcoursedeeplymovedtoobserve，themanifestbeliefthattherewasmoreorlessoftruthintherumorthatthecares，perplexities，andanxietyofthesituationhadunbalancedmyjudgmentandmind。Itwas，doubtless，anincidentcommontoal1civilwars，towhichIcouldonlysubmitwiththebestgracepossible，trustingtothefutureforanopportunitytoredeemmyfortuneandgoodname。OfcourseIcouldnotdenythefact，andhadtosubmittoallitspainfulconsequencesformonths;
and，moreover，Icouldnothidefrommyselfthatmanyoftheofficersandsoldierssubsequentlyplacedundermycommandlookedatmeaskanceandwithsuspicion。Indeed，itwasnotuntilthefollowingAprilthatthebattleofShilohgavemepersonallythechancetoredeemmygoodname。
OnreachingSt。LouisandreportingtoGeneralHalleck，Iwasreceivedkindly，andwasshortlyafterward（viz。，November23d）
sentuptoSedaliatoinspectthecampthere，andthetroopslocatedalongtheroadbacktoJeffersonCity，andIwasorderedtoassumecommandinacertaincontingency。IfoundGeneralSteelsatSedaliawithhisregimentsscatteredaboutloosely;andGeneralPopeatOtterville，twentymilesback，withnoconcertbetweenthem。Therebelgeneral，SterlingPrice，hadhisforcesdownaboutOsceolaandWarsaw。IadvisedGeneralHallecktocollectthewholeofhismenintoonecampontheLaMineRiver，nearGeorgetown，toputthemintobrigadesanddivisions，soastobereadytobehandled，andIgavesomepreliminaryorderslookingtothatend。
Butthenewspaperskeptharpingonmyinsanityandparalyzedmyefforts。Inspiteofmyself，theytorturedfrommesomewordsandactsofimprudence。GeneralHallecktelegraphedmeonNovember26th:\"Unlesstelegraph—linesareinterrupted，makenomovementoftroopswithoutorders;\"andonNovember29th:\"NoforwardmovementoftroopsonOsceolawillbemade;onlystrongreconnoitring—partieswillbesentoutinthesupposeddirectionoftheenemy;thebalkofthetroopsbeingheldinpositiontillmorereliableinformationisobtained。\"
AboutthesametimeIreceivedthefollowingdispatch:
HEADQUARTERS，ST。LOUIS，MISSOURI
November28，1881。BrigadierGeneralSHERMAN，Sedalia:
Mrs。Shermanishere。GeneralHalleckissatisfied，fromreportsofscoutsreceivedhere，thatnoattackonSedaliaisintended。
Youwillthereforereturntothiscity，andreportyourobservationsontheconditionofthetroopsyouhaveexamined。
Pleasetelegraphwhenyouwillleave。
SCHUYLERHAMILTON，Brigadier—GeneralandAide—de—Camp。
IaccordinglyreturnedtoSt。Louis，whereIfoundMrs。Sherman，naturallyandproperlydistressedatthecontinuedandreiteratedreportsofthenewspapersofmyinsanity，andshehadcomefromLancastertoseeme。ThisrecallfromSedaliasimplyswelledthecry。ItwasallegedthatIwasrecalledbyreasonofsomethingfoolishIhaddoneatSedalia，thoughinfactIhaddoneabsolutelynothing，excepttorecommendwhatwasdoneimmediatelythereafterontheadviceofColonelMcPherson，onasubsequentinspection。
Seeingandrealizingthatmyeffortswereuseless，Iconcludedtoaskforatwentydays’leaveofabsence，toaccompanyMrs。ShermantoourhomeinLancaster，andtoallowthestormtoblowoversomewhat。Italsohappenedtobemid—winter，when，nothingwasdoing;soMrs。ShermanandIreturnedtoLancaster，whereIwasborn，andwhereIsupposedIwasbetterknownandappreciated。
Thenewspaperskeptuptheirgameasthoughinstigatedbymalice，andchiefamongthemwastheCincinnatiComercial，whoseeditor，Halsted，wasgenerallybelievedtobeanhonorableman。P。B。
Ewing，Esq。，beinginCincinnati，sawhimandaskedhimwhyhe，whocertainlyknewbetter，wouldreiteratesuchadamagingslander。Heanswered，quitecavalierly，thatitwasoneofthenews—itemsoftheday，andhehadtokeepupwiththetine;buthewouldbemosthappytopublishanycorrectionImightmake，asthoughIcoulddenysuchamaliciouspieceofscandalaffectingmyself。Onthe12thofNovemberIhadoccasiontowritetoGeneralHalleck，andI
haveacopyofhisletterinanswer:
ST。Louis，December18，1881。
Brigadier—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Lancaster，Ohio。
MyDEARGENERAL:Yoursofthe12thwasreceivedadayortwoago，butwasmislaidforthemomentamongprivatepapers，orIshouldhaveanswereditsooner。Thenewspaperattacksarecertainlyshamelessandscandalous，butIcannotagreewithyou，thattheyhaveusintheirpower\"todestroyusastheyplease。\"Icertainlygetmyshareofabuse，butitwillnotdisturbme。
YourmovementofthetroopswasnotcountermandedbymebecauseI
thoughtitanunwiseoneinitself，butbecauseIwasnotthenreadyforit。IhadbetterinformationofPrice’smovementsthanyouhad，andIhadnoapprehensionofanattack。Iintendedtoconcentratetheforcesonthatline，butIwishedthemovementdelayeduntilIcoulddetermineonabetterposition。
AfterreceivingLieutenant—ColonelMcPherson’sreport，Imadepreciselythelocationyouhadordered。IwasdesirousatthetimenottopreventtheadvanceofPricebyanymovementonourpart，hopingthathewouldmoveonLexington;butfindingthathehaddeterminedtoremainatOsceolaforsometimeatleast，Imadethemovementyouproposed。Asyoucouldnotknowmyplans，youandothersmayhavemisconstruedthereasonofmycountermandingyourorders……
Ihopetoseeyouwellenoughfordutysoon。Ourorganizationgoesonslowly，butwewilleffectitintime。Yourstruly，H。W。HALLECK。
Andsubsequently，inalettertoHon。ThomasEwing，inanswertosomeinquiriesinvolvingthesamegeneralsubject，GeneralHalleckwroteasfollows:
Hon。THOMASEWING，Lancaster，Ohio。
DEARSIR:Yournoteofthe13th，andoneofthisdate，fromMr。
Sherman，inrelationtoBrigadier—GeneralSherman’shavingbeingrelievedfromcommandinSedalia，inNovemberlast，arejustreceived。GeneralShermanwasnotputincommandatSedalia;hewasauthorizedtoassumeit，anddidsoforadayortwo。Hedidnotknowmyplans，andhismovementoftroopsdidnotaccordwiththem。Ithereforedirectedhimtoleavethemastheywere，andreportheretheresultofhisinspection，forwhichpurposebehadbeenorderedthere。
Notelegramordispatchofanykindwassentbyme，orbyanyonewithmyknowledgeorauthority，inrelationtoit。Afterhisreturnhere，Igavehimaleaveofabsenceoftwentydays，forthebenefitofhishealth。AsIwasthenpressingGeneralMcClellanformoreofficers，IdeemeditnecessarytoexplainwhyIdidso。
Iusedthesewords:\"IamsatisfiedthatGeneralSherman’sphysicalandmentalsystemissocompletelybrokenbylaborandcareastorenderhim，forthepresent，unfitforduty;perhapsafewweeks’
restmayrestorehim。\"ThiswastheonlycommunicationImadeonthesubject。OnnooccasionhaveIeverexpressedanopinionthathismindwasaffectedotherwisethanbyover—exertion;tohavesaidsowouldhavedonehimthegreatestinjustice。
AfterGeneralShermanreturnedfromhisshortleave，Ifoundthathishealthwasnearlyrestored，andIplacedhimtemporarilyincommandofthecampofinstruction，numberingoverfifteenthousandmen。IthenwrotetoGeneralMcClellanthathewouldsoonbeabletoagaintakethefield。IgaveGeneralShermanacopyofmyletter。Thisisthetotalofmycorrespondenceonthesubject。AsevidencethatIhaveeveryconfidenceinGeneralSherman，IhaveplacedhimincommandofWesternKentucky——acommandonlysecondinimportanceinthisdepartment。Assoonasdivisionsandcolumnscanbeorganized，Iproposetosendhimintothefieldwherehecanrendermostefficientservice。Ihaveseennewspapersquibs，charginghimwithbeing\"crazy，\"etc。Thisisthegrossestinjustice;Idonot，however，considersuchattacksworthyofnotice。ThebestanswerisGeneralSherman’spresentposition，andthevaluableservicesheisrenderingtothecountry。Ihavethefullestconfidenceinhim。
Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，H。W。HALLECK，Major—General。
OnreturningtoSt。Louis，ontheexpirationofmyleaveofabsence，IfoundthatGeneralHalleckwasbeginningtomovehistroops:onepart，underGeneralU。S。Grant，uptheTennesseeRiver;andanotherpart，underGeneralS。R。Curtis，inthedirectionofSpringfield，Missouri。GeneralGrantwasthenatPaducah，andGeneralCurtiswasunderordersforRolls。IwasorderedtotakeCurtis’splaceincommandofthecampofinstruction，atBentonBarracks，onthegroundbackofNorthSt。
Louis，nowusedastheFairGrounds，bythefollowingorder:
[SpecialOrderNo。87]。
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTOFTHEMISSOURI
St。Louis，December23，1861
[EXTRACT。]
Brigadier—GeneralW。T。Sherman，UnitedStatesVolunteers，isherebyassignedtothecommandofthecampofinstructionandpostofBentonBarracks。Hewillhaveeveryarmedregimentandcompanyinhiscommandreadyforserviceatamoment’swarning，andwillnotifyallconcernedthat，whenmarchingordersarereceived，itisexpectedthattheywillbeinstantlyobeyed;noexcusesfordelaywillbeadmitted。GeneralShermanwillimmediatelyreporttotheseheadquarterswhatregimentsandcompanies，atBentonBarracks，arereadyforthefield。
ByorderofMajor—GeneralHalleck，J。C。KELTEN，AssistantAdjutant—General。
Iimmediatelyassumedcommand，andfound，inthebuildingconstructedforthecommandingofficer，Brigadier—GeneralStrong，andthefamilyofacaptainofIowacavalry，withwhomweboarded。
MajorCurtis，sonofGeneralCurtis，wastheadjutant—general，butwassoonrelievedbyCaptainJ。H。Hammond，whowasappointedassistantadjutant—general，andassignedtodutywithme。
Brigadier—GeneralHurlbutwasalsothere，andaboutadozenregimentsofinfantryandcavalry。Iatoncegaveallmatterspertainingtothepostmypersonalattention，gottheregimentsinasgoodorderaspossible，keptupcommunicationwithGeneralHalleck’sheadquartersbytelegraph，and，whenorderscameforthemovementofanyregimentordetachment，itmovedinstantly。Thewinterwasverywet，andthegroundbadlydrained。ThequartershadbeenerectedbyGeneralFremont，undercontract;theyweremereshells，butwellarrangedforacamp，embracingtheFairGrounds，andsomefortyacresofflatgroundwestofit。Iinstituteddrills，andwasspeciallyorderedbyGeneralHallecktowatchGeneralsHurlbutandStrong，andreportastotheirfitnessfortheircommissionsasbrigadier—generals。IhadknownHurlbutasayounglawyer，inCharleston，SouthCarolina，beforetheMexicanWar，atwhichtimehetookaspecialinterestinmilitarymatters，andIfoundhimfarabovetheaverageintheknowledgeofregimentalandbrigadedrill，andsoreported。GeneralStronghadbeenamerchant，andhetoldmethatheneverprofessedtobeasoldier，buthadbeenurgedontheSecretaryofWarforthecommissionofabrigadier—general，withtheexpectationofbecomingquartermasterorcommissary—general。Hewasagood，kind—heartedgentleman，boilingoverwithpatriotismandzeal。I
advisedhimwhattoreadandstudy，wasconsiderablyamusedathisreceivinginstructionfromayounglieutenantwhoknewthecompanyandbattaliondrill，andcouldhearhimpractiseinhisroomthewordsofcommand，andtoneofvoice，\"Breakfromtheright，tomarchtotheleft！\"\"Battalion，halt！\"\"Forwardintoline！\"etc。
OfcourseImadeafavorablereportinhiscase。Amongtheinfantryandcavalrycolonelsweresomewhoafterwardrosetodistinction——DavidStuart，GordonGranger，Bussey，etc。，etc。
Thoughitwasmid—winter，GeneralHalleckwaspushinghispreparationsmostvigorously，andsurelyhebroughtorderoutofchaosinSt。Louiswithcommendableenergy。Iremember，onenight，sittinginhisroom，onthesecondfloorofthePlanters’House，withhimandGeneralCullum，hischiefofstaff，talkingofthingsgenerally，andthesubjectthenwasofthemuch—talked—of\"advance，\"assoonastheseasonwouldpermit。MostpeopleurgedthemovementdowntheMississippiRiver;butGeneralsPolkandPillowhadalargerebelforce，withheavygunsinaverystrongposition，atColumbus，Kentucky，abouteighteenmilesbelowCairo。
CommodoreFootehadhisgunboatfleetatCairo;andGeneralU。S。
Grant，whocommandedthedistrict，wascollectingalargeforceatPaducah，Cairo，andBird’sPoint。GeneralHalleckhadamaponhistable，withalargepencilinhishand，andasked，\"whereistherebelline？\"CullumdrewthepencilthroughBowlingGreen，FortsDonelsonandHenry，andColumbus，Kentucky。\"Thatistheirline，\"
saidHalleck，。\"Now，whereistheproperplacetobreakit？\"AndeitherCullumorIsaid，\"Naturallythecentre。\"Halleckdrewalineperpendiculartotheother，nearitsmiddle，anditcoincidednearlywiththegeneralcourseoftheTennesseeRiver;andhesaid，\"That’sthetruelineofoperations。\"ThisoccurredmorethanamonthbeforeGeneralGrantbeganthemovement，and，ashewassubjecttoGeneralHalleck’sorders，IhavealwaysgivenHalleckthefullcreditforthatmovement，whichwasskillful，successful，andextremelyrichinmilitaryresults;indeed，itwasthefirstrealsuccessonoursideinthecivilwar。ThemovementuptheTennesseebeganaboutthe1stofFebruary，andFortHenrywascapturedbythejointactionofthenavyunderCommodoreFoote，andthelandforcesunderGeneralGrant，onthe6thofFebruary，1862。
Aboutthesametime，GeneralS。R。CurtishadmovedforwardfromRolls，and，onthe8thofMarch，defeatedtherebelsunderMcCulloch，VanDom，andPrice，atPeaRidge。
AssoonasFortHenryfell，GeneralGrantmarchedstraightacrosstoFortDonelson，ontheCumberlandRiver，investedtheplace，and，assoonasthegunboatshadcomeroundfromtheTennessee，andhadbombardedthewater—front，heassaulted;whereuponBucknersurrenderedthegarrisonoftwelvethousandmen;Pillowandex—SecretaryofWarGeneralFloydhavingpersonallyescapedacrosstheriveratnight，occasioningagooddealoffunandcriticismattheirexpense。
BeforethefallofDonelson，butafterthatofHenry，Ireceived，atBentonBarracks，thefollowingorders:
HEADQUARTERSTHEDEPARTMENTOFMISSOURI
St。Louis，February，13，1862
Brigadier—GeneralSHERMAN，BentonBarracks:
YouwillimmediatelyrepairtoPaducah，Kentucky，andassumecommandofthatpost。Brigadier—GeneralHurlbutwillaccompanyyou。ThecommandofBentonBarrackswillbeturnedovertoGeneralStrong。
H。W。HALECK，Major—General。
IstartedforPaducahthesameday，andthinkthatGeneralCullumwentwithmetoCairo;GeneralHalleck’spurposebeingtopushforwardtheoperationsuptheTennesseeRiverwithunusualvigor。
OnreachingPaducah，Ifoundthisdispatch:
HEADQUARTERSTHEDEPARTMENTOFMISSOURI
St。Louis，February15，1862
Brigadier—GeneralSHERMAN，Paducah，Kentucky:
SendGeneralGranteverythingyoucansparefromPaducahandSmithandalsoGeneralHurlbut。
BowlingGreenhasbeenevacuatedentirely。
H。W。HALLECK，Major—General。
ThenextdaybroughtusnewsofthesurrenderofBuckner，andprobablyatnotimeduringthewardidweallfeelsoheavyaweightraisedfromourbreasts，orsothankfulforamostfruitfulseriesofvictories。TheyatoncegaveGeneralsHalleck，Grant，andC。F。Smith，greatfame。Ofcourse，therebelsletgotheirwholeline，andfellbackonNashvilleandIslandNo。Ten，andtotheMemphis&CharlestonRailroad。Everybodywasanxioustohelp。
Boatspassedupanddownconstantly，andverysoonarrivedtherebelprisonersfromDonelson。IsawGeneralBucknerontheboat，heseemedself—sufficient，andthoughttheirlosswasnotreallysoserioustotheircauseaswedid。
Aboutthistimeanotherforceoftwentyortwenty—fivethousandmenwascollectedonthewestbankoftheMississippi，aboveCairo，underthecommandofMajor—GeneralJohnPope，designedtobecomethe\"ArmyoftheMississippi，\"andtooperate，inconjunctionwiththenavy，downtheriveragainsttheenemy’sleftflank，whichhadheldthestrongpostofColumbus，Kentucky，butwhich，onthefallofFortDonelson，hadfallenbacktoNewMadridandIslandNo。10。
CHAPTERX。
BATTLEofSHILOH。
MARCHANDAPRIL，1862。
BytheendofFebruary，1862，Major—GeneralHalleckcommandedallthearmiesinthevalleyoftheMississippi，fromhisheadquartersinSt:Louis。Thesewere，theArmyoftheOhio，Major—GeneralBuell，inKentucky;theArmyoftheTennessee，Major—GeneralGrant，atFortsHenryandDonelson;theArmyoftheMississippi，Major—GeneralPope;andthatofGeneralS。R。Curtis，inSouthwestMissouri。Hepostedhischiefofstaff，GeneralCullum，atCairo，andmeatPaducah，chieflytoexpediteandfacilitatetheimportantoperationstheninprogressuptheTennessee，andCumberlandRivers。
FortDonelsonhadsurrenderedtoGeneralGrantonthe16thofFebruary，andtheremusthavebeenagooddealofconfusionresultingfromthenecessarycareofthewounded，anddispositionofprisoners，commontoallsuchoccasions，andtherewasarealdifficultyincommunicatingbetweenSt。LouisandFortDonelson。
GeneralBuellhadalsofolloweduptherebelarmy，whichhadretreatedhastilyfromBowlingGreentoandthroughNashville，acityofsomuchimportancetotheSouth，thatitwasatonetimeproposedasitscapital。BothGeneralsGrantandBuelllookedtoitscaptureasaneventofgreatimportance。Onthe21stGeneralGrantsentGeneralSmithwithhisdivisiontoClarksville，fiftymilesaboveDonelson，towardNashville，andonthe27thwenthimselftoNashvilletomeetandconferwithGeneralBuell，butreturnedtoDonelsonthenextday。
Meantime，GeneralHalleekatSt。Louismusthavefeltthathisarmiesweregettingawayfromhim，andbegantosenddispatchestomeatPaducah，tobeforwardedbyboat，orbyaricketytelegraph—lineuptoFortHenry，whichlayentirelyinahostilecountry，andwasconsequentlyalwaysoutofrepair。Onthe1stofMarchIreceivedthefollowingdispatch，andforwardedittoGeneralGrant，bothbythetelegraphandboat:
ToGeneralGRANT，FortHenryTransportswillbesentyouassoonaspossible，tomoveyourcolumnuptheTennesseeRiver。Themainobjectofthisexpeditionwillbetodestroytherailroad—bridgeoverBearCreek，nearEastport，Mississippi;andalsotherailroadconnectionsatCorinth，Jackson，andHumboldt。Itisthoughtbestthattheseobjectsbeattemptedintheordernamed。Strongdetachmentsofcavalryandlightartillery，supportedbyinfantry，maybyrapidmovementsreachthesepointsfromtheriver，withoutanyseriousopposition。
Avoidanygeneralengagementswithstrongforces。Itwillbebettertoretreatthantoriskageneralbattle。Thisshouldbestronglyimpressedontheofficerssentwithexpeditionsfromtheriver。GeneralC。F。Smithorsomeverydiscreetofficershouldbeselectedforsuchcommands。Havingaccomplishedtheseobjects，orsuchofthemasmaybepracticable，youwillreturntoDanville，andmoveonParis。
PerhapsthetroopssenttoJacksonandHumboltcanreachParisbylandaseasilyastoreturntothetransports。Thismustdependonthecharacteroftheroadsandthepositionoftheenemy。Alltelegraphiclineswhichcanbereachedmustbecut。Thegunboatswillaccompanythetransportsfortheirprotection。AnyloyalTenneaseeanswhodesireit，maybeenlistedandsuppliedwitharms。
CompetentofficersshouldbelefttocommandFortsHenryandDonelsoninyourabsence。Ihaveindicatedingeneraltermstheobjectofthis。
H。W。HALLECK，Major—General。
Againonthe2d:
Cairo，March1，1862
ToGeneralGRANT:
GeneralHalleck，February25th，telegraphsme:\"GeneralGrantwillsendnomoreforcestoClarksville。GeneralSmith’sdivisionwillcometoFortHenry，orapointhigherupontheTennesseeRiver;
transportswillalsobecollectedatPaducah。TwogunboatsinTennesseeRiverwithGrant。GeneralGrantwillimmediatelyhavesmallgarrisonsdetailedforFortsHenryandDonelson，andallotherforcesmadereadyforthefield\"
>Fromyourletterofthe28th，IlearnyouwereatFortDonelson，andGeneralSmithatNashville，fromwhichIinferyoucouldnothavereceivedorders。Halleck’stelegramoflastnightsays:\"WhosentSmith’sdivisiontoNashville？IordereditacrosstotheTennessee，wheretheyarewantedimmediately。Orderthemback。
SendallsparetransportsupTennesseetoGeneralGrant。\"
EvidentlythegeneralsupposesyoutobeontheTennessee。IamsendingallthetransportsIcanfindforyou，reportingtoGeneralShermanfororderstogouptheCumberlandforyou，or，ifyoumarchaccrosstoFortHenry，thentosendthemuptheTennessee。
G。W。CULLUM，Brigadier—General。
Onthe4thcamethisdispatch:
ToMajor—GeneralU。S。GRANT
YouwillplaceMajor—GeneralC。F。Smithincommandofexpedition，andremainyourselfatFortHenry。Whydoyounotobeymyorderstoreportstrengthandpositionsofyourcommand？
H。W。HALLECK，Major—General。
Halleckwasevidentlyworkinghimselfintoapassion，buthewastoofarfromtheseatofwartomakedueallowancefortheactualstateoffacts。GeneralGranthaddonesomuch，thatGeneralHalleckshouldhavebeenpatient。Meantime，atPaducah，Iwasbusysendingboatsineverydirection——someundertheordersofGeneralHalleck，othersofGeneralCullum;othersforGeneralGrant，andstillothersforGeneralBuellatNashville;andatthesametimeI
wasorganizingoutofthenewtroopsthatwerearrivingatPaducahadivisionformyselfwhenallowedtotakethefield，whichIhadbeenpromisedbyGeneralHalleck。HispurposewasevidentlytooperateuptheTennesseeRiver，tobreakupBearCreekBridgeandtherailroadcommunicationsbetweentheMississippiandTennesseeRivers，andnodoubthewasprovokedthatGeneralsGrantandSmithhadturnedasidetoNashville。Inthemeantimeseveralofthegunboats，underCaptainPhelps，UnitedStatesNavy，hadgoneuptheTennesseeasfarasFlorence，andontheirreturnhadreportedastrongUnionfeelingamongthepeoplealongtheriver。Onthel0thofMarch，havingreceivedthenecessaryordersfromGeneralHalleck，IembarkedmydivisionatPaducah。Itwascomposedoffourbrigades。TheFirst，commandedbyColonelS。G。Hicks，wascomposedoftheFortiethIllinois，Forty—sixthOhio，andMorton’sIndianaBattery，ontheboatsSallieList，GoldenGate，J。B。
Adams，andLancaster。
TheSecondBrigade，ColonelD。Stuart，wascomposedoftheFifty—fifthIllinois，Seventy—firstOhio，andFifty—fourthOhio;
embarkedontheHannibal，Universe，HazelDell，Cheeseman，andPrairieRose。
TheThirdBrigade，ColonelHildebrand，wascomposedoftheSeventy—seventhOhio，Fifty—seventhOhio，andFifty—thirdOhio;
embarkedonthePoland，Anglo—Saxon，OhioNo。Three，andContinental。
TheFourthBrigade，ColonelBuckland，wascomposedoftheSeventy—secondOhio，Forty—eighthOhio，andSeventiethOhio;
embarkedontheEmpress，Baltic，Shenango，andMarrengo。
WesteameduptoFortHenry，theriverbeinghighandinsplendidorder。ThereIreportedinpersontoGeneralC。F。Smith，andbyhimwasorderedafewmilesabove，totheremainsoftheburnedrailroadbridge，toawaittherendezvousoftherestofhisarmy。
IhadmyheadquartersontheContinental。
AmongmycolonelsIhadastrangecharacter——ThomasWorthington，coloneloftheForty—sixthOhio。HewasagraduateofWestPoint，oftheclassof1827;was，therefore，olderthanGeneralHalleck，GeneralGrant，ormyself，andclaimedtoknowmoreofwarthanallofusputtogether。Inascendingtheriverhedidnotkeephisplaceinthecolumn，butpushedonandreachedSavannahadaybeforetherestofmydivision。WhenIreachedthatplace，IfoundthatWorthingtonhadlandedhisregiment，andwasflyingaboutgivingorders，asthoughhewerecommander—in—chief。Imadehimgetbacktohisboat，andgavehimtounderstandthathemustthereafterkeephisplace。GeneralC。F。Smitharrivedaboutthe13thofMarch，withalargefleetofboats，containingHurlbut’sdivision，Lew。Wallace’sdivision，andthatofhimself，thencommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralW。H。L。Wallace。
GeneralSmithsentformetomeethimonhisboat，andorderedmetopushonunderescortofthetwogunboats，LexingtonandTyler，commandedbyCaptainsGwinandShirk，UnitedStatesNavy。IwastolandatsomepointbelowEastport，andmakeabreakoftheMemphis&CharlestonRailroad，betweenTuscumbiaandCorinth。GeneralSmithwasquiteunwell，andwassufferingfromhisleg，whichwasswollenandverysore，fromamereabrasioninsteppingintoasmallboat。Thisactuallymortified，andresultedinhisdeathaboutamonthafter，viz。，April25，1862。Hewasad—
jutantoftheMilitaryAcademyduringtheearlypartofmycareerthere，andafterwardcommandantofcadets。Hewasaveryhandsomeandsoldierlyman，ofgreatexperience，andatDonelsonhadactedwithsomuchpersonalbraverythattohimmanyattributedthesuccessoftheassault。
IimmediatelysteameduptheTennesseeRiver，followingthetwogunboats，and，inpassingPittsburgLanding，wastoldbyCaptainGwinthat，onhisformertripuptheriver，hehadfoundarebelregimentofcavalrypostedthere，andthatitwastheusuallanding—placeforthepeopleaboutCorinth，distantthirtymiles。
IsentwordbacktoGeneralSmiththat，ifweweredetaineduptheriver，heoughttopostsometroopsatPittsburgLanding。Wewentonuptherivercautiously，tillwesawEastportandChickasaw，bothofwhichwereoccupiedbyrebelbatteriesandasmallrebelforceofinfantry。
WethendroppedbackquietlytothemouthofYellowRiver，afewmilesbelow，whenceledaroadtoBurnsville，aplaceontheMemphis&Charlestonroad，wherewerethecompany’srepair—shops。
Weatoncecommenceddisembarkingthecommand:firstthecavalry，whichstartedatonceforBurnsville，withorderstotearuptherailroad—track，andburnthedepots，shops，etc;andIfollowedwiththeinfantryandartilleryasfastastheyweredisembarked。
Itwasrainingveryhardatthetime。Daylightfoundusaboutsixmilesout，wherewemetthecavalryreturning。Theyhadmadenumerousattemptstocrossthestreams，whichhadbecomesoswollenthatmerebrookscoveredthewholebottom;andmyaide—de—camp，Sanger，whomIhaddispatchedwiththecavalry，reportedtheloss，bydrowning，ofseveralofthemen。Therainwaspouringintorrents，andreportsfromtherearcamethattheriverwasrisingveryfast，andthat，unlesswegotbacktoourboatssoon，thebottomwouldbesimplyimpassable。Therewasnoalternativebuttoregainourboats;andeventhiswassodifficult，thatwehadtounharnesstheartillery—horses，anddragthegunsunderwaterthroughthebayous，toreachthebankoftheriver。Oncemoreembarked，IconcludedtodropdowntoPittsburgLanding，andtomaketheattemptfromthere。Duringthenightofthe14th，wedroppeddowntoPittsburgLanding，whereIfoundHurlbut’sdivisioninboats。Leavingmycommandthere，IsteameddowntoSavannah，andreportedtoGeneralSmithinperson，whosawinthefloodedTennesseethefulltruthofmyreport;andhetheninstructedmetodisembarkmyowndivision，andthatofGeneralHurlbut，atPittsburgLanding;totakepositionswellback，andtoleaveroomforhiswholearmy;tellingmethathewouldsooncomeupinperson，andmoveoutinforcetomakethelodgmentontherailroad，contemplatedbyGeneralHalleck’sorders。
Lieutenant—ColonelMcPherson，ofGeneralC。F。Smith’s，orratherGeneralHalleck’s，staff，returnedwithme，andonthe16thofMarchwedisembarkedandmarchedoutabouttenmilestowardCorinth，toaplacecalledMontereyorPeaRidge，wheretherebelshadacavalryregiment，whichofcoursedecampedonourapproach，butfromthepeoplewelearnedthattrainswerebringinglargemassesofmenfromeverydirectionintoCorinth。McPhersonandI
reconnoitredthegroundwell，andthenreturnedtoourboats。Onthe18th，Hurlbutdisembarkedhisdivisionandtookpostaboutamileandahalfout，nearwheretheroadsbranched，oneleadingtoCorinthandtheothertowardHamburg。Onthe19thIdisembarkedmydivision，andtookpostaboutthreemilesback，threeofthebrigadescoveringtheroadstoPurdyandCorinth，andtheotherbrigade（Stuart’s）temporarilyataplaceontheHamburgRoad，nearLickCreekFord，wheretheBarkRoadcameintotheHamburgRoad。
Withinafewdays，Prentiss’sdivisionarrivedandcampedonmyleft，andafterwardMcClernand’sandW。H。L。Wallace’sdivisions，whichformedalinetoourrear。LewWallace’sdivisionremainedonthenorthsideofSnakeCreek，onaroadleadingfromSavannahorCramp’sLandingtoPurdy。
GeneralC。F。SmithremainedbackatSavannah，inchiefcommand，andIwasonlyresponsibleformyowndivision。Ikeptpicketswelloutontheroads，andmademyselffamiliarwithallthegroundinsideandoutsidemylines。MypersonalstaffwascomposedofCaptainJ。H。Hammond，assistantadjutant—general;SurgeonsHartshornandL’Hommedieu;LieutenantColonelsHascallandSanger，inspector—generals;LieutenantsMcCoyandJohnTaylor，aides—de—camp。WewereallconsciousthattheenemywascollectingatCorinth，butinwhatforcewecouldnotknow，nordidweknowwhatwasgoingonbehindus。Onthe17thofMarch，GeneralU。S。