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acent division for assistance。
I reconnoitred the ground carefully； and found that the main road led forward along the fence of a large cotton…field to our right front； and ascended a wooded hill； occupied in some force by the enemy； on which was the farm…house referred to in General Halleck's orders。 At the farther end of the field was a double log…house； whose chinking had been removed； so that it formed a good block house from which the enemy could fire on any person approaching from our quarter。
General Hurlbut's division was on my immediate left； and General McClernand's reserve on our right rear。 I asked of each the assistance of a brigade。 The former sent General Veatch's； and the latter General John A。 Logan's brigade。 I asked the former to support our left flank； and the latter our right flank。 The next morning early； Morgan L。 Smith's brigade was deployed under cover on the left； and Denver's on the right； ready to move forward rapidly at a signal。 I had a battery of four twenty…pound Parrott guns； commanded by Captain Silversparre。 Colonel Ezra Taylor； chief of artillery； had two of these guns moved up silently by hand behind a small knoll； from the crest of which the enemy's block…house and position could be distinctly seen； when all were ready； these guns were moved to the crest； and several quick rounds were fired at the house； followed after an interval by a single gum。 This was the signal agreed on； and the troops responded beautifully； crossed the field in line of battle； preceded by their skirmishers who carried the position in good style； and pursued the enemy for half a mile beyond。
The main line halted on the crest of the ridge； from which we could look over the parapets of the rebel works at Corinth； and hear their drum and bugle calls。 The rebel brigade had evidently been taken by surprise in our attack； it soon rallied and came back on us with the usual yell； driving in our skirmishers； but was quickly checked when it came within range of our guns and line of battle。 Generals Grant and Thomas happened to be with me during this affair； and were well pleased at the handsome manner in which the troops behaved。 That night we began the usual entrenchments； and the next day brought forward the artillery and the rest of the division； which then extended from the Mobile & Ohio Railroad； at Bowie Hill Out； to the Corinth & Purdy road； there connecting with Hurlbut's division。 That night； viz。； May 29th； we heard unusual sounds in Corinth； the constant whistling of locomotives； and soon after daylight occurred a aeries of explosions followed by a dense smoke rising high over the town。 There was a telegraph line connecting my headquarters with those of General Halleck； about four miles off； on the Hamburg road。 I inquired if he knew the cause of the explosions and of the smoke； and he answered to 〃advance with my division and feel the enemy if still in my front〃 I immediately dispatched two regiments from each of my three brigades to feel the immediate front； and in a very short time advanced with the whole division。 Each brigade found the rebel parapets abandoned； and pushed straight for the town； which lies in the northeast angle of intersection of the Mobile & Ohio and Memphis & Charleston Railroads。 Many buildings had been burned by the enemy on evacuation； which had begun the night before at 6 p。m。； and continued through the night； the rear…guard burning their magazine at the time of withdrawing； about daybreak。 Morgan L。 Smith's brigade followed the retreating rear…guard some four miles to the Tuacumbia Bridge； which was found burned。 I halted the other brigades at the college； about a mile to the southwest of the town； where I was overtaken by General Thomas in person。
The heads of all the columns had entered the rebel lines about the same time； and there was some rather foolish clamor for the first honors； but in fact there was no honor in the event。 Beauregard had made a clean retreat to the south； and was only seriously pursued by cavalry from General Pope's flank。 But he reached Tupelo； where he halted for reorganization； and there is no doubt that at the moment there was much disorganization in his ranks； for the woods were full of deserters whom we did not even take prisoners； but advised them to make their way home and stay there。 We spent the day at and near the college； when General Thomas； who applied for orders at Halleck's headquarters； directed me to conduct my division back to the camp of the night before； where we had left our trains The advance on Corinth had occupied all of the month of May； the most beautiful and valuable month of the year for campaigning in this latitude。 There had been little fighting； save on General Pope's left flank about Farmington； and on our right。 I esteemed it a magnificent drill； as it served for the instruction of our men in guard and picket duty； and in habituating them to out…door life； and by the time we had reached Corinth I believe that army was the best then on this continent； and could have gone where it pleased。 The four subdivisions were well commanded； as were the divisions and brigades of the whole army。 General Halleck was a man of great capacity； of large acquirements； and at the time possessed the confidence of the country； and of most of the army。 I held him in high estimation； and gave him credit for the combinations which had resulted in placing this magnificent army of a hundred thousand men； well equipped and provided； with a good base； at Corinth； from which he could move in any direction。
Had he held his force as a unit； he could have gone to Mobile； or Vicksburg； or anywhere in that region； which would by one move have solved the whole Mississippi problem； and； from what he then told me； I believe he intended such a campaign； but was overruled from Washington。 Be that as it may； the army had no sooner settled down at Corinth before it was scattered： General Pope was called to the East； and his army distributed among the others； General Thomas was relieved from the command of the right wing； and reassigned to his division in the Army of the Ohio； and that whole army under General Buell was turned east along the Memphis & Charleston road； to march for Chattanooga。 McClernand's 〃reserve〃 was turned west to Bolivar and Memphis。 General Halleck took post himself at Corinth； assigned Lieutenant…Colonel McPherson to take charge of the railroads； with instructions to repair them as far as Columbus； Kentucky； and to collect ears and locomotives to operate them to Corinth and Grand Junction。 I was soon dispatched with my own and Hurlbut's divisions northwest fourteen miles to Chewalla； to save what could be of any value out of six trains of cars belonging to the rebels which had been wrecked and partially burned at the time of the evacuation of Corinth。
A short time before leaving Corinth I rode from my camp to General Halleck's headquarters； then in tents just outside of the town； where we sat and gossiped for some time； when he mentioned to me casually that General Grant was going away the next morning。 I inquired the cause； and he said that he did not know； but that Grant had applied for a thirty days' leave； which had been given him。 Of course we all knew that he was chafing under the slights of his anomalous position； and I determined to see him on my way back。 His camp was a short distance off the Monterey road； in the woods； and consisted of four or five tents； with a sapling railing around the front。 As I rode up； Majors Rawlins； Lagow； and Hilyer； were in front of the camp； and piled up near them were the usual office and camp chests； all ready for a start in the morning。 I inquired for the general； and was shown to his tent； where I found him seated on a camp…stool； with papers on a rude camp…table； he seemed to be employed in assorting letters； and tying them up with red tape into convenient bundles。 After passing the usual compliments； I inquired if it were true that he was going away。 He said； 〃Yes。〃 I then inquired the reason； and he said 〃Sherman； you know。 You know that I am in the way here。 I have stood it as long as I can； and can endure it no longer。〃 I inquired where he was going to； and he said； 〃St。 Louis。〃 I then asked if he had any business there； and he said； 〃Not a bit。〃 I then begged him to stay； illustrating his case by my own。
Before the battle of Shiloh； I had been cast down by a mere newspaper assertion of 〃crazy；〃 but that single battle had given me new life； and now I was in high feather； and I argued with him that； if he went away； events would go right along； and he would be left out； whereas； if he remained； some happy accident might restore him to favor and his true place。 He certainly appreciated my friendly advice； and promised to wait awhile； at all events； not to go without seeing me again； or communicating with me。 Very soon after this； I was ordered to Chewalla； where； on the 6th of June； I received a note from him； saying that he had reconsidered his intention； and would remain。 I cannot find the note； but my answer I have kept：
Chewalla； Jane 6； 1862。
Major…General GRANT。
My DEAR SIR： I have just received your note； and am rejoiced at your concl