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opportunity； but high rank was so distant in our service that not a
dream of its attainment had flitted through my brain。
During the period running from January to September； 1861； in
consequence of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to
the regular army； I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant
and reached that of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry；
of which General W。 T。 Sherman had recently been made the colonel。
When relieved from further duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen； I left
for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment。 A two days' ride
brought me down to Portland； whence I sailed to San Franciso； and at
that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of
Panama； in company with a number of officers who were coming East
under circumstances like my own。
At this time California was much agitatedon the question of
secession； and the secession element was so strong that considerable
apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be
carried into the Confederacy。 As a consequence great distrust
existed in all quarters； and the loyal passengers on the steamer； not
knowing what might occur during our voyage； prepared to meet
emergencies by thoroughly organizing to frustrate any attempt that
might possibly be made to carry us into some Southern port after we
should leave Aspinwall。 However； our fears proved groundless； at all
events； no such attempt was made； and we reached New York in safety
in November； 1861。 A day or two in New York sufficed to replenish a
most meagre wardrobe； and I then started West to join my new
regiment； stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents in
Ohio； where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the
Pacific coast。 The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson
Barracks； Missouri； to which point I proceeded with no further delay
except a stay in the city of St。 Louis long enough to pay my respects
to General H。 W。 Halleck。
CHAPTER VIII。
AUDITING ACCOUNTSCHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF
SOUTHWEST MISSOURIPREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGNA
DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTISORDERED TO THE FRONTAPPOINTED A
COLONEL。
Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near
St。 Louis； General Halleck sent for me； and when I reported he
informed me that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding
the accounts of some of the disbursing officers in his department；
whose management of its fiscal affairs under his predecessor； General
John C。 Fremont； had been very loose； and as the chaotic condition of
things could be relieved only by auditing these accounts； he
therefore had determined to create a board of officers for the
purpose； and intended to make me president of it。 The various
transactions in question covered a wide field； for the department
embraced the States of Missouri； Iowa； Minnesota； Illinois； Arkansas；
and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River。
The duty was not distasteful； and I felt that I was qualified to
undertake it； for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to
the Quartermaster and Subsistence departments； and by recent
experience I had become familiar with the class of papers that
pertained to those branches of the army。 Indeed； it was my
familiarity with such transactions； returns； etc。； that probably
caused my selection as president of the board。
I entered upon the work forthwith； and continued at it until the 26th
of December； 1861。 At that date I was relieved from the auditing
board and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of
Southwest Missouri； commanded by General Samuel R。 Curtis。 This army
was then organizing at Rolla； Missouri； for the Pea Ridge campaign；
its strength throughout the campaign being in the aggregate about
fifteen thousand men。
As soon as I received information of my selection for this position；
I went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief
Quartermaster also。 He was reluctant to do so； saying that I could
not perform both duties； but I soon convinced him that I could do
both better than the one； for I reminded him that as Chief
Quartermaster I should control the transportation； and thus obviate
all possible chances of discord between the two staff departments； a
condition which I deemed essential to success； especially as it was
intended that Curtis's army should mainly subsist on the country。
This argument impressed Halleck； and becoming convinced； he promptly
issued the order making me Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary
of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest Missouri； and I started for
Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me。
Having reported to General Curtis； I quickly learned that his system
of supply was very defective； and the transportation without proper
organization； some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each；
and others only three or four。 I labored day and night to remedy
these and other defects； and with the help of Captain Michael P。
Small； of the Subsistence Department； who was an invaluable
assistant； soon brought things into shape； putting the transportation
in good working order； giving each regiment its proper quota of
wagons； and turning the surplus into the general supply trains of the
army。 In accomplishing this I was several times on the verge of
personal conflict with irate regimental commanders； but Colonel G。 M。
Dodge so greatly sustained me with General Curtis by strong moral
support； and by such efficient details from his regimentthe Fourth
Iowa Volunteer Infantrythat I still bear him and it great affection
and lasting gratitude。
On January 26； 1862； General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla
to Springfield； Missouri； by way of Lebanon。 The roads were deep
with mud； and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving
labored under the most serious difficulties； and were greatly
embarrassed by swollen streams。 Under these circumstances many
delays occurred； and when we arrived at Lebanon nearly all the
supplies with which we had started had been consumed； and the work of
feeding the troops off the country had to begin at that point。 To
get flour； wheat had to be taken from the stacks； threshed； and sent
to the mills to be ground。 Wheat being scarce in this region； corn
as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same laborious
process。 In addition； beef cattle had to be secured for the meat
ration。
By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and
corn meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield； at
or near which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us； and the
order was given to move forward； the commanding general cautioning
me； in the event of disaster； to let no salt fall into General
Price's hands。 General Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt；
believing the enemy was sadly in need of that article； and he
impressed me deeply with his conviction that our cause would be
seriously injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and
peculiarly to the enemy's benefit； but we afterward discovered； when
Price abandoned his position； that about all he left behind was salt。
When we were within about eight miles of Springfield； General Curtis
decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the
town； and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line
of battle； so that in falling back； in case the troops were repulsed；
he could rally the men on the wagons。 I did not like the tactics；
but of course obeyed the order。 The line moved on Springfield； and
took the town without resistance； the enemy having fled southward； in
the direction of Pea Ridge； the preceding day。 Of course our success
relieved my anxiety about the wagons； but fancy has often pictured
since； the stampede of six mule teams that； had we met with any
reverse； would have taken place over the prairies of southwest
Missouri。
The army set out in pursuit of Price； but I was left at Springfield
to gather supplies from the surrounding country； by the same means
that had been used at Lebanon； and send them forward。 To succeed in
this useful and necessary duty required much hard work。 To procure
the grain and to run the mills in the country； replacing the
machinery where parts had been carried away； or changing the
principle and running the mills on some different plan when
necessary； and finally forward the product to the army； made a task
that taxed the energy of all engaged in it。 Yet； having at command a
very skillful corps of millwrights； machinists； and millers； detailed
principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty…sixth Illinois volunteer
regiments； we soon got matters in shape； and were able to send such
large quantities of flour and meal to the front； that only the bacon
and small parts of the ration had to be brought for