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systematizing the establishment and remedying the defects complained
of； and I was consequently assigned to this duty。 Shortly after this
assignment I had the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was
delighted with the improvements made at headquarters； both in camp
outfit and transportation； and in administration generally。 My
popularity grew as the improvements increased； but one trifling
incident came near marring it。 There was some hitch about getting
fresh beef for General Halleck's mess； and as by this time everybody
had come to look to me for anything and everything in the way of
comfort； Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for
me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess。 I was not caterer
for this mess； nor did I belong to it even； so I refused point…blank。
McKibben； disliking to report my disobedience； undertook persuasion；
and brought Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations； but I
would not give in； so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode
several miles in order to procure the beef himself； and thus save me
from the dire results which be thought would follow should Halleck
get wind of such downright insubordination。 The next day I was made
Commissary of Subsistence for the headquarters in addition to my
other duties； and as this brought me into the line of fresh beef；
General Halleck had no cause thereafter to complain of a scarcity of
that article in his mess。
My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable；
and my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only
pleasant and instructive； but offered opportunities for improvement
and advancement for which hardly any other post could have afforded
like chances。 My special duties did not occupy all my time； and
whenever possible I used to go over to General Sherman's division；
which held the extreme right of our line in the advance on Corinth；
to witness the little engagements occurring there continuously during
the slow progress which the army was then making； the enemy being
forced back but a short distance each day。 I knew General Sherman
very well。 We came from near the same section of country in Ohio；
and his wife and her family had known me from childhood。 I was
always kindly received by the General； and one day he asked me if I
would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment
if he secured the appointment。 I gladly told him yes； if General
Halleck would let me go； but I was doomed to disappointment； for in
about a week or so afterward General Sherman informed me that the
Governor of Ohio would not consent； having already decided to appoint
some one else。
A little later Governor Blair； of Michigan； who was with the army
temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State； and who
just at this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second
Michigan Cavalry； and very anxious to get a regular officer； fixed
upon me as the man。 The regiment was then somewhat run down by
losses from sickness； and considerably split into factions growing
out of jealousies engendered by local differences previous to
organization； and the Governor desired to bridge over all these
troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew nothing about
them。 I presume that some one said to the Governor about this time；
〃Why don't you get Sheridan？〃 This； however； is only conjecture。 I
really do not know how my name was proposed to him； but I have often
been told since that General Gordon Granger； whom I knew slightly
then； and who had been the former colonel of the regiment； first
suggested the appointment。 At all events； on the morning of May 27；
1862； Captain Russell A。 Algerrecently Governor of Michigan
accompanied by the quartermaster of the regiment； Lieutenant Frank
Walbridge； arrived at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to
me this telegram：
（By Telegraph。）
〃MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN；
〃ADJUTANT…GENERAL'S OFFICE；
〃DETROIT； May 25； 1862。
GENERAL ORDERS NO。 148。
〃Captain Philip H。 Sheridan； U。 S。 Army； is hereby appointed
Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry； to rank from
this date。
〃Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the
regiment。
〃By order of the Commander…in…Chief；
〃JNO。 ROBERTSON；
〃Adjutant…General。〃
I took the order to General Halleck； and said that I would like to
accept； but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of
the War Department could be obtained。 I returned to my tent much
disappointed； for in those days； for some unaccountable reason； the
War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to
volunteer regiments； and I feared a disapproval at Washington。 After
a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge； I
determined to go to the General again and further present the case。
Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops； and urging the
utter lack of such opportunity where I was； I pleaded my cause until
General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of
letting me go without consulting the War Department。 When I had
thanked him for the kindness； he said that inasmuch as I was to leave
him； he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been
appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid
to the south of the enemy； then occupying Corinth； and that if I
could turn over my property； it would probably be well for me to join
my command immediately； so that I could go with the expedition。 I
returned to my tent； where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting；
and told them of the success of my interview； at the same time
notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany
the expedition of which Halleck had spoken。
In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my
successor； and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the
camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry； near Farmington； Mississippi。
The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for
the raid； and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command；
and no opportunity at all to see the men； when the trumpet sounded to
horse。 Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry； but
recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well…worn eagles that
General Granger had kindly given me； I hurriedly placed on my saddle
a haversack； containing some coffee； sugar； bacon； and hard bread；
which had been prepared； and mounting my horse； I reported my
regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty。
CHAPTER IX。
EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLEDESTROYING SUPPLIESCONFEDERATE
STRAGGLERSSUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITIONA RECONNOISSANCETHE
IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCETHE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE
RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER…GENERAL。
The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting
conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa
regiments of cavalry； formed into a brigade under command of Colonel
Washington L。 Elliott； of the Second Iowa。 It was to start on the
night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock； and proceed by a circuitous
route through Iuka； Miss。； to Booneville； a station on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad； about twenty…two miles below Corinth； and accomplish
all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and
cutting his railroad communications。
The weather in that climate was already warm； guides unobtainable；
and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat； and
fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in
almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we
desired to reach。 In order that we might go light we carried only
sugar； coffee； and salt； depending on the country for meat and bread。
Both these articles were scarce； but I think we got all there was；
for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through
which we passed that； supposing us to be Confederate cavalry； they
often gave us all they had； the women and servants contributing most
freely from their； reserve stores。
Before reaching Booneville I had the advance； but just as we arrived
on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second
Iowa on my right； and the whole force moved forward； right in front；
preceded by skirmishers。 Here we encountered the enemy； but forced
him back with little resistance。 When we had gained possession of
the station； Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my
regiment； pass to the south； and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed
to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad。 The right wing； or other half of the regiment； was to be
held in reserve for my support if necessary。 I moved rapidly in the
designated direction till I reached the railroad； and then rode down
it for a mile