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designated direction till I reached the railroad； and then rode down
it for a mile and a half； but found neither bridge nor culvert。 I
then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the
one at Baldwin； nine miles farther down； but as I was aware； from
information recently received； that it was defended by three
regiments and a battery； I concluded that I could best accomplish the
purpose for which I had been detachedcrippling the roadby tearing
up the track； bending the rails； and burning the cross…ties。 This
was begun with alacrity at four different points； officers and men
vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction。 We had
but few tools； and as the difficulties to overcome were serious； our
progress was slow； until some genius conceived the idea that the
track； rails and ties； might be lifted from its bed bodily； turned
over； and subjected to a high heat； a convenient supply of dry fence…
rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless。 In this
way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up； and
communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off。
While we were still busy in wrecking the road； a dash was made at my
right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry。 This was
handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P。 Campbell； of
the Second Michigan； who； dismounting a portion of his command；
received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating
rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions。 We were
not molested further； and resumed our work； intending to extend the
break toward Baldwin； but receiving orders from Elliott to return to
Booneville immediately； the men were recalled； and we started to
rejoin the main command。
In returning to Booneville； I found the railroad track above where I
had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off； and the
woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand
Confederate soldiers。 These were mostly convalescents and
disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army； and
from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated。 I spent some
little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open
field； with a view to some future disposition of them； but in the
midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel
Elliott to join him at once。 The news of the evacuation had also
reached Elliott； and had disclosed a phase of the situation so
different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at
Booneville； that he had grown anxious to withdraw； lest we should be
suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the
columns in retreat。 Under such circumstances my prisoners would
prove a decided embarrassment； so I abandoned further attempts to get
them togethernot even paroling them； which I thought might have
been done with but little risk。
In the meantime the captured cars had been fired； and as their
complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing
ammunition； they needed no further attention； so I withdrew my men
and hastened to join Elliott； taking along some Confederate officers
whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners
captured when making the original dash below the town。
The losses in my regiment； and； in fact； those of the entire command；
were insignificant。 The results of the expedition were important；
the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling
stock north of Booneville； and to place at the service of General
Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating
Confederates were now so much in need。 In addition； we burned
twenty…six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms； three
pieces of artillery； a great quantity of clothing； a heavy supply of
ammunition； and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk。 A
large number of prisoners； mostly sick and convalescent； also fell
into our hands； but as we could not carry them with ussuch a hurried
departure was an immediate necessity； by reason of our critical
situationthe process of paroling them was not completed； and they
doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy； properly
enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors。
In returning； the column marched back by another indirect route to
its old camp near Farmington； where we learned that the whole army
had moved into and beyond Corinth； in pursuit of Beauregard； on the
13th of May； the very day we had captured Booneville。 Although we
had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days； we were
required to take part； of course； in the pursuit of the Confederate
army。 So； resting but one night in our old camp； we were early in
the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June。 Marching south
through Corinth； we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late
raid； viewing with much satisfaction； as we took the road toward
Blackland； the still smoldering embers of the burned trains。
On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along
the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that
direction； as it was thought possible we might capture； by a
concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General
Halleck； a portion of Beauregard's rear guard。 Pushing the
Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more；
while we were approaching a little stream； I hoped to gobble the main
body of the enemy's pickets。 I therefore directed the sabre
battalion of the regiment； followed by that portion of it armed with
revolving rifles； to dash forward in column； cut off these videttes
before they could cross the stream； and then gather them in。 The
pickets fled hastily； however； and a pell…mell pursuit carried us
over the stream at their heels by a little bridge； with no thought of
halting till we gained a hill on the other side； and suddenly found
ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and
infantry。 Captain Campbell being in advance； hurriedly dismounted
his battalion for a further forward movement on foot； but it was
readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost
to ensure our destruction； and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal。
We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods； aided much；
however； by the consternation of the Confederates； who had hardly
recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp
before we had again placed the stream between them and us by
recrossing the bridge。 The reconnoissance was a success in one way
that is； in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by；
General Pope； but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's
retreat； for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as
Guntown； thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large
portion of his army。
General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were
accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops；
and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization
without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars
and supplies at Booneville； and the capture of some stragglers and
deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear
from General Pope's flank。 The number of these was quite large； and
indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized。 Under such
circumstances； an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not
have made certain the enemy's destruction； but it would largely have
aided in disintegrating his forces； and I never could quite
understand why it was not ordered。 The desultory affairs between
rear and advance guards seemed as a general； thing to have no
particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was；
and when he was found； since no supporting colums were at hand and no
one in supreme control was present to give directions； our
skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward。
A short time subsequent to these occurrences； Colonel Elliott was
made a brigadier…general； and as General Pope appointed him his
Chief…of…Staff； I； on the 11th of June； 1862； fell in command of the
brigade by seniority。 For the rest of the month but little of moment
occurred； and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of
June； in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some
twenty miles； in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering
its front。 Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my
appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my
succeeding to the command of the brigade； I believe I can say with
propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of
the officers and men of the regiment； and won their regard by
thoughtful care。 I had striv