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previous July。 I returned from leave the latter part of March；
rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that
section would begin as early as April。
On the 12th of March； 1864； General Grant was assigned to the command
of the armies of the United States； as general…in…chief。 He was
already in Washington； whither he had gone to receive his commission
as lieutenant…general。 Shortly after his arrival there； he commenced
to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans
which he intended to enter upon in the spring； and out of this grew a
change in my career。 Many jealousies and much ill…feeling； the
outgrowth of former campaigns； existed among officers of high grade
in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864； and several general
officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence。 Among these；
General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the
cavalry； General Grant having expressed to the President
dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that
arm of the service； and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps
of the Army of the Potomac； receiving on the night of the 23d of
March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram：
〃MARCH 23； 1864。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL THOMAS； Chattanooga
〃Lieutenant…General Grant directs that Major…General Sheridan
immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant…General
of the Army。
〃 H。 W。 HALLECK；
Major…General； Chief…of…Staff。〃
I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to
Washington； but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my
relations with the Second Division； Fourth Army Corps。 I at once set
about obeying the order； and as but little preparation was necessary；
I started for Chattanooga the next day； without taking any formal
leave of the troops I had so long commanded。 I could not do it； the
bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of
attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting
from a body of soldiers who； from our mutual devotion； had long
before lost their official designation； and by general consent within
and without the command were called 〃Sheridan's Division。〃 When I
took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the
hill…sides around to see me off。 They had assembled spontaneously；
officers and men； and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they
waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection。
A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted。 They had
never given me any trouble； nor done anything that could bring aught
but honor to themselves。 I had confidence in them； and I believe
they had in me。 They were ever steady； whether in victory or in
misfortune； and as I tried always to be with them； to put them into
the hottest fire if good could be gained； or save them from
unnecessary loss； as occasion required； they amply repaid all my care
and anxiety； courageously and readily meeting all demands in every
emergency that arose。
In Kentucky； nearly two years before； my lot had been cast with about
half of the twenty…five regiments of infantry that I was just
leaving； the rest joining me after Chickamauga。 It was practically a
new arm of the service to me； for although I was an infantry officer；
yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was
composed of cavalry； and most of my experience had been gained in
this arm of the service。 I had to study hard to be able to master
all the needs of such a force； to feed and clothe it and guard all
its interests。 When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that
if I met them faithfully； recompense would surely come through the
hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion
on the part of their superiors； and not only that more could be
gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence； but
that the reward would be quicker。 Therefore I always tried to look
after their comfort personally； selected their camps； and provided
abundantly for their subsistence； and the road they opened for me
shows that my work was not in vain。 I regretted deeply to have to
leave such soldiers； and felt that they were sorry I was going； and
even now I could not； if I would； retain other than the warmest
sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and
men of 〃Sheridan's Division；〃 Army of the Cumberland。
On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for
which I had been ordered to Washington。 I was to be assigned to the
command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac。 The
information staggered me at first； for I knew well the great
responsibilities of such a position； moreover； I was but slightly
acquainted with military operations in Virginia； and then； too； the
higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me；
so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new
position。 Indeed； I knew not a soul in Washington except General
Grant and General Halleck； and them but slightly； and no one in
General Meade's army； from the commanding general down； except a few
officers in the lower grades； hardly any of whom I had seen since
graduating at the Military Academy。
Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's
communication momentarily upset me。 But there was no help for it； so
after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best
of the situation。 As in Virginia I should be operating in a field
with which I was wholly unfamiliar； and among so many who were
strangers； it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have； as a
chief staff…officer； one who had had service in the East； if an
available man could be found。 In weighing all these considerations
in my mind； I fixed upon Captain James W。 Forsyth； of the Eighteenth
Infantry； then in the regular brigade at Chattanoogaa dear friend
of mine； who had served in the Army of the Potomac； in the Peninsula
and Antietam campaigns。 He at once expressed a desire to accept a
position on my staff； and having obtained by the next day the
necessary authority； he and I started for Washington； accompanied by
Lieutenant T。 W。 C。 Moore； one of my aides； leaving behind Lieutenant
M。 V。 Sheridan； my other aide； to forward our horses as soon as they
should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon； after which he was to
join me。
CHAPTER XVIII。
AT WASHINGTONMEETING SECRETARY STANTONINTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
LINCOLNMADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE
POTOMACITS OFFICERSGENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING CAVALRY
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGNSPOTTSYLVANIA C。 H。A DIFFERENCE WITH
GENERAL MEADEPREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY。
Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore； I arrived in
Washington on the morning of April； 4； 1864； and stopped at Willard's
Hotel； where； staying temporarily； were many officers of the Army of
the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North。
Among all these； however； I was an entire stranger； and I cannot now
recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known。
With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to
General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer； having
learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city。
General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes； outlining briefly the
nature and duties of my new command； and the general military
situation in Virginia。 When he had finished all he had to say about
these matters； he took me to the office of the Secretary of War； to
present me to Mr。 Stanton。 During the ceremony of introduction； I
could feel that Mr。 Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly；
endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew
absolutely nothing； and whose career probably had never been called
to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East； after
my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two
generals had with Mr。 Lincoln。 I was rather young in appearance
looking even under than over thirty…three yearsbut five feet five
inches in height； and thin almost to emaciation； weighing only one
hundred and fifteen pounds。 If I had ever possessed any self…
assertion in manner or speech； it certainly vanished in the presence
of the imperious Secretary； whose name at the time was the synonym of
all that was cold and formal。 I never learned what Mr。 Stanton's
first impressions of me were； and his guarded and rather calculating
manner gave at this time no intimation that they were either
favorable or unfavorable； but his frequent commendation in after
years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of the
war； if not when I first came to his notice； and a more intimate
association convinced me that the cold and cr