trying to pass up the river.  Pushing in to the bank as we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville, in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its inhabitants—­men, women, and children—­carrying the Stars and Stripes, and making the most loyal professions.  Similar demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no loyalty.  The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and continued up the Ohio undisturbed.  About three miles below Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell’s army.  When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson, who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed.  He asked me why I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank.  I answered that I was the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate shoulder-straps.  He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps of that grade.  I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly as I was fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from July 1, 1862, the day of the battle of Booneville.

CHAPTER XI.

Good advice from general Nelson—­his tragic death—­putting Louisville
in A state of defense—­assigned to the command of the eleventh
division—­capture of Chaplin heights—­battle of Perryville—­reported
among the killed—­A thrilling incident—­general Buell relieved by
general Rosecrans.