Sheridan was a first lieutenant in the regiment in which I had served eleven years, the 4th infantry, and stationed on the Pacific coast when the war broke out.  He was promoted to a captaincy in May, 1861, and before the close of the year managed in some way, I do not know how, to get East.  He went to Missouri.  Halleck had known him as a very successful young officer in managing campaigns against the Indians on the Pacific coast, and appointed him acting-quartermaster in south-west Missouri.  There was no difficulty in getting supplies forward while Sheridan served in that capacity; but he got into difficulty with his immediate superiors because of his stringent rules for preventing the use of public transportation for private purposes.  He asked to be relieved from further duty in the capacity in which he was engaged and his request was granted.  When General Halleck took the field in April, 1862, Sheridan was assigned to duty on his staff.  During the advance on Corinth a vacancy occurred in the colonelcy of the 2d Michigan cavalry.  Governor Blair, of Michigan, telegraphed General Halleck asking him to suggest the name of a professional soldier for the vacancy, saying he would appoint a good man without reference to his State.  Sheridan was named; and was so conspicuously efficient that when Corinth was reached he was assigned to command a cavalry brigade in the Army of the Mississippi.  He was in command at Booneville on the 1st of July with two small regiments, when he was attacked by a force full three times as numerous as his own.  By very skilful manoeuvres and boldness of attack he completely routed the enemy.  For this he was made a brigadier-general and became a conspicuous figure in the army about Corinth.  On this account I was sorry to see him leaving me.  His departure was probably fortunate, for he rendered distinguished services in his new field.

Granger and Sheridan reached Louisville before Buell got there, and on the night of their arrival Sheridan with his command threw up works around the railroad station for the defence of troops as they came from the front.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Advance of Van Dorn and price—­price enters Iuka—­battle of Iuka.

At this time, September 4th, I had two divisions of the Army of the Mississippi stationed at Corinth, Rienzi, Jacinto and Danville.  There were at Corinth also Davies’ division and two brigades of McArthur’s, besides cavalry and artillery.  This force constituted my left wing, of which Rosecrans was in command.  General Ord commanded the centre, from Bethel to Humboldt on the Mobile and Ohio railroad and from Jackson to Bolivar where the Mississippi Central is crossed by the Hatchie River.  General Sherman commanded on the right at Memphis with two of his brigades back at Brownsville, at the crossing