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＇Special Order No。 87＇。
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI St。 Louis； December 23； 1861
＇EXTRACT。＇
Brigadier…General W。 T。 Sherman； United States Volunteers； is hereby assigned to the command of the camp of instruction and post of Benton Barracks。 He will have every armed regiment and company in his command ready for service at a moment's warning； and will notify all concerned that； when marching orders are received； it is expected that they will be instantly obeyed； no excuses for delay will be admitted。 General Sherman will immediately report to these headquarters what regiments and companies； at Benton Barracks； are ready for the field。
By order of Major…General Halleck；
J。 C。 KELTEN； Assistant Adjutant…General。
I immediately assumed command； and found； in the building constructed for the commanding officer； Brigadier…General Strong； and the family of a captain of Iowa cavalry； with whom we boarded。 Major Curtis； son of General Curtis； was the adjutant…general； but was soon relieved by Captain J。 H。 Hammond； who was appointed assistant adjutant…general； and assigned to duty with me。
Brigadier…General Hurlbut was also there； and about a dozen regiments of infantry and cavalry。 I at once gave all matters pertaining to the post my personal attention； got the regiments in as good order as possible； kept up communication with General Halleck's headquarters by telegraph； and； when orders came for the movement of any regiment or detachment； it moved instantly。 The winter was very wet； and the ground badly drained。 The quarters had been erected by General Fremont； under contract； they were mere shells； but well arranged for a camp； embracing the Fair Grounds； and some forty acres of flat ground west of it。 I instituted drills； and was specially ordered by General Halleck to watch Generals Hurlbut and Strong； and report as to their fitness for their commissions as brigadier…generals。 I had known Hurlbut as a young lawyer； in Charleston； South Carolina； before the Mexican War； at which time he took a special interest in military matters； and I found him far above the average in the knowledge of regimental and brigade drill； and so reported。 General Strong had been a merchant； and he told me that he never professed to be a soldier； but had been urged on the Secretary of War for the commission of a brigadier…general； with the expectation of be coming quartermaster or commissary…general。 He was a good； kind…hearted gentleman； boiling over with patriotism and zeal。 I advised him what to read and study； was considerably amused at his receiving instruction from a young lieutenant who knew the company and battalion drill； and could hear him practise in his room the words of command； and tone of voice； 〃Break from the right； to march to the left！〃 〃Battalion； halt！〃 〃For ward into line！〃 etc。 Of course I made a favorable report in his case。 Among the infantry and cavalry colonels were some who afterward rose to distinctionDavid Stuart； Gordon Granger； Bussey； etc。； etc。
Though it was mid…winter； General Halleck was pushing his preparations most vigorously； and surely he brought order out of chaos in St。 Louis with commendable energy。 I remember； one night； sitting in his room； on the second floor of the Planters' House； with him and General Cullum； his chief of staff； talking of things generally； and the subject then was of the much…talked…of 〃advance；〃 as soon as the season would permit。 Most people urged the movement down the Mississippi River； but Generals Polk and Pillow had a large rebel force； with heavy guns in a very strong position； at Columbus； Kentucky； about eighteen miles below Cairo。 Commodore Foote had his gunboat fleet at Cairo； and General U。 S。 Grant； who commanded the district； was collecting a large force at Paducah； Cairo； and Bird's Point。 General Halleck had a map on his table； with a large pencil in his hand； and asked； 〃where is the rebel line？〃 Cullum drew the pencil through Bowling Green； Forts Donelson and Henry； and Columbus； Kentucky。 〃That is their line；〃 said Halleck；。 〃Now； where is the proper place to break it？〃 And either Cullum or I said； 〃Naturally the centre。〃 Halleck drew a line perpendicular to the other； near its middle； and it coincided nearly with the general course of the Tennessee River； and he said； 〃That's the true line of operations。〃 This occurred more than a month before General Grant began the movement； and； as he was subject to General Halleck's orders； I have always given Halleck the full credit for that movement； which was skillful； successful； and extremely rich in military results； indeed； it was the first real success on our side in the civil war。 The movement up the Tennessee began about the 1st of February； and Fort Henry was captured by the joint action of the navy under Commodore Foote； and the land forces under General Grant； on the 6th of February； 1862。 About the same time； General S。 R。 Curtis had moved forward from Rolls； and； on the 8th of March； defeated the rebels under McCulloch； Van Dom； and Price； at Pea Ridge。
As soon as Fort Henry fell； General Grant marched straight across to Fort Donelson； on the Cumberland River； invested the place； and； as soon as the gunboats had come round from the Tennessee； and had bombarded the water…front； he assaulted； whereupon Buckner surrendered the garrison of twelve thousand men； Pillow and ex…Secretary of War General Floyd having personally escaped across the river at night； occasioning a good deal of fun and criticism at their expense。
Before the fall of Donelson； but after that of Henry； I received； at Benton Barracks； the following orders：
HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI St。 Louis； February；13； 1862
Brigadier…General SHERMAN； Benton Barracks：
You will immediately repair to Paducah； Kentucky； and assume command of that post。 Brigadier…General Hurlbut will accompany you。 The command of Benton Barracks will be turned over to General Strong。
H。 W。 HALECK； Major…General。
I started for Paducah the same day； and think that General Cullum went with me to Cairo； General Halleck's purpose being to push forward the operations up the Tennessee River with unusual vigor。 On reaching Paducah； I found this dispatch：
HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI St。 Louis； February 15； 1862
Brigadier…General SHERMAN； Paducah； Kentucky：
Send General Grant every thing you can spare from Paducah and Smith and also General Hurlbut。
Bowling Green has been evacuated entirely。
H。 W。 HALLECK； Major…General。
The next day brought us news of the surrender of Buckner； and probably at no time during the war did we all feel so heavy a weight raised from our breasts； or so thankful for a most fruitful series of victories。 They at once gave Generals Halleck； Grant； and C。 F。 Smith； great fame。 Of course； the rebels let go their whole line； and fell back on Nashville and Island No。 Ten； and to the Memphis & Charleston Railroad。 Everybody was anxious to help。 Boats passed up and down constantly； and very soon arrived the rebel prisoners from Donelson。 I saw General Buckner on the boat； he seemed self…sufficient； and thought their loss was not really so serious to