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ckner on the boat； he seemed self…sufficient； and thought their loss was not really so serious to their cause as we did。
About this time another force of twenty or twenty…five thousand men was collected on the west bank of the Mississippi； above Cairo； under the command of Major…General John Pope； designed to become the 〃Army of the Mississippi；〃 and to operate； in conjunction with the navy； down the river against the enemy's left flank； which had held the strong post of Columbus； Kentucky； but which； on the fall of Fort Donelson； had fallen back to New Madrid and Island No。 10。
CHAPTER X。
BATTLE of SHILOH。
MARCH AND APRIL； 1862。
By the end of February； 1862； Major…General Halleck commanded all the armies in the valley of the Mississippi； from his headquarters in St： Louis。 These were； the Army of the Ohio； Major…General Buell； in Kentucky； the Army of the Tennessee； Major…General Grant； at Forts Henry and Donelson； the Army of the Mississippi； Major…General Pope； and that of General S。 R。 Curtis； in Southwest Missouri。 He posted his chief of staff； General Cullum； at Cairo； and me at Paducah； chiefly to expedite and facilitate the important operations then in progress up the Tennessee； and Cumberland Rivers。
Fort Donelson had surrendered to General Grant on the 16th of February； and there must have been a good deal of confusion resulting from the necessary care of the wounded； and disposition of prisoners； common to all such occasions； and there was a real difficulty in communicating between St。 Louis and Fort Donelson。
General Buell had also followed up the rebel army； which had retreated hastily from Bowling Green to and through Nashville； a city of so much importance to the South； that it was at one time proposed as its capital。 Both Generals Grant and Buell looked to its capture as an event of great importance。 On the 21st General Grant sent General Smith with his division to Clarksville； fifty miles above Donelson； toward Nashville； and on the 27th went himself to Nashville to meet and confer with General Buell； but returned to Donelson the next day。
Meantime； General Halleek at St。 Louis must have felt that his armies were getting away from him； and began to send dispatches to me at Paducah； to be forwarded by boat； or by a rickety telegraph…line up to Fort Henry； which lay entirely in a hostile country； and was consequently always out of repair。 On the 1st of March I received the following dispatch； and forwarded it to General Grant； both by the telegraph and boat：
To General GRANT； Fort Henry
Transports will be sent you as soon as possible； to move your column up the Tennessee River。 The main object of this expedition will be to destroy the railroad…bridge over Bear Creek； near Eastport； Mississippi； and also the railroad connections at Corinth； Jackson； and Humboldt。 It is thought best that these objects be attempted in the order named。 Strong detachments of cavalry and light artillery； supported by infantry； may by rapid movements reach these points from the river； without any serious opposition。
Avoid any general engagements with strong forces。 It will be better to retreat than to risk a general battle。 This should be strongly impressed on the officers sent with expeditions from the river。 General C。 F。 Smith or some very discreet officer should be selected for such commands。 Having accomplished these objects； or such of them as may be practicable； you will return to Danville； and move on Paris。
Perhaps the troops sent to Jackson and Humbolt can reach Paris by land as easily as to return to the transports。 This must depend on the character of the roads and the position of the enemy。 All telegraphic lines which can be reached must be cut。 The gunboats will accompany the transports for their protection。 Any loyal Tenneaseeans who desire it； may be enlisted and supplied with arms。 Competent officers should be left to command Forts Henry and Donelson in your absence。 I have indicated in general terms the object of this。
H。 W。 HALLECK； Major…General。
Again on the 2d：
Cairo； March 1； 1862
To General GRANT：
General Halleck； February 25th； telegraphs me： 〃General Grant will send no more forces to Clarksville。 General Smith's division will come to Fort Henry； or a point higher up on the Tennessee River； transports will also be collected at Paducah。 Two gunboats in Tennessee River with Grant。 General Grant will immediately have small garrisons detailed for Forts Henry and Donelson； and all other forces made ready for the field〃
》From your letter of the 28th； I learn you were at Fort Donelson； and General Smith at Nashville； from which I infer you could not have received orders。 Halleck's telegram of last night says： 〃Who sent Smith's division to Nashville？ I ordered it across to the Tennessee； where they are wanted immediately。 Order them back。 Send all spare transports up Tennessee to General Grant。〃 Evidently the general supposes you to be on the Tennessee。 I am sending all the transports I can find for you； reporting to General Sherman for orders to go up the Cumberland for you； or； if you march accross to Fort Henry； then to send them up the Tennessee。
G。 W。 CULLUM； Brigadier…General。
On the 4th came this dispatch：
To Major…General U。 S。 GRANT
You will place Major…General C。 F。 Smith in command of expedition； and remain yourself at Fort Henry。 Why do you not obey my orders to report strength and positions of your command？
H。 W。 HALLECK； Major…General。
Halleck was evidently working himself into a passion； but he was too far from the seat of war to make due allowance for the actual state of facts。 General Grant had done so much； that General Halleck should have been patient。 Meantime； at Paducah； I was busy sending boats in every directionsome under the orders of General Halleck； others of General Cullum； others for General Grant； and still others for General Buell at Nashville； and at the same time I was organizing out of the new troops that were arriving at Paducah a division for myself when allowed to take the field； which I had been promised by General Halleck。 His purpose was evidently to operate up the Tennessee River； to break up Bear Creek Bridge and the railroad communications between the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers； and no doubt he was provoked that Generals Grant and Smith had turned aside to Nashville。 In the mean time several of the gunboats； under Captain Phelps； United States Navy； had gone up the Tennessee as far as Florence； and on their return had reported a strong Union feeling among the people along the river。 On the l0th of March； having received the necessary orders from General Halleck； I embarked my division at Paducah。 It was composed of four brigades。 The First； commanded by Colonel S。 G。 Hicks； was composed of the Fortieth Illinois； Forty…sixth Ohio； and Morton's Indiana Battery； on the boats Sallie List； Golden Gate； J。 B。 Adams； and Lancaster。
The Second Brigade； Colonel D。 Stuart； was composed of the Fifty…fifth Illinois； Seventy…first Ohio； and Fifty…fourth Ohio； embarked on the Hannibal； Universe； Hazel Dell； Cheeseman； and Prairie Rose。
The Third Brigade； Colonel Hi