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〃MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN；
〃ADJUTANT…GENERAL'S OFFICE；
〃DETROIT； May 25； 1862。
GENERAL ORDERS NO。 148。
〃Captain Philip H。 Sheridan； U。 S。 Army； is hereby appointed
Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry； to rank from
this date。
〃Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the
regiment。
〃By order of the Commander…in…Chief；
〃JNO。 ROBERTSON；
〃Adjutant…General。〃
I took the order to General Halleck； and said that I would like to
accept； but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of
the War Department could be obtained。 I returned to my tent much
disappointed； for in those days； for some unaccountable reason； the
War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to
volunteer regiments； and I feared a disapproval at Washington。 After
a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge； I
determined to go to the General again and further present the case。
Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops； and urging the
utter lack of such opportunity where I was； I pleaded my cause until
General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of
letting me go without consulting the War Department。 When I had
thanked him for the kindness； he said that inasmuch as I was to leave
him； he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been
appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid
to the south of the enemy； then occupying Corinth； and that if I
could turn over my property； it would probably be well for me to join
my command immediately； so that I could go with the expedition。 I
returned to my tent； where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting；
and told them of the success of my interview； at the same time
notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany
the expedition of which Halleck had spoken。
In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my
successor； and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the
camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry； near Farmington； Mississippi。
The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for
the raid； and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command；
and no opportunity at all to see the men； when the trumpet sounded to
horse。 Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry； but
recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well…worn eagles that
General Granger had kindly given me； I hurriedly placed on my saddle
a haversack； containing some coffee； sugar； bacon； and hard bread；
which had been prepared； and mounting my horse； I reported my
regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty。
CHAPTER IX。
EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLEDESTROYING SUPPLIESCONFEDERATE
STRAGGLERSSUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITIONA RECONNOISSANCETHE
IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCETHE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE
RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER…GENERAL。
The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting
conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa
regiments of cavalry； formed into a brigade under command of Colonel
Washington L。 Elliott； of the Second Iowa。 It was to start on the
night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock； and proceed by a circuitous
route through Iuka； Miss。； to Booneville； a station on the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad； about twenty…two miles below Corinth； and accomplish
all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and
cutting his railroad communications。
The weather in that climate was already warm； guides unobtainable；
and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat； and
fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in
almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we
desired to reach。 In order that we might go light we carried only
sugar； coffee； and salt； depending on the country for meat and bread。
Both these articles were scarce； but I think we got all there was；
for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through
which we passed that； supposing us to be Confederate cavalry； they
often gave us all they had； the women and servants contributing most
freely from their； reserve stores。
Before reaching Booneville I had the advance； but just as we arrived
on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second
Iowa on my right； and the whole force moved forward； right in front；
preceded by skirmishers。 Here we encountered the enemy； but forced
him back with little resistance。 When we had gained possession of
the station； Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my
regiment； pass to the south； and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed
to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad。 The right wing； or other half of the regiment； was to be
held in reserve for my support if necessary。 I moved rapidly in the
designated direction till I reached the railroad； and then rode down
it for a mile and a half； but found neither bridge nor culvert。 I
then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the
one at Baldwin； nine miles farther down； but as I was aware； from
information recently received； that it was defended by three
regiments and a battery； I concluded that I could best accomplish the
purpose for which I had been detachedcrippling the roadby tearing
up the track； bending the rails； and burning the cross…ties。 This
was begun with alacrity at four different points； officers and men
vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction。 We had
but few tools； and as the difficulties to overcome were serious； our
progress was slow； until some genius conceived the idea that the
track； rails and ties； might be lifted from its bed bodily； turned
over； and subjected to a high heat； a convenient supply of dry fence…
rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless。 In this
way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up； and
communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off。
While we were still busy in wrecking the road； a dash was made at my
right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry。 This was
handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P。 Campbell； of
the Second Michigan； who； dismounting a portion of his command；
received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating
rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions。 We were
not molested further； and resumed our work； intending to extend the
break toward Baldwin； but receiving orders from Elliott to return to
Booneville immediately； the men were recalled； and we started to
rejoin the main command。
In returning to Booneville； I found the railroad track above where I
had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off； and the
woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand
Confederate soldiers。 These were mostly convalescents and
disheartened strag