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worse except for a few scratches and bruises。
My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told； and Alger's
command comprised ninety officers and men。 Chalmers's force was
composed of six regiments and two battalions； and though I have been
unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers；
yet； from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained
from citizens along his line of march； it is safe to say that he had
in the action not less than five…thousand men。 Our casualties were
not manyforty…one in all。 His loss in killed and wounded was
considerable； his most severely woundedforty menfalling into our
hands； having been left at farm…houses in the vicinity of the
battlefield。
The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying； and as it
justified my disinclinationin fact； refusalto retire from
Booneville without fighting （for the purpose of saving my
transportation； as directed by superior authority when I applied in
the morning for reinforcements）； it was to me particularly grateful。
It was also very valuable in； view of the fact that it increased the
confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me； and
gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest； but
entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my
isolated outpost。 In addition to all this； commendation from my
immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written
congratulations； and their satisfaction at the result of the battle
took definite form a few days later； in the following application for
my promotion； when； by an expedition to Ripley； Miss。； most valuable
information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured：
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI；
〃JULY 30； 1862。3。05 P。 M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK；
〃Washington； D。 C。
〃Brigadiers scarce； good ones scarce。 Asboth goes on the month's
leave you gave him ten months since； Granger has temporary command。
The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion
of Sheridan。 He is worth his weight in gold。 His Ripley expedition
has brought us captured letters of immense value； as well as
prisoners； showing the rebel plans and dispositions； as you will
learn from District Commander。
〃W。 S。 ROSECRANS； Brigadier…General。
〃C。 C。 SULLIVAN； 〃 〃
〃G。 GRANGER； 〃 〃
〃W。 L。 ELLIOTT； 〃 〃
〃A。 ASBOTH； 〃 〃
CHAPTER X。
IN CAMP NEAR RIENZIGENERAL GRANGERA VALUABLE CAPTURE AT RIPLEY
RAIDING A CORNFIELDREPULSING AN ATTACKPRESENTED WITH THE BLACK
HORSE 〃RIENZI〃MEETING GENERAL GRANTAPPOINTED A BRIGADIER…GENERAL。
After the battle of Booneville； it was decided by General Rosecrans；
on the advice of General Granger； that my position at Booneville was
too much exposed； despite the fact that late on the evening of the
fight my force had been increased by the addition of； a battery of
four guns and two companies of infantry； and by the Third Michigan
Cavalry； commanded by Colonel John K。 Mizner； so I was directed to
withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi； Mississippi；
where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army； and
also be near General Asboth's division of infantry； which occupied a
line in rear of the town。 This section of country； being higher and
more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville； had many
advantages in the way of better camping…grounds； better grazing and
the like； but I moved with reluctance； because I feared that my
proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my
independence of command。
General Asboth was a tall； spare； handsome man； with gray mustache
and a fierce look。 He was an educated soldier； of unquestioned
courage； but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily
on him； and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in
anticipation of imaginary attacks。 His ideas of discipline were not
very rigid either； and as by this time there had been introduced into
my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first
fell to my command； I feared the effect should he； have any control
over it； or meddle with its internal affairs。 However； there was
nothing to do but to move to the place designated； but General
Granger； who still commanded the cavalry division to which the
brigade belonged； so arranged matters with General Rosecrans； who had
succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi； that my
independence was to be undisturbed； except in case of a general
attack by the enemy。
We went into camp near Rienzi； July 22； sending back to the general
field…hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sicka considerable
numberstricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville。
In a few days the fine grazing arid abundance of grain for our
exhausted horses brought about their recuperation； and the many large
open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades；
which were much needed。 I turned my attention to those disciplinary
measures which； on account of active work in the field； had been
necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg
Landing； in April； and besides； we had been busy in collecting
information by scouting parties and otherwise； in prosecution of the
purpose for which we were covering the main army。
I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger；
concerning the； information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring
parties； and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this
and other matters。 Previously I had not had much personal
association with Granger。 While I was at Halleck's headquarters we
met on one or two occasions； and the day I joined the Second Michigan
at Farmington I saw him for a few moments； but； with such slight
exception； our intercourse had been almost exclusively official。 He
had suggested my name； I was told； to Governor Blair； when the
Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint
to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry； but his
recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions
he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers
of his staff； rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity。
Of course I was very grateful for this； but some of his
characteristics did not impress me favorably； and I sometimes wished
the distance between our camps greater。 His most serious failing was
an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor
matters relating to the command； the details for which those under
him were alone responsible。 Ill…judged meddling in this respect
often led to differences between us； only temporary it is true； but
most harassing to the subordinate； since I was compelled by the
circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own
judgment； but many a time had to play pe