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judgment； but many a time had to play peacemakersmoothing down
ruffled feelings； that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky
and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that
ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to
remedy。 Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good
qualities； and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and
good motives as to far outbalance his short…comings； and not…
withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official
intercourse； we maintained friendly relations till his death。
In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces
after the fall of Corinth； General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the
Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward
Chattanooga； and as this movement would be followed of course by a
manoeuvre on the part of the enemy； now at Tupelo under General
Braxton Bragg； either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some
counter…operation； I was expected to furnish； by scouting and all
other means available； information as to what was going on within the
Confederate lines。 To do the work required； necessitated an increase
of my command； and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to
it； and my picket…line extended so as to cover from Jacinto
southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville； and
then northwesterly to the Hatchie River。 Skirmishes between outposts
on this line were of frequent occurrence； with small results to
either side； but they were somewhat annoying； particularly in the
direction of Ripley； where the enemy maintained a considerable
outpost。 Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost； on the
evening of July 27； I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch；
which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few
prisoners； but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package
of thirty…two private letters； the partial reading of which disclosed
to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army；
for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern
Alabama and East Tennessee。 This decisive evidence was of the utmost
importance； and without taking time to read all the letters； I
forwarded them to General Granger July 28； in a despatch which
stated： 〃I deem it necessary to send them at once； the enemy is
moving in large force on Chattanooga。〃 Other than this the results
of the expedition were few； and the enemy； having fled from Ripley
with but slight resistance； accompanied by almost all the
inhabitants； re…occupied the place next day after our people had
quitted it； and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our
outposts； both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion
offered。
The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of
the streams within the enemy's lines； and； in consequence； he was
obliged to shift his camps often； and send his beef…cattle and mules
near his outposts for water。 My scouts kept me well posted in regard
to the movements of both camps and herds； and a favorable opportunity
presenting itself； I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in
some animals located on Twenty…Mile Creek； a stream always supplied
with water from a source of never…failing； springs。 Our side met
with complete success in this instance； and when the expedition
returned； we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef； and
by some two hundred captured mules； that we thus added to our trains
at a time when draft animals were much needed。
Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities； and the
only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain
for our animals。 Because of the large number of troops then in West
Tennessee and about Corinth； the indifferent railroad leading down
from Columbus； Ky。； was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport
supplies。 The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north
was therefore limited； and before reaching the different outposts； by
passing through intermediate depots of supply； it had dwindled to
insignificance。 I had hopes； however； that this condition of things
might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn
that was ripening in the neighborhood； and would soon； I thought； be
sufficiently hard to feed to my animals。 Not far from my
headquarters there was a particularly fine field； which； with this
end in view； I had carefully protected through the milky stage； to
the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine。 They bore
the prohibition well while it affected only themselves； but the trial
was too great when it came to denying their horses； and men whose
discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting…ear period
now fell from grace。 Their horses were growing thin； and few could
withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets； so at night the
corn； because of individual foraging； kept stealthily and steadily
vanishing； until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks。
The disappearance was noticed； and the guard increased； but still the
quantity of corn continued to grow less； the more honest troopers
bemoaning the loss； and questioning the honor of those to whose
safekeeping it had been entrusted。 Finally； doubtless under the
apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all
disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the
stealthy enterprise of their owners； a general raid was made on the
field in broad daylight； and though the guard drove off the
marauders； I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so
unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were
quickly blasted。 One look at the field told that it had been swept
clean of its grain。 Of course a great row occurred as to who was to
blame； and many arrests and trials took place； but there had been
such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was
next to impossible to identify the guilty； and so much crimination
and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop
the whole matter。
On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring； I
having sent it south toward Tupelo； in the hope of obtaining some
definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the
remainder of the Confederate army； under General Price； when about
mid…day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing；
and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp。 He had come in
on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River； pell…mell
with our picket…post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley
road。 The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred；
but only his advance entered with my pickets； whom he had charged and
badly stampeded； without； on their part； the pretense of a fight in
behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect u