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badly stampeded； without； on their part； the pretense of a fight in
behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper
dispositions for defense could be made。 The day was excessively hot；
one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending
of all military exercises； and as most of the men were lounging or
sleeping in their tents； we were literally caught napping。 The alarm
spread instantly through the camp； and in a moment the command turned
out for action； somewhat in deshabille it is true； but none the less
effective； for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge…box at
the first alarm。 Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's
battery； we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same
disorder in which they had broken in on us。 By this time Colonel
Hatch and Colonel Albert L。 Lee had mounted two battalions each； and
I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit； followed by a section
of the battery。 No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's
main body； under Colonel Faulkner； drawn up in line of battle near
Newland's store。 Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery； I
hurriedly formed line confronting him； and quickly and with but
little resistance drove him in confusion from the field。 The sudden
turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men； and panic seizing
them； they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of
which they could dismember themselves； and ran in the wildest
disorder in a mad effort to escape。 As the chase went on the panic
increased； the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling
of friend and foe。 In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous；
Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such
dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were
secured； and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark。
When the recall was sounded； our men came in loaded down with plunder
in the shape of hats； haversacks； blankets； pistols； and shotguns； in
a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning； but
did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket…guard； who a
few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a
court…martial。
Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P。 Campbell； of the
Second Michigan Cavalry； presented me with the black horse called
Rienzi； since made historical from having been ridden by me in many
battles； conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek；
which has been celebrated in the poem by T。 Buchanan Read。 This
horse was of Morgan stock； and then about three years old。 He was
jet black； excepting three white feet； sixteen hands high； and
strongly built； with great powers of endurance。 He was so active
that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural
walking gait。 The gelding had been ridden very seldom； in fact；
Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out； and；
I think； felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt。 Campbell
had an affection for him； however； that never waned； and would often
come to my headquarters to see his favorite； the colt being cared for
there by the regimental farrier； an old man named John Ashley； who
had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan； and had been his groom
ever since。 Seeing that I liked the horseI had ridden him on
several occasionsCampbell presented him to me on one of these
visits； and from that time till the close of the war I rode him
almost continuously； in every campaign and battle in which I took
part； without once finding him overcome by fatigue； though on many
occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short
rations。 I never observed in him any vicious habit； a nervousness
and restlessness and switch of the tail； when everything about him
was in repose； being the only indication that he might be
untrustworthy。 No one but a novice could be deceived by this；
however； for the intelligence evinced in every feature； and his
thoroughbred appearance； were so striking that any person accustomed
to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal。 But Campbell
thought otherwise； at least when the horse was to a certain degree
yet untrained； and could not be pursuaded to ride him； indeed； for
more than a year after he was given to me； Campbell still retained
suspicions of his viciousness； though； along with this mistrust； an
undiminished affection。 Although he was several times wounded； this
horse escaped death in action； and living to a ripe old age； died in
1878； attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with
every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered。
In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga； General Buell's army
was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis
and Charleston railroad as he progressed。 The work of repair obliged
him to march very slowly； and was of but little use when done； for
guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again
as soon as he had passed on。 But worst of all； the time thus
consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and
increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the
possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky。 Consequently； the
movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio
Riverits objective points being Louisville and Cincinnatiwas now
well defined； and had already rendered abortive General Buell's
designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee。 Therefore extraordinary
efforts on the part of the Government became necessary； and the
concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet
the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious
requirement。 These troops were drawn from all sections in the West
where it was thought they could be spared； and among others I was
ordered to conduct thitherto Louisville or Cincinnati； as
subsequent developments might demandmy regiment； Hescock's battery；
the Second and Fifteenth Missouri； and the Thirty…sixth and Forty…
fourth Illinois regiments of infantry； known as the 〃Pea Ridge
Brigade。〃 With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of
September； 1862； for the purpose of getting railroad transportation
to Columbus； Kentucky。
At Corinth I met General Grant； who by this time had been
reestablished in favor and command somewhat； General Halleck having
departed for Washington to assume command of the army as General…in…
Chief。 Before and during the activity which followed his
reinstatement； General Grant had become familiar with my services
through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished
concerning the enemy's movements； and by reading reports of my fights
and skirmishes in front； and he was loth to let me go。 Indeed； he
expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth； and said he had not
expected me to go； he also plainly showed that he w