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seemed almost a disease； at any rate it was catching； so； while we
were en route to Dandridge； Parke transferred the command to Granger。
The latter next unloaded it on me； and there is no telling what the
final outcome would have been had I not entered a protest against a
further continuance of the practice； which remonstrance brought
Granger to the front at Dandridge。
While the events just narrated were taking place； General Grant had
made a visit to Knoxvilleabout the last of Decemberand arranged
to open the railroad between there and Chattanooga； with a view to
supplying the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future； instead
of through Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon…trains。 In
pursuance of his plan the railroad had already been opened to Loudon；
but here much delay occurred on account of the long time it took to
rebuild the bridge over the Tennessee。 Therefore supplies were still
very scarce； and as our animals were now dying in numbers from
starvation； and the men were still on short allowance； it became
necessary that some of the troops east of Knoxville should get nearer
to their depot； and also be in a position to take part in the coming
Georgia campaign； or render assistance to General Thomas； should
General Johnston （who had succeeded in command of the Confederate
army） make any demonstration against Chattanooga。 Hence my division
was ordered to take station at Loudon； Tennessee； and I must confess
that we took the road for that point with few regrets； for a general
disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter。
At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me；
with the determination； as I have heretofore related； to avenge their
brother's death。 No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer；
for knowing that my division's next operation would be toward
Atlanta； and being ignorant of the country below Dalton；。 he
recognized and insisted that his services would then become
practically valueless。
At Loudon； where we arrived January 27； supplies were more plentiful；
and as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days；
every one grew contented and happy。 Here a number of my regiments；
whose terms of service were about to expire； went through the process
of 〃veteranizing；〃 and； notwithstanding the trials and hardships of
the preceding nine months； they re…enlisted almost to a man。
When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting
my troops； I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that
then existed to take a short leave of absencea privilege I had not
indulged in since entering the service in 1853。 This leave I spent
in the North with much benefit to my physical condition； for I was
much run down by fatiguing service； and not a little troubled by
intense pain which I at times still suffered from my experience in
the unfortunate hand…car incident on the Cumberland Mountains the
previous July。 I returned from leave the latter part of March；
rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that
section would begin as early as April。
On the 12th of March； 1864； General Grant was assigned to the command
of the armies of the United States； as general…in…chief。 He was
already in Washington； whither he had gone to receive his commission
as lieutenant…general。 Shortly after his arrival there； he commenced
to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans
which he intended to enter upon in the spring； and out of this grew a
change in my career。 Many jealousies and much ill…feeling； the
outgrowth of former campaigns； existed among officers of high grade
in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864； and several general
officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence。 Among these；
General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the
cavalry； General Grant having expressed to the President
dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that
arm of the service； and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps
of the Army of the Potomac； receiving on the night of the 23d of
March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram：
〃MARCH 23； 1864。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL THOMAS； Chattanooga
〃Lieutenant…General Grant directs that Major…General Sheridan
immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant…General
of the Army。
〃 H。 W。 HALLECK；
Major…General； Chief…of…Staff。〃
I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to
Washington； but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my
relations with the Second Division； Fourth Army Corps。 I at once set
about obeying the order； and as but little preparation was necessary；
I started for Chattanooga the next day； without taking any formal
leave of the troops I had so long commanded。 I could not do it； the
bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of
attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting
from a body of soldiers who； from our mutual devotion； had long
before lost their official designation； and by general consent within
and without the command were called 〃Sheridan's Division。〃 When I
took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the
hill…sides around to see me off。 They had assembled spontaneously；
officers and men； and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they
waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection。
A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted。 They had
never given me any trouble； nor done anything that could bring aught
but honor to themselves。 I had confidence in them； and I believe
they had in me。 They were ever steady； whether in victory or in
misfortune； and as I tried always to be with them； to put them into
the hottest fire if good could be gained； or save them from
unnecessary loss； as occasion required； they amply repaid all my care
and anxiety； courageously and readily meeting all demands in every
emergency that arose。
In Kentucky； nearly two years before； my lot had been cast with about
half of the twenty…five regiments of infantry that I was just
leaving； the rest joining me after Chickamauga。 It was practically a
new arm of the service to me； for although I was an infantry officer；
yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was
composed of cavalry； and most of my experience had been gained in
this arm of the service。 I had to study hard to be able to master
all the needs of such a force； to feed and clothe it and guard all
its interests。 When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that
if I met them faithfully； recompense would surely come through the
hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion
on the part of their superiors； and not only that more could be
gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence； but
that the reward would be quicker。 Therefore I alwa