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gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence； but
that the reward would be quicker。 Therefore I always tried to look
after their comfort personally； selected their camps； and provided
abundantly for their subsistence； and the road they opened for me
shows that my work was not in vain。 I regretted deeply to have to
leave such soldiers； and felt that they were sorry I was going； and
even now I could not； if I would； retain other than the warmest
sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and
men of 〃Sheridan's Division；〃 Army of the Cumberland。
On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for
which I had been ordered to Washington。 I was to be assigned to the
command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac。 The
information staggered me at first； for I knew well the great
responsibilities of such a position； moreover； I was but slightly
acquainted with military operations in Virginia； and then； too； the
higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me；
so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new
position。 Indeed； I knew not a soul in Washington except General
Grant and General Halleck； and them but slightly； and no one in
General Meade's army； from the commanding general down； except a few
officers in the lower grades； hardly any of whom I had seen since
graduating at the Military Academy。
Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's
communication momentarily upset me。 But there was no help for it； so
after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best
of the situation。 As in Virginia I should be operating in a field
with which I was wholly unfamiliar； and among so many who were
strangers； it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have； as a
chief staff…officer； one who had had service in the East； if an
available man could be found。 In weighing all these considerations
in my mind； I fixed upon Captain James W。 Forsyth； of the Eighteenth
Infantry； then in the regular brigade at Chattanoogaa dear friend
of mine； who had served in the Army of the Potomac； in the Peninsula
and Antietam campaigns。 He at once expressed a desire to accept a
position on my staff； and having obtained by the next day the
necessary authority； he and I started for Washington； accompanied by
Lieutenant T。 W。 C。 Moore； one of my aides； leaving behind Lieutenant
M。 V。 Sheridan； my other aide； to forward our horses as soon as they
should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon； after which he was to
join me。
CHAPTER XVIII。
AT WASHINGTONMEETING SECRETARY STANTONINTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
LINCOLNMADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE
POTOMACITS OFFICERSGENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING CAVALRY
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGNSPOTTSYLVANIA C。 H。A DIFFERENCE WITH
GENERAL MEADEPREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY。
Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore； I arrived in
Washington on the morning of April； 4； 1864； and stopped at Willard's
Hotel； where； staying temporarily； were many officers of the Army of
the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North。
Among all these； however； I was an entire stranger； and I cannot now
recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known。
With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to
General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer； having
learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city。
General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes； outlining briefly the
nature and duties of my new command； and the general military
situation in Virginia。 When he had finished all he had to say about
these matters； he took me to the office of the Secretary of War； to
present me to Mr。 Stanton。 During the ceremony of introduction； I
could feel that Mr。 Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly；
endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew
absolutely nothing； and whose career probably had never been called
to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East； after
my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two
generals had with Mr。 Lincoln。 I was rather young in appearance
looking even under than over thirty…three yearsbut five feet five
inches in height； and thin almost to emaciation； weighing only one
hundred and fifteen pounds。 If I had ever possessed any self…
assertion in manner or speech； it certainly vanished in the presence
of the imperious Secretary； whose name at the time was the synonym of
all that was cold and formal。 I never learned what Mr。 Stanton's
first impressions of me were； and his guarded and rather calculating
manner gave at this time no intimation that they were either
favorable or unfavorable； but his frequent commendation in after
years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of the
war； if not when I first came to his notice； and a more intimate
association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics
popularly ascribed to him were more mythical than real。
When the interview with the Secretary was over； I proceeded with
General Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the
President。 Mr。 Lincoln received me very cordially； offering both his
hands； and saying that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of
General Grant in the new command I was about to undertake； adding
that thus far the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had not done all
it might have done； and wound up our short conversation by quoting
that stale interrogation so prevalent during the early years of the
war； 〃Who ever saw a dead cavalryman？〃 His manner did not impress
me； however； that in asking the question he had meant anything beyond
a jest； and I parted from the President convinced that he did not
believe all that the query implied。
After taking leave I separated from General Halleck； and on returning
to my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me
to the command of the Cavalry Corps； Army of the Potomac。 The next
morning； April 5； as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army
of the Potomac； General Grant； who had returned to Washington the
previous night from a visit to his family； came aboard the train on
his way to Culpeper Court House； and on the journey down I learned
among other things that he had wisely determined to continue
personally in the field； associating himself with General Meade's
army； where he could supervise its movements directly； and at the
same time escape the annoyances which； should he remain in
Washington； would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of the
Capital while the campaign was in progress。 When we reached Brandy
Station； I left the train and reported to General Meade； who told me
that the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back
from the Station； and indicated the general locations of