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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 was much hurt at

the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted。  Since

I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and

opportunity was opening up in Kentucky; I did not wish him to retain

me; which he might have done; and I impressed him with my conviction;

somewhat emphatically; I fear。  Our conversation ended with my wish

gratified。  I afterward learned that General Granger; whom General

Grant did not fancy; had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati

the main portion of Granger's commandthe Pea Ridge Brigadeas well

as the Second Michigan Cavalry; of which I was still colonel。

We started that night; going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to

Columbus; Ky。; where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us。  These

boats were five in number; and making one of them my flag…ship;

expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be

located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio; I directed the rest to

follow my lead。  Just before reaching Caseyville; the captain of a

tin…clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the

information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville; and

expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries。

Accepting the information as correct; I concluded to capture the

place before trying to pass up the river。  Pushing in to the bank as

we neared the town; I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville;

in the expectation of a bloody fight; but was agreeably surprised

upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its

inhabitantsmen; women; and childrencarrying the Stars and

Stripes; and making the most loyal professions。  Similar

demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic…stricken captain

of the gunboat when he passed down the river; but he did not stay to

ascertain their character; neither by landing nor by inquiry; for he

assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no

loyalty。  The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his

convoy of little further use; he steamed toward Cairo in quest of

other imaginary batteries; while I re…embarked at Caseyville; and

continued up the Ohio undisturbed。  About three miles below

Cincinnati I received instructions to halt; and next day I was

ordered by Major…General H。 G。 Wright to take my troops back to

Louisville; and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade;

composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri; Thirty…sixth and

Forty…fourth Illinois infantry; and of such other regiments as might

be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army。

When I reached Louisville I reported to Major…General William Nelson;

who was sick; and who received me as he lay in bed。  He asked me why

I did not wear the shoulder…straps of my rank。  I answered that I was

the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry; and had on my appropriate

shoulder…straps。  He replied that I was a brigadier…general for the

Booneville fight; July 1; and that I should wear the shoulder…straps

of that grade。  I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I

had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder…straps of a brigadier…

general; I was not long in procuring a pair; particularly as I was

fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information

of my appointment as a brigadier…general; to date from July 1; 1862;

the day of the battle of Booneville









CHAPTER XI。



GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSONHIS TRAGIC DEATHPUTTING LOUISVILLE

IN A STATE OF DEFENSEASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH

DIVISIONCAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTSBATTLE OF PERRYVILLEREPORTED

AMONG THE KILLEDA THRILLING INCIDENTGENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY

GENERAL ROSECRANS。



I reported to Major…General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville;

September 14; 1862; who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of

a sailorfor he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the

war。  The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by

virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which; I

think; Nelson observed at the interview; and he allayed it by giving

me much good advice; and most valuable information in regard to

affairs in Kentucky; telling me also that he intended I should retain

in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery。  This

latter assurance relieved me greatly; for I feared the loss of these

troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take

place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri;

and having brought them up from Mississippi; I hoped they would

continue with me。  He directed me to take position just below the

city with the Pea Ridge Brigade; Hescock's battery; and the Second

Michigan Cavalry; informing me; at the same time; that some of the

new regiments; then arriving under a recent call of the President for

volunteers; would also be assigned to my command。  Shortly after the

interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me;

thus making good his promise of more troops。



A few days later came Nelson's tragic end; shocking the whole

country。  Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on

the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C。

Davis; of the Union Army; had shot General Nelson at the Galt House;

and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and

fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead; another having it that

he was living and had killed Davis; and still others reflecting on

the loyalty of both; it being supposed by the general public at first

that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some

political rather than official or personal differences。  When the

news came; I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the

particulars; reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon。  Here I

learned that Nelson had been shot by D

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