rebels had been met by our boys, and that the result was, at all events, such as to completely erase the painful impression produced by the panic into which the Northern army had been thrown. General Wm. Tecumseh Sherman, now General-inChief of the army, (and who warmly defends the course of Grant at Shiloh), is of opinion that just such a deadly engagement as this was necessary, to demonstrate the perfect morale of our men when on the field and without entrenchments-a very important element in the conduct, plan and management of all military operations.

CHAPTER IX.

GRANT'S MILITARY CAREER.

(CONTINUED.)

Halleck in Command-Corinth Captured-Battle of Iuka-Desperate Fighting at Corinth-The Rebels Out-Generaled-Grant as an AdministratorVicksburg Striven After-Two Unsuccessful Attempts to Reach it—Grant "Takes the Responsibility," and Wins the Most Decisive Victory of the War.

On the 8th of April, 1862, General Halleck, in charge of the department, took the chief command of the combined armies of Grant and Buell. Sherman, with a large cavalry and infantry force, made a reconnoisance on the line toward Corinth, and, after a brief, but brilliant skirmish, compelled an outlying force of the enemy to retire, and destroyed their camp. Several movements of a similar character were made by our forces during the month of April. On the 30th, the town of Purdy was occupied, two important bridges were blown up, and the siege of Corinth began to assume definite shape. Beauregard made good use of his time in concentrating his forces and strengthening his fortifications.

The Grand Army of the Tennessee was organized early in May, under the supreme command of General Halleck, as follows: The Army of the Tennessee, under Grant, was on the right; Buell,

with the Army of the Ohio, occupied the center, and Pope's Army of the Mississippi was on the left. There were in all sixteen divisions, eight of which were in the army of General Grant, whose right wing was commanded by General George H. Thomas. Grant was made second in command, under Halleck, a promotion which was warmly approved by the soldiers of the Grand Army.

CAPTURE OF CORINTH.

The investment of Corinth proceeded with creditable rapidity. From the 8th of May to the 16th, there was almost continual skirmishing between the advance guards on both sides. On the 17th, Sherman captured Thorsell's House, a strong point which was held by a large Rebel force. The place was immediately occupied by our victorious troops. On the 21st Thomas A. Davis's division, after a very sharp engagement, captured an important bridge, within shelling distance of the Southern lines, north of Philips's Creek. Sherman's division drove a strong body of the enemy on the 27th, and on the 28th the columns commanded by Thomas, Pope and Buell, under the chief direction of General Grant, advanced within easy gunshot range of the Rebel stronghold. The loss on our side was severe, but the fight sickened the enemy, who, on the succeeding day, evacuated Corinth, conceiving that it would be impossible to defend it successfully against the skillful disposition and impatient valor of our investing force. The fifth division of Grant's

Army of the Tennessee was the first to plant its colors on the captured ramparts. The enemy were vigorously pursued, but their flight was so rapid that nothing could be done with them, beyond destroying railroad communications and capturing supplies. General Sherman again signalized himself in this pursuit, and at Holly Springs damaged the enemy's communications with such effect that their future movements were much embarrassed. The pursuers were then recalled and the Grand Army rested on its arms.

When Memphis capitulated, in the month of June. 1862, Grant visited that city, and placed a Provost-Marshal in charge of it. He immediately issued such orders as effectually checked the rebellious practices of a majority of the citizens. The guerilla outrages were greatly mitigated and illicit trade with Rebels in arms was peremptorily prohibited The families of such persons as held official position, civil or military, under the Rebel Government, were ordered to move south beyond our lines, unless they signed a prescribed parole and guaranteed good behavior in the future. Other important orders were also issued, all of which had a happy effect on our cause, and showed favorably for the executive ability of General Grant.

GRANT SUPREME IN THE SOUTHWEST.

General Halleck bade farewell to the Grand Army of the Tennessee on the 17th of July, and proceeded to the National Capitol, where he as

sumed a still higher office, that of Commander-inChief of the Union Armies. The Department of the Mississippi was then subdivided, and Grant was placed in command of the Department of West Tennessee, his headquarters being at Corinth. This was the idlest military period of Grant's active career in the War of the Rebellion. From July until the middle of September nothing of importance, from a fighting standpoint, occurred. Some skirmishes took place, in which our troops where uniformly the victors. The army was perfected in discipline, and the rebel positions were fully reconnoitred, preparatory to another campaign.

On the 11th day of August 1862, the following significant order was issued:

GRANT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS.

On the 11th of August, 1862, General Grant issued an important order (published in full in a subsequent chapter) relating to the employment of negroes who came into camp as fugitives from slavery. He soon afterwards caused the adoption in his army of a system of educating and caring for the negroes, which was substantially that adopted afterwards by Congress in the formation of the Freedmen's Bureau. On the 16th of the same month another order was issued providing for the enlistment of all skulkers, from States within the Union, who would be subject to the draft if at home. Their enrollment was to be allowed for in the quotas of their proper districts. Traffic with the