The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-01-11


vous remote by many miles and leagues
from the scene of battle How his ardent
nature must have chafed in the dull rou-
tine of his work while others were winning
their spurs at the front may be imagined
bv any who have endured the thwartings
of ambition under like circumstances.
Tor Little Philip the span of time be-
tween Il desk in St. Louis and the command
\ of an army, with rank of major general,
was only three years. And his cloud had
it's silver lining, too, for influential persons
around headquarters saw the waste Of en-
ergy that resulted from holding Sheridan
back and eXerted themselves to secure his
appointment to the command OF regiment
of cavalry which had received marching Or
ders to 20 to the field Of fighting He never
knew himself just how it happened, but it
was not through his own direct seeking
and was complete surprise as well as a
joyful one. The regiment was the Second
Michigan cavalry, fresh from the recruiting
barracks, and the men shared the citation
Of the new colonel when the trun1peter
sounded the BOOTS and Saddles" call, and
they went whirling away to the army lines
in front Of Corinth, Miss, to join a column
of raiders about to start on a foray into the
enemy's country.
achievements up to the level of his promises
and even beyond them The raid was a
brilliant one. The general of Sheridan's
brigade was promoted, and the colonel, on
whose commission the ink was scarcely dry,
succeeded to the honors and responsibilities
of brigade commander. More than that,
his force was stationed by itself on an ex-
posed position, 20 miles in advance of the
main army. Camp was pitched near Rien-
zi outposts were established at points of
danger and Sheridan set about making ac-
quaintance with his men, accommodating
the country and getting matters in desira-
BILE shape, rs he expressed it, for himself
and the cause he served.
The Confederates, however, held another
view of the proceedings, and set on foot
plans at variance with Sheridan's-namely,
to cut short his occupation of Rienzi-in
fact, to annihilate him and all his COM
mand. The chief of the conspiracy to dis
turb Sheridan's we'll spent leisure was
General James r. Chalmers. With fol
lowing of 1000 or 5000 troopers he marched
out on the Rienzi road early on the morn
ing of July l, drove the Michigan pickets
from their beats and pursued them as fa1
rs to the junction Of roads just outside O.
the hamlet of Bonneville, close to Sheri
dams camp At that point there was som'
protection from standing timber and thu
handful of pickets prepared to make bolt
defense. They had seen only the heads O
two Confederate regiments in the opposing
force and reported accordingly to thei
commander, who promptly ordered out fou
companies of the Second Michigan, will
Captain Archibald P. Campbell at thei
head.
The Michigan men dismounted ant
stealthily moved forward to feel the enc
my's strength and intentions. 1t might
only a cavalry raid, or it might be a fem
made at that point as a cover" for
stronger attack somewhere else. 1t is ba
tactics for a commander to throw his mai
strength against a fraction of the enemy
leaving his (the enemy's) main force fire
to spring an attack on some unguarde
point meanwhile.
Many novices fall into that error, bu
Little Philip was not of that kind. H
sent the right men to the right place, an
Captain Campbelps four companies held E
bay two whole regiments of Chalmer
troopers that had deployed on both sides {
the road for the purpose of riding down tt
handful of pickets and their meager r
serves. Seeing that. Campbell was in a
tual danger of being brushed away by ode
OF i've to one, as 1t then appeared, Snerlda
told him to hold on as long as possible, an
if driven retire slowly, fighting at eve,
step. This would give the leader time
get the reserves out of camp and also
make ready flying column to act whe
ever chance offered to battle the enemy
q counter assault.
The entire force present with Sherids
consisted of the Second Michigan and Sc
ond Iowa cavalry, numbering together 8
fighting men. Two companies of the Sc
ond Iowa that carried sabers only, Sherid;
placed in the village of Bonneville, to d
fend the railway and station, his means
communication with the rest of the arm
One company of Iowans was stationed
camp guards, and the remaining nine COZ
C. 6