CHAPTER XLVI.

OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to distribute his forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north to Nashville; Sherman suggested that he be permitted to go back to Mississippi, to the limits of his own department and where most of his army still remained, for the purpose of clearing out what Confederates might still be left on the east bank of the Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our boats. He expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the same thing on the west shore. Of course I approved heartily.

About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where Hurlbut commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered them collected and sent to Vicksburg. He then went to Vicksburg and out to where McPherson was in command, and had him organize his surplus troops so as to give him about 20,000 men in all.

Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian with his headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a considerable force of cavalry scattered west of him. He determined, therefore, to move directly upon Meridian.

I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to Sherman's department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman got to Memphis. Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered him to reinforce Smith so as to give the latter a force of about 7,000 with which to go against Forrest, who was then known to be south-east from Memphis. Smith was ordered to move about the 1st of February.

1. How many horse riders did someone send?
2. Who lead them?
3. What was his ranking?
4. Did someone else have horse fighters?
5. Who?
6. How many?
7. Who was he supposed to help?
8. Who were they to battle?
9. When were they to go?
10. Where had Sherman been?
11. Where was he to go?
12. Did he want to go there?
13. Where did he want to go?
14. For what purpose?
15. What his wish granted?
16. Where was he after that?
17. On what date?
18. Who lead there?
19. How many soldiers did he get from someone?
20. Who were they from?
1. 2,500
2. Sooy Smith
3. General
4. yes
5. Hurlbut
6. 7,000
7. Smith
8. Forrest
9. about the 1st of February.
10. Knoxville
11. Nashville
12. no
13. Mississippi
14. to clear out what Confederates might still be left
15. yes
16. Memphis
17. About the 10th of January
18. Hurlbut
19. about 20,000
20. McPherson