SHILOH REVIEWED.

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rank did not allow him the command, hut he was authorized to assign thearriving regiments to brigades and divisions as he might think best, anddesignate the camping-grounds. In these and other ways he exercised animportant influence upon the fate of the army.

The movement of the Army of the Ohio from Nashville (which I had occu-pied on February 25th) for the appointed junction was commenced on thenight of the 15th of March by a rapidmarch of cavalry to secure the bridgesin advance, which were then stillguarded by the enemy. It was fol-lowed on the 16th and successive daysby the infantry divisions, McCook be-ing in advance with instructions tomove steadily forward; to ford thestreams where they were fordable, andwhen if was necessary to make repairson the roads, such as building bridgesover streams which were liable to fre-quent interruption by high water, toleave only a sufficient working partyand guard for that purpose; to use allpossible industry and energy, so asto move forward steadily and as rap-idly as possible without forcing themarch or straggling; and to send for-ward at once to communicate with General Smith at Savannah , and learnhis situation.

When the cavalry reached Columbia the bridge over Duck River wasfound in flames, and the river at flood stage. General McCook immediatelycommenced the construction of a frame bridge, but finding, after severaldays, that the work was progressing less rapidly than had been expected, Iordered the building of a boat bridge also, and both were completed on the30th. On the same day the river became fordable. I .arrived at Columbiaon the 26th. General Nelson succeeded in getting a portion of his divisionacross by fording on the 29th, and was given the advance. Most of histroops crossed by fording on the 30th. The other divisions followed him onthe march with intervals of six miles, so as not to incommode one another—in all 5 divisions; about 37,000 effective men. On the first day of April,General Halleck and General Grant were notified that I would concentrate atSavannah on Sunday and Monday, the 6th and 7th, the distance being ninetymiles. On the 4th General Nelson received notification from General Grantthat he need not hasten his march, as he could not be put across the riverbefore the following Tuesday; but the rate of march was not changed.

After seeing my divisions on the road, I left Columbia on the evening ofthe 3d, and arrived at Savannah on the evening of the 5th with my chief ofstaff, an aide-de-camp (Lieutenant C. L. Fitzhugh), and an orderly, leaving

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MAJOR-GENERAL ALEXANDER MCD. M c COOK.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.