Grant was Sheridan benefactor and Congressman Eli Washburne was Grant's benefactor. Neither Grant nor Sheridan would have ever made it to Virginia had it not been for Eli Washburne and Washburne's close connection with Lincoln after Shiloh. They would have both been sitting on the list with George McClellan of General Officers not assign a command, had it not for Washburne's intersession on Grant behalf when Grant was brought up on charges and relieved of his command.

Remember what I said in another post about looking into the pre war Gelena, Illinois political cabal of the connection between Lincoln, Eli Washburne, General Winfield Scott, Jessie Grant (father of U.S. Grant) and Henry Halleck. Old friendships die hard.