92 GP 3.1 Electrical issues

So here's the story. I was having power drain problems, so I got a new top-of-the-line battery and a new alternator which puts out some good voltage. Solved the problem until one day when I turned the key, nothing happened at all. I found that something had drained the battery (which is not the problem it still tests fine) so I recharged it, once again seemingly correcting the problem. But the no power thing happened again, I got a little flash of power then nothing. so I started checking things out. when I took out and reinserted one unimportant fuse suddenly I had power so I tried to start it. I got selenoid clicks for a crank or two then nothing (I even tried a jump). So I replaced the starter, but I had some help and one of us forgot to reconnect the positive cable from the battery to the starter, now I m not sure which one it goes to, and even the lights and horn(a separate cable from the bat) dont work, my terminal is good. Somebody help me with either or both problem please.

forgot to mention in my verbose post that I seem to have a short somewhere in my steering column I get a whiff of smoke when my flashers are on and occasionally when key is turned ( I realize my start up problems may be connected but there are other issue than this) hopefully someone catell me how the heck to get to the wiring in my column.