Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-12-22

the applause of the whole Army
Not day passed without some glc
rious exploit. The enemy inSher
dams front had no rest night or da,
He was always striking them somt
where, and always hurting them.
Stationed at Boe1ville, twent
miles in front of Corinth, Genert
Sheridan provoked the rebel Cha
mers to an attack. Sheridan ha
but two regiments, and Chalmer
had over four thousand men; bnt til
rebels received a warm rseeption
and were very thoroughly wIzeped
For this, Sheridan was promptly mad
Brigadier- General. In August aneth
er rebel, Colonel Faulkner, tried hi
hand upon Sheridan, but was signalll
defeated. At Perryville, Sheridan
held the key of our position, anC
again repulsed every attack. Men
toned in general orders, and praised
in the highest terms by Rosecran:
and Bueli, Brigadier General Sheri
dan was given command of diyis
ion. During the terrible battle ot
Stone River he handled his new com,
mand with the greatest ABILITY, and
fought with the courage of a hon
Upon Rosecrans' recommendation
he was Immediately promoted to be
Major General. At Chicamauga, he
aided Thomas in saving the Army
At Mission Ridge, he showed that he
could attack as well as defend, dfiys
ing the rebels from their rifepits,
charging straight up the motrAtain
side, ana capturing their batteries
before gun could be remoyed.-
Thus with every promotion Shsffdan
proved his capacity by some new exs
plot, and established still more FIRM.
ly his glorious reputation.
When General Grant took com
mand of our Army at Chattaueega
he at once set Sheridan at wotks-
Burnside was cooped up in Knoxsille.
and Sheridan's command was sent to
relieve him. This was done IN cap
ital style, by one OF the most remar-
kable marches on record. Grant
was then called to Washington and
took charge OF the Army of the Po-
tomac. The first man for whom he
sent was Phil. Sheridan. In all the
earliest battles of the presert cam
paign against Richmond, Sheridan
led our cavalry, and was, ,Grant's
riyit fIauJt IITs ezpetss1t0u
around Richmond will not soon be
forgotten, nor his varied services
along the line. Every time he moved,
victory moved with him. He never
knew what it was to be defeated
Led by him, our cavalry was invinci-
BILE. But the progress of events
caused Grant to transfer Sheridan to
another field The rebels had annoy
ed our army by regular raids down
the Shenandoah, and although there
were soldiers enough detailed for the
service, we could find no General
able to whip Early and Longstreet
and keep them quiet in the Valley.
At last Grant ordered Sheridan to
this duty, and the result was the
utter rout Of Early's forces. They
were beaten in battle after battle, and
sent "whirling through Winchester
in complete confusion. This triumph
secured his fame; but a greater tri-
umph was yet to come.
Let it be promised that Sheridan
does not look like hero. He is a
little man-fve feet six inches in
higt, and weight about one hundred
and forty pounds. He has wiry
frame, compact head, middlIng fore
head, sharp grey eyes, short black
hair and cropped whiskers. His
is decidedly Irish, and
is fairly Drowned by exposure. But
if you look st him closely you see
what tremendous strength he has,
and what energy is expressed in
every movement, while if you see his
face lighted up by the fire of battle
you can better understand his power
over his soldiers. This power was
recently tested most severely. Sher-
idan had been ordered to Washing
ton on business with the War Depart
ment, and while he was on his way
back to his army the rebels made
another attack. He heard the roar
Of the cannon and well knew what it
meant. Squirting his horse to a gal /
.op, he dashed forward to join his
brave men. Miles intervened, and
TO his accustomed ear the sound of
the guns told of our defeat He felt
that his Army had been surprised
and beaten, and that the rebels were
following up their success. Now he
no longer gallops--he flies over the
ground. His hat is lost, his overcoat
thrown away, his accoutrements
dropped TO tighten his steed. With
eyes dilated and teeth clenched he
bends forward to catch the
first glimpse of his troops. He sees
them-tbey are retreating. He dash
IS in among them and they halt
Custer rides up and embraces him.
Without a pause he recognizes his
defeated army. Placing himself at
their head, he orders his comrades to
With one wild yell they
.hrow themselves upon the advancing
and victorious rebels, and in mo-
nent are beating them back in serri'
Die route, recapturing prisoners,