The Shasta courier., 1864-06-25
General "Phil, sheridaii.

We have an enthusiastic admiration for
PM. sheridan-Brigadier General p. Ii.
Sheridan. We heard of him first at Corinth.
Miss, lie had been commanding cavalry un
der Roseerans-whose estimate of soldiers
carries weight. He delighted to talk more
OF T" PM Sheridan than of any man in the
army General George H. Thomas excepted.
of him be alwaysspoke reverentially-a man
who reminded him of Washington Rose
Grams airrred Sheridan's curt, decisive way
OF dong nings. Phil, y he said, :. has no
surpl lie does things =; and the Gen.
~a.- napPT:ysf ssr e,cri''.iing the grim. in
sinuating pleasantly with which Sheridan
outwitted the enemy. or hung spy. Ian
guage can't express it, because it lacks the
essentials of voice and manner. ''Send Phil.
Sheridan on an expedition" he was wont to
say, and he will accomplish it if it is in the
power of mamie is ready, fertile in resour
ces. with large executive faculty. and he fights
fights do you know what that means?"
Fighting was his forte. and yet he is the
'mildest hammered mani that ever slashed
a rebel crown with saber. 1t is related of
hlm that he fought his way through West
Point. and almost fought his way out. We
have his own confession that during his last
year he had only " I've points" to make to
l
the institution. The management of those
g five points, was difficult and delicate
operation. Nevertheless. he graduated with
distinction, and was one of the most popular
men of the academy.
Your first view of him disappoints YOU lii
tie. Imagination always PLAYS the mischief
with your estimate of hero whom you have
not seeu-heroic stature, handsome face, com
manding presence, all seem associated with
heroes Sheridan is quiet, wirv. strong lit
tie man. not over five feet seven, or a half
inch more. but with broad shoulders and
strong y built frame, weighing, perhaps, one
hundred and forty or a trile more short,
wiry black hair. compact head and medium
forehead, sharp gray eyes, a composed and
hrm countenance, with somewhat Miesian
features, and IA brownsh complexion, shaded
with closely cropped whiskers.
He is only thirty two but his weather hea.
ten face advertises at loast FIVE years more.
But his stature is soon forgotten in his pres
ence. He grows wonderfully on horse, and
especially on the battle field. On the dread
ful morning of Stone river. when he emerged
from the frightful ceders. he Ioomed up like
avery giant. lie was grave, but firm, strong,
and as Rosecrans dashed up to him in the tu-
multi OF battle, his department seemed to ex
press. :. You see, General. it was not the
fault Of my division that we did not stayn
lie had lost bis hat and fought bareheaded
until trooper handed him a hat picked up
in the. tell-a dead soldiers no doubt Sun
day morning afterwards-the enemy had
gene tliaE s-eherdan. sitting on an old stump
At geae. .lquarters, .nId the story quiet
y. bat - n iicailyi . General, | lost ,796
men. seveiIty of them were officers, with my
three brigade commanders"
These We're the noble Sill. Roberts and
Shaefer-than whom more gallant soldiers
never fought under the flag. Stone river
made Sheridan ma j"r. general. and they al
ways said in the Army of the Cumberland,
=" Phil Sheridan is tie rising man of this
army" When Grant put him in command |
of the cavalry on the Potomac those who knew
him recognized the right man in the right
place.
At the beginning of the war, General Sher- |
idan was a lieutenant ofinfantry. Governor
Blair. of Michigan, commissioned him as col |
onel of regiment of Michigan cavalry, and |
he was actively engaged in Tennessee and |
Mississippi, doing valuable service and hard |
fighting until he was promoted to brigadier
general, soon after which he was assigned to
the command of a division in McCook's corps. |
where be remained until, assigned to his pres
eat position His parents are natives of ire
land, but he is native of Somerset, Perry |
county, Ohio.-Dayon { Ohio Journal.