Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-30
SHERIDAN.
Little Phil Ordered to New Or
leans.
HIS Instructions I'm the Hands OF GEN.
sherman-why He WAS Sent

sherman-WhyH He Was Sent
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-The statement
yesterday Of Gen. Sheridan to a newspaper
representative in Chicago that he knew
nothing of any present intention of order
ing him to New Orleans, was correct, and
the statements in these dispatches, which
Gen. Sheridan seemed to have denied, were
also correct, with one exception. Gen.
Sheridan is to 90 to New Orleans, but the
orders directing him to proceed there were
not, as was stated, sent by telegraph. They
have been sent by mail to Gen. Sheridan,
through Gen. Sherman, by the way of St.
Louis, and should reach Gen. Sheridan to-
morrow. All that Sheridan could have
known on Saturday was what was commu-
nicated to him in brief dispatch from the
War Department on Saturday, which ad-
vised him that confidential instructions
had been sent TO him through the General
Of the Army, at St. Louis, and that he was
to follow these instructions to the very let
ter. There is no possible doubt as to the
correctness Of this information, as it is de-
rived from the highest official sources.
The President, on Friday last, promised
certain Southern Republicans that, in view
Of possibls contingencies, Gen. Sheridan
should be ordered TO New Orleans, with
instructions to arrive there not much after
the beginning of the new year. This
promise of the President was fulfilled on
Saturday, when the confidential instrue-
tions were mailed TO Sheridan through
Gen. Sherman, at st. Louis.
The text Of the instructions is, of course,
Of an entirely personal and confidential ma
ture, but it is known that they direct Gen.
Sheridan, Immediately and without delay,
to free himself from all other business, and
to proceed forthwith to the South and New
Orleans, for the general purposes Of OBJ
servation and inspection, and when he ar
riyes there he is to implicitly follow the
private instructions which the General Of
the Army will communicate TO him.
1t is understood that these private in
structions at any time empower Gen. Sher-
idan, in his discretion, to take full COM
mand both Of the land and naval forces in
Louisiana and the South. The reason
which has induced the President to desig-
nate Gen. Sheridan for this duty is CON
tanned in these words Of high Govern
ment official:
ssWe want Gen. Sheridan there, so that
If there is any necessity, and the wires
should be cut, there will be a man of pluck
and energy in the South who can be relied
on"
The most serious objection which has
been urged against Emory is his lack Of
self-reliance and his repeated calls upon the
President during the Penn revolution for
-. -, r.
local administrative action. II is stated
upon good authority that the only reason
which can now induce withdrawal of the
letter ordering Sheridan South is the unex-
pscted publicity already given to the fact
that he was to be ordered there.
One Of the reasons which has induced
the President not to assign General Terry
to command in Louisiana is the health Of
that officer. The instructions Of General
Sheridan, it is understood, direct him to
acquaint himself with the actual condition
of affairs in Arkansas, Louisiana, MiSsis-
sippi, Alabama and Texas, but to make
Louisiana his present objective point. On
arriving at New Orleans he is to confer
with Major Merrill upon the actual condi-
ton of affairs in Louisiana outside of the
city of New Orleans. Major Merrill is the
officer who arrested the perpetrators Of the
COushatta massacre, and has high repu-
tation for energy, courage and fidelity
among military men here. An officer Of
the Government, a military man Of high
standing, says that Merrill, thus tar, has
been the only military man in the South
who has been able 10 apprehend the situa-
tion. The nature of General Sheridan's
mission is similar to that of General
Grants in 1866, with the exception
that Grant was designated TO discover why
there is not prosperity in the South, while
Sheridan is to learn why there is not
peace. 1t is due TO Gen. Sheridan to say
that, while the subject of such a general
political mission was some time since sug-
gested to him, he earnestly protested
against being designated to any such posi-
lion, and when last here urged the Attor-
ney General, that if he cared anything for
him, to use his influence not TO have him
sent South. 1t seems to be the settled |
opinion here, on the part Of some Govern
ment officers, that trouble is to be appre-
hended in Louisiana, and, for this reason, |
it has been thought that the experience Of
Sheridan in New Orleans, in 1886, will be |
now. Sheridan is to go there in !
The capacity Of Lieutenant General, with |
he duplication OF the orders issued to Gen. |
Emory in September last, during the Penn |
revolution, so that, in the event of an out |
break of bOstilities, there will be no need |
Tor any further communication with Wash |
ngtOn.
Departure for New Or |
leans.
To the Associated Press.
Ian, accompanied by Gen. Ruch, Maj. G. |
A. Forsythe and Col. w. Sheridan, of his |
staff, left here last night for New Orleans. |
There is high official authority for saying |
hat Gen. Sheridan does not 90 to New Or |
eans in obedience TO any direct orders, but |
in compliance with a personal request of
he President, who desired to have some |
me al that point in whom he had implicit |
to furnish him with truthful /
and Of such rank that, in case
1f emergency, he could act without special
orders from Washington. Gen. Sheridan
was intending to 60 to Cuba in few
weeks, and this trip South is only antici-
Dating the time, foI, after a short stay in
New Orleans, he Will sail for Cuba. His
presence in Louisiana is to con-
serve the peace, and he will not remove any
1tficer or take any part in the military af-
airs there, unless absolutely necessary TO
that object.
Emory ON the Newspaper ''BandIfti."
Touching the reported assignment of
Sheridan to the command Of the Depart
nent of the Gulf, Gen. Emory said to a
Times reporter: 81 have received no off,
,ial intelligence concerning the reports al
uded to, nor of any measures looking to
ny removal. The banditti in Washington
Who are writing for the newspapers, are
merely trying to create an opinion against
ne, all other efforts having failed.
OBERLIN'S PROTEST.
Her COlored Folks Dead Against the
House Civil Rights Bill.
CLEVELAND, D., Dec. 29.-The colored
.itiZens of Oberlin OhiO held a meeting