The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-05
SHERIDAN TO NEW ORLEANS.

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SHERIDAN TO NEW ORLEANS.
THE MEANING OF THE NEW ARMY ASSIGN
MENr-sHBRIDAN's INSTRUCTIONS IN THE
HANDS OF GEN. SHERMAN.
A Washington special to the Cincinnati
Commercial of the 29th inst. gives the latest
official disclosures in regard to the assign
nent of Gen. p. H Sheridan to Ner Or
leans: The statement yesterday Of Gen
Sheridan to newspaper representative in
Chicago that he knew nothing of any pres
ent intention of ordering him to New Or
leans, 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 go
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. Sheri-
dan, through Gen. Sherman by the
way of st. Louis, and should reach Gen
Sheridan tomorrow. All that Sheridan
could have known on Saturday was what
was communicated to him in brief dis
patch from the war department on Saturday,
which advised him that confidential Instruc-
tons had been sent to him through the
general OF the army, at st. Louis,
end that he was to follow these in
structions to the very letter. There is
no possible doubt as TO the correctness OF
this information, as 1t Is derived from the
highest official sources. The president. on
Friday last, promised certain Southern re-
publicans that, In view of possible contin-
gencies, Gen. Sheridan should be ordered
10 New Orleans, with instructions 70 ar
rive there not much after tho beginning OF
nf
the president was fulfilled on
Saturday, when the confidential
instructions were mailed to Gen. Sheridan
through Gen. Sherman, at st. Louis. The
text OF the instructions is, of course, of an
entirely personal and confidential nature,
but 1t is known that they direct Gen. Sheri-
dan, Immediately and without delay, 10
free himself from all other business, and to
proceed forthwith to the South and New
Orleans, for the general purposes of obser-
walton and inspection, and when he
arrives there be is to implicitly
follow the private instructions which the
general of the army will communicate to
him. It is understood that theseprivate in
stTuctions at any time empower Gen. Sheri-
dan, In his discretion, to take full command
both of the land and naval forces in Louisi-
ana and the South. The reason which has
induced the president 10 designate Gen.
Sheridan for this duty is contained in these
words of
HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL:
"We want Gen. Sheridan there, so that II
there Is any necessity, and the wires should
be cut, there will be 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-reli-
ance, and his repeated calls upon the
president during the Penn revo-
luton for instructions as to the
minutest details of local administrative
action. 1t Is stated upon authority that the
only reason which can now induce a with
drewsl of the letter ordering Sheridan South
is the unexpected publicity already given to
the fact that he was to be ordered there One
of the reasons which has induced the presi-
dent not to assign Gen. Terry to command
in Louisiana is the health of that officer
The instructions of Gen. Sheridan, it is un-
derstoOd direct him to acquaint himself with
the actual condition of affairs in Arkansas,
louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas
but to make louisiana bis present objective
point. On arriving at New Orleans he is to
confer with Major Merrill upon the actual
condition OF affairs in Louisiana outside of
the city Of New Orleans. Major Merrill ia
the officer who arrested the perpetrators of
the Coushatta massacre, and has high rep
utation for energy, courage and fidelity
among military men here. An officer of the
ing, says that Merrill thus far; has been
the only military man in the South who
has been able to apprehend the situation
The nature of Gen. Sheridans mission Is
similar TO that of Gen. Grants in 1863, 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-
gasted to him, he, earnestly protested
against being designated to any such po-
sitiOn, and when last here urged the
attorney general that If he cared anything
for him, TO use his influence not to have him
sent South. Itseems to be the settled opin-
ion here on the part of some government
officers that trouble is to be apprehended in
louisiana, and for this reason il has been
thought that the experience of Sheridan In
New Orleans, In 1885, will be valuable now.
Sheridan is TO go there in the capacity of
lieutenant general, with the duplication of
the orders issued to Gen. Emory in Septem-
Der last, during the Penn revolution, so that
in the event of an outbreak OF hostilities,
there III be no need for any further COM
.e..~E -. a. 4.