The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-12
Phil. sheridan.

lhe conception OF General Sheridan s
character which the EXTREMIST Of the
Southern press have constantly held up
to their readers. and which most Of their
audience seem to consider the true ore,
is that he is a drunken, tyrannical bully;
fierce and merciless TO the weak. and
cowardly fearful Of an equal foe. That
Sheridan IS no such man was never bet
ter known than by those who have most
persistently described him so. The de-
scrIption is too false TO be ludicrous, ifthe
spirit which prompted it did not keep
away all ludicrous suggestions. As a
great deal will be written about him
presently, based on that idea, II is we'll
enough to say something about the sort
Of man he really is. And, in the first
place, he does not indulge in debauche-
ry. In regard to drinking, he is not a
total abstinence man, but he is very
temperate and prudent man. His man
ners and address are those Of a soldier
who has spent the most Of his life in the
field, and who is accustomed 10 command
-brusque often. but tempered by n sense
of what Is due to himself and to others.
lie is kindly and generous
man. In all the garrisons in his entier
lif. he was a favorite with all the chill
dren about the post. When he was
lieutenant in command ola company his
men were exceedingly devoted to him.
When he was stationed with his compa-
ny at an Indian agency, as he was for
some time, the Indians would be satisG-
ed with his word and grow quiet, when
the agent could not appease them. On
Iy kindly and just man could inspire
such feelings. lie was brave man, and
made a reputation az a gallant officer,
full Of resources, before the rebellion.
In an outbreak among the Oregon In
dians, he, with forty men, was besieged
in an old and weak block house, at the
Cascades. by fifteen hundred or two
thousand indians. lie held it for sever
al days, until it was nearly battered to
pieces by bullets, and until it was ap-
HAANhN AtAhk TIT AuAluNH WEAE M0AhluE
themselves up to an assault, which would
have destroyed his command, when he
moved them by night to an island in the
middle of the river, where the Indians
we're afraid to approach him. He dis
played both his courage and his resour-
ces. Even after the rebellion began he
was ordered to report TO General Curtis,
in Missouri, rs commissary. A certain
claim was presented for payment which
he knew 20 be fraudulent, and refused to
pay. Curtis ordered him to pay il; Sher-
idan again refused, and Curtis put him
under arrest. After receiving Curtis's
order, he would have been legally safe in
paying the claim, but he would not, under
any condition, be a party to fraud.
Hallcck, who knew Of what stuff he was
made, ordered him to St. Louis, relased
him, and, securing his appointment as
colonel of volunteer regiment, sent
him to the field. lie was soon promoted
and entered upon the career Of achieve
ment that made him famous. In the
short time he was with the regiment he
impressed them with character which
made it develop into one Of the most o.
ficient cavalry regiments in the service.
Many even Of those who admire and
are grateful to Sheridan do not fully ap-
preciate him. They look upon him
merely as ready and dashing cavalry
officer, skilled and successful in carrying
out the plans Of others, and do not give
him credit for his stronger parts. The
fact is he was gallant general, and isa
man OF very vigorous intellect, a hard
student, and keen observer, capable Of
making broad generalizations. When
ne was abroad, he was with Bismarck.
by that great mans invitation, in daily
association for several weeks. Bismarck
would not have wasted more than one
interview on a strange tourist IL he had
not found him something great and con-
genial. Sheridan is very free from Sec
tional prejudice. He feels no antagon.
ism to the people Of the South. lie
laid that aside when the war ended
He respects an honest difference o6yopin-
ion, and respects any one more highly,
whatever the relations in which they
stand, who stands by his own opinions
and expresses them manfully. Ills re-
cent telegrams are not in keeping with
his character and our prcjndices.-[Les.
lies illustrated Newspaper.