New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-08

kCss-I V. @stNN ~ Tsf&f sAhVAsS& s4VP |
~ sr.,Se1 ,Laidt ssi 50 Iii
fruu th> lsso1s sAslDssubhaeady
tssk IL to ~ sAsnsn 1sasssl alof
General Sheridan to -. ef
son 1t Nososacy Jaat hs - es3sff IN
tsrs Of the valley forces. aaA shoe1 -
after returned to City Doiss tsastlnG 0ensr
mi Sheridan with the Gole ihua - the
valley. to 60 through ths eShpa!e . ~
discretion, upon his oW1 Daaass aAA wae1r
ont sny advice OF ordezs whetaver.
BeyoLd receiving information at one time
of rebel reinfosesmsAts nea1 Winchessef,
md m order fioa the Secretary Of War tp
visit Washington for consultation. General
Sheridan received NO orders, advice q
plans in relation to the conduct OF thss
campaign. On . aubsequent visit 70 tho
army of General Sheridan, just before tne
battle Of Winchester, Lieutenant Genera
Grant planned . campaign OF the onehsn'
doah, and wrote the orders in detail ron
carrying it out, to be used in case OF neoes
sity, but upon eonsultation with As)or
General Sheridan, he found that oflaoer %
fully posted, prepared for every possible
contingency, and ready to 60 in at once,
that he poekstsd his papers and returned
to City Point, leaving Sheridan in sole CON-
mand, to conduct the campaign at dlscre-
ton, and to recsive all tho credit for success
certain to be achieved.
"Csp you attack the enemy next Tues
dsyS" inquired the Lieutenant General Jnst
before leaving for City Point.
~ can attack, them Monday" replied
thu. ever alert and prudent Sheridan.
And attack he did, and the first battle OF
Winchester passed into history. Had Lier'
tepant General Grant delivered his plans
and written order., and remained two days
longer st Chsrlestowa, West Virginia. BE-
tore returning to City Point, the country
would have given him credit for tho sue
oessful campaign Of the Shenandoah; but
aneh vas his eonfdesce in GensrA Shera-
dan, that he preferred to leave everything
to his discretion, and to give him every
credit for the already assured success.
have besn dealing thus far partly in IN
written history, showing tho almost mn.
bounded confidence Of Lieutenant General
Grant, not only in the bravery, but in the
prudence and sagacity Of Major General
Sheridaa "a confidence that has been
steadily maintained. and 10 to-day stronger
than ever; and it may be sdded that the
distinguished recipients whole public and
| private record shove that 1t haa
not in any isseanee been Aisplaoed'
Two charaeteristic illustrations Of
hi prudence and ssgacity, quoted
| frsm the records o. the War Department
may be made room for here. At one time
| in tho Sbsnandoah campaign, when just
ready to attack - enemy, upon learning
from . scout of change in tho arrange
ment of Early's forces, General Sheridan
promptly ordered . postponement OF th'
contemplated movement, believing" u
he states in his report, 1.-The condition OF 1t
fairs throughout tho country required grsa'
prudence on my part, and that defeat o.
the forces under my command could be i'll
Afforded. In this view was coincidini
with the Lieutenant General commanding.
Another example is found in tho fact tha
though annoyed by guerilla bands al
through tho Shenandoah, General Sherida'
steadily refused to operate against then
during tho hest of the campaign. "believ
ing them," again quoting hts report, 20
substantial benefit in preventing struggling
keeping trains we'll closed mp, and saving
guard equal to two regiments Of cavalry.
Hero was . saving Of at least four reg
meuts A less discreet commander woul'
have detached two regiments to operat
axainss guerrillas and two moro to proven
strsxxilng and keep trains well closed up
and thereby suffered perhaps disastrou
defeat. General Sheridan did not, how
ever, lot the gusrrillas escspe richly merit
cd punishment altogether. After the regu
lar enemy in front had been vanquished
and when tho guerrillss on his tanks coul'
be utilized no longer, he turned and CAV
them the punishment they had 60 long an
richly deserved.
The history of the rebellion contains \
better examples Of really successful AM
prudent management, and it can be con
fidently stated, that If the settlement
the Mexican question is ultimately place
in the hands of Lieutenant General Sher
dan, there will not be any further trouble
D. d. c.