Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-06-27
"sHERIDAN's RIDE"
How He Appeared Alter Riding
that twenty Miles,"

A correspondent Of the Herald writes
as follows: ..r' .-I
AT this juncture, when the Army of
the Shenandoah was girding itself for
retaliation, and not, as some records
have it, when il was fleeing NorthWard
in dismay, General Philip II. Sheridan,
its beloved and invincible com mander,
reached the field at the end of his
famous ride. The writer OF this letter,
in company with an officer Of the
Sixth Corps staff, was sitting on his
horse at the time, just behind q battery
stationed on the left of the main turn
pike extending down the valley.
Across the turnpike, short distance
in front, the left flank of the army had
been partially reformed az described.
Both my companion and myself turn
ed to the sound Of single horses
hoofs clattering down the turnpike at
heading speed. Sheridan rode alone.
He had left one after another of his
staff behind 10 aid IN the work ia
which many gallant officers were en-
gagged, the harsh work of cursing, urg-
ing and shaming back to the front the
panic stricken or bewildered fugitives
who thronged the roads and woods to-
ward Winchester. A single aid (or It
might have been an orderly was seen
far away in the dusty perspective urg-
ing his tired charger after the General
down the pike.
The Generals black horse was stain
ed with dust and lather. Sunburut.
eager and filled with ire, .'Little PhiI'i
rode with spurs set deep and eyes that
rnn0fnhoh Of lf-k
happened to be the first person he ac~
'costed. Tightening his bride while /
galloped forward at his recognition he
shouted:
"Where il General Wright?''
l indicated the direction where / had
seen the latter General about half an
hour before, and, curious to witness
the effect of his sudden arrival (unex-
pected as it must certainly be to every
one on the field). followed Sheridan at
full speed. .--..--
Continuing down past the battery
and then sWerving to the left in front
of ii, he soon reached theline of battle,
such as it was. He could not ride far
without being recognized. Que after
another of the officers discovered him.
The words, "There's Sherldsn!" "''Here
comes the General, by-G-w "Hip!
bi! hurrah for little Phil" rang out
upon the air. With telephonic rapidity
the news spred from regiment To regi-
ment, brigade To brigade, division to
division, corps to corps. Hats went
up like cOnjurOrs' balls. The soldiers
sPitted their caps on their bayOnets and
waved them to and fro. Cheers broke
forth ahd swelled Generals and
colonels mounted and rode out to salute
the fiery little hero ON the black horse,
at whose coming every heart in the
ranks beat with the certitude of ap-
preaching triumph. Custer, on his
way TO complete the disposition of his
squadrOns, caught sight of his com
mander, and, il was said, spurred up
and kissed him at gailop. Lifting
and swinging his cap, Sheridan hailed
everybody with enthusiasm; but every
word he said meant business. Where
ever he got within hearing of the
troops he shouted, "Get ready for
fighting. We're going back to camp"
meaning the camp, on Cedar Creek,
from which the army had been driven
In the morning.