The New York herald., 1878-08-15
WESTERN PRESIDENTIAL SPECuLATIoNS.
The Condition OF Affairs South NAV
Decide the Issue.

Tue wrher OF tho article In question evidently un-
derstands tho art OF damning with faint prase but
It will require many and much moro forcble articles
to convince the people OF this country that the gen.
era who, In the Valley (Which had previously been "a
Valley OF the Shadow OF Dsath to the reputation Of
every Union commanderl won his chief success, who
won tho battle OF Five Forks. and who headed oil
Lee at Appomattox, wanting In the qualities Of
great general" The first Napoleon is credited with
the saying that "Nothing succeeds like success"
but OF late years there has grown up class
OF military detractors (wnose talent unfortunately
did not display itself when tner services wore really
needed) whose only ambition Is to pluck away we'll
earned lsurels from tho brows OF able commanders,
and who, the iacts do confirm their conclusions
say, with celebrated Irish orator, $50 much the
worse for the facts" Apart from the innucndoes and
nsinuatons OF tho article in question. the charges
such they can be called are gwen below, and will
repeat and answer them seratim.
The first charge is tnat the battle OF Opequan.
commonly called 'rhe battle OF Winchester" was
sforccd" on Sheridan by Early and would have been
won ny any other general Banks or Butler excepted.
II Early did iorce this light i s strange that Sner
idan took the initiative, that prevent his get
ting In Early rear and forcing the latter 10 fight
with his back 10 the north Early was obliged
10 'double quick" large portion OF his
command considerable distance. Early certainly
handled his troops admirably In the feid and SO ably
that doubt the assertion tnat 'any other general'
would have beaten him, but think 1t will bo
The second charge Is that Sheridan's absence
She morning OF tho battle OF Cedar Creek scan-
the facts warrant It's user Does The writer OF this
article know that Sheridau's ausence was due to his
having ooen called 70 Washington tor conference
with Secretary stanton? II lie does know his
duct IN making an absolutely ialae statement is
''scandaiousiy insxcusabls II he does not know ~
his stupendous gnoranoe 10 also andaiOusy mex
cusa0le." The writer procssds:-"lt Is tlmc tho
truth was told In relation to the battle OF Cedar
Crcek" lfthero has been any truth suppress sed or
untold IN relation TO that battle II not reflect
General Sheridan, but some OF his suoord,nates,
presumably freads OF this writer, anu he aud they
can rest assured that II necessary this OLD
truth will be spoken III not by General Sheridan,
VINO 80 ma ousy declined to reflect on brother
oticcrs by Others who that action, and who.
Knowing the TRUTH Will not hesitate speak It, Ay,
and prove II TO the confusion OF the ghouls who stab
ana tear IN the dark IT great and we'll won military
reputation.
was that battle from dawn until darkness
ended the pursuit WAS personally and officially
co.tact win both the army and corps commanders,
and know whereof speak when assert that The
winning OF that field, SO disastrOusy lost IN the
Ing, was due, aud Que absolutely, 70 General sher-
dan's presence, and that before arrival the army
Initiative but large porson Of + was then 90
ting, and that IN the minds OF most all the lead
ing generals there was then no thought but how 10
truth let some person assert tho contrary his
own signature and any specific charges he may make
The article concludes with an insnuation about the
battc OF Five Forks, but life Is 70 meet in
sinuatons they are pr0vcrbaly the weapon OF those
who cannot or will not make open charges and stand
by them but when tho verdict Of history Is given Ii
will undoubtedly be that SHERIDAN on that occasion
showed that he cou'd meet ueacbcry.
or ipcompetency ia hts own army and II as
quickly and dec,sively as be could Tho opop, and
therefore honorable, opposition OF Confederate com
manders.
The limits OF this hastily written communication
do not permit any cuogy OF General Sheridan, even
my aDiliiy in that direction equal my good
WILL but venture the prcdction thar long after Sner
dans dctractors have rct1rnod 10 the obscury from
which they sprung his name aud lame will DO
Ainericuns whether OF Northern or Southern birth;
fought with and tho brave and generous among those
vino fought against him VIII recall with admiration
wariness OF Lee. Meade and Hampton the dash and
6lan OF Stonewali Jackson ana J. Il. b. Stuart.
The sooner the whole tribe OF military detractors
loarn that they cannot obscure well won mihtary
regulations by saying that otbers could have done
MS woli or better II they had the opportunity" the
better it viii DO Tor them. The Americans are not
visionary scnemers but hard headed, practical people,
who think much more OF one battlo won 10 Than
oi u dozen won In posse ana who 10 oil assertions
mandcd " respoud, I'VE believe In the who does,
not ~ the man who thinks nc cam" and agree with
sir, yours faithfully,
late Brevet Lieutenant Colonel United States voun-
teers aud Acting Aide.dc-Camp to General Sheridan.
LITTLE By LITTLE THE Truth ABOUT LooK-
QUE MOUNTAIN IS ToLD-A seine AT A
COUNCIL OF WAR on THE EVE OF BATTLE.
TO THR EDITOR CLEVELAND HKRALp:-
When General Grant said he Is quoted, that there
was no battle above the clouds, he stated plain
truth. The expression originated with Quartermas.
Ter General Meigs, In a letter to Washington. Cen
sra Grant and General ooker mon 90 thoroughly
unlike that they arc not personally fond OF each
other. was not present at the engagement, but
went over the whole neid soon alter. UntiI
then had not given General Grant credit ior military
genius In planning battles SO much ior relentless
courage IN nshiing them. Any one who will examine
the rebel positions around Chatauo oosa would now
gard their assault from below act Of rashDess-
TO give the reasons would occupy OF your
space 1t enough say the plan tho attack wus
great ono; the best OF which the circumstances
allowed, allowed, and nd was VAS, carried rs out W the risnt'
Il succeeded on every par. OF the iioe beyond
them new regulations 1t was reported at Chatta-
nooga that wnon the council OF war broke up, be-
vious W the attack anu Ihe generals had received
their ORDERS Hooker who was not expected to carry
while sherman carried The io At The end of Mission.
Ridge, inquired OF the Commander Chief II it
would interfere win MS plans IN case Lookout was
captured who replied that wouid not. such
stroke, however, appeared impossible 10 every one.
Aooker's plan and lts execution was his own.
Hooker managed to communicate through tho rail-
road cut and over tho Chattanooga Creek with the
right vi Thomas line thai hts aInmus,tion was run
ming low. The rsDes on tho summit OF Lookout
could deprcss their guns 70 do any narm to the
bushwnnckers, VINO were stoadiiy moving ou When
Hazcn's braaae went u was loaded Win notnip ~ but
cartridges and when joined nands with Hooker the
Coniederutes on and about Lookout were longer
dangerous. But one course was leis open TO them,
that was retreat to Missionary Ridge. The
painting represents the scene when Geary attacked
tho rebel camp IN 0snk on the south toward noon,
and Hooker formed his command attack
thor position IRON the west by crossing tho
creek. happy moment wis selected by tho
painter TO show army ready Tor the fight, and the
execution is eiIke we'll AS grand. All tpis was hid
dea from the forts and camps At Chattanooga The
contest continued among tue rocks, where mother
mounted men nor sr,ilIery could advance, with
steady advance our part around The point OF the
mountain all the afternoon. IL was battle. and
eessiui one. but very little OF II above tho clouds
Aftcr tho reht wing crossed Cnco Greek got down
10 ts work all tho panopiy OF ceased IL was the
personal work of The officers anu soldiers foot--no
mere gorgeous display or mannuvres. IL was simply
the advance OF a cloud OF infantry, every one Of
CLEVELAND, August IL, 1878
CAVALRY OFFICER VINO DID NOT SEE UTICA