The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03
SHERMAN AND SHERIDAN.
The Simple and Informal Manner of Trans
ferring the Command.

The Simple and Informal Manner of Trans
ferring the Command.
Washington Special.
The General of the army retired from all
active service, and was succeeded by the
equally distinguished Lieutenan.-general, with
no more Of public exhibition than would have
occurred had one travelling salesman superseded
another, and with far less than one private
soldier relieves another guard duty. Gen.
Sheridan and his staff went to the War Depart
ment between 10 and IL o'clock to-day, the
General going to Sherman's handsome office
and the staff to the rooms occupied by that Gen
erals staff. For the next hour and half the
ceremonies were substantially of the character
that might be Witnessed amid humber sur
roundings in the grocery of country village of
an evening-that is, all the eminent gentlemen
were occupied in lively exchange of annec-
dotes and comment. Between the Generals
there was something more important than this,
as Gen. Sherman explained pending business
to his successor TO some extent, but the
conversation was mainly of purely social char
acter. There was none of the pomp and circum-
stance OF glorious war. Nobody had a upiform
General Sherman wore a very short-not
too-wel-fi -fitting-sack-coat, into the inside pock-
cts OF which he thrust his hands when he stood
up. His slOuch hat hung near him on its hook
Gen. Sheridan wore close-fttinG cut-away bust
coat, and his silk hat reposed table at his
side. With their cigars in their mouths, and Oc-
casIonaly their chairs tilted back, the Two war
riors laughed and ehatted for an hour or more
The change was to occur at nOOn A few min
utes after IL Adjutant-general Drum, in a close
fitting short sack-coat and trousers to match,
entered the room with two sheets of paper and
laid them on the desk in front of General Sher-
man. The General wrote his name ON one and
left his chair at the desk The sheet OF paper
bore his general order taking his leave of the
army, ana having signed it, he gave up the seat
at the desk to Gen. Sheridan, who sat down and
signed the other sheet, which bore the announce
ment OF his assumption of the command. The
two Generals changed their positions often after
this, but General Sherman did not again take
the agm-chalc at the desk. That chair appar-
emily constituted the headquarters of the army,
and he had permanently retired from it. The
ceremony over. The change in command
ers had been effected. In the next room the two
stats continued their "reminiscences and gossip.
One or two friends of the Generals dropped IN to
pay their respects, but they were left to them
selves most of the time till 1890, when, by ap-
pOintment, all the officers of the War Depart
ment, army officers on duty here, and the bu-
reau officers of the Navy Department arrived at
the Generals office, and, forming a line, were
presented TO the Lieutenant-generalb by the Gen
eral The only officers in uniform were those of
the Second artillery, stationed here, who had
come to .he city to attend the funeral of Lieut..
Cobb of their regiment. After the reception
was concluded, Generals Sherman and Sheridan
called on Secretary Lincoln, and then, accompa
MED by the Secretary, they went to the White
House and called on the President.