National Republican., 1883-11-02
THE BATON OF OUR ARMIES
Quietly Passed from the Hand Of Gen. Sherman
to That of Gen. Sheridan.
The Old and New Commanders Greeted by
the Resident Officers.

Col Mike Sheridan says he will not write
book. He made the statement in the gem
erals room at the war department yesterday,
shortly after noon, while Gen. Sherman aud
Gen. Sheridan were holding reception, and
some fifty generals, commodores, colonels,
majors, captains, lieutenants and heads of
war department bureaus were present. Gen.
Sheridan had been with Gen. Sherman all the
morning, receiving information concerning
the affairs of the Office At 1880 o'clock
the officers began to arrive and as
sembed III tne aids room, adj Join
ing the generals. All the officers of
tho army stationed hero several navy officers,
the aids of the two generals, and tho heads of
bureaus of the war department woro present.
all were in ordinary dress, except the officers
pf the I'd artillery, who appeared in full uni
Nrm. The reception Of a general order in
)be morning had led them to believe that
uniform was expected When the aids room
began to be uncomfortably crowded O few
generals went through the communicative
door into the generals room, u few more soon
followed and presently line was formed and
maintained until everybody had shaken hands
with the old and new occupants of the
room. The two generals stood together in
one corner of tho room, Gen. Sherman tall
enough to bend over most of the men he
greeted, his face constantly breaking out in
boyish laugh talking all the time; Gen.
Sheridan, very silent, grave-faced, and much
the shortest man in the room. The visitors
came first to Gen. Sherman, who, to good
many Of them said: my dear fellow, am
very glad to see you" or some equally cor
dial expression as he took the visitors hand,
sometimes in both OF his. Everybody re-
ceived hearty welcome and the generals
face bore an expression of genuine pleasure.
AS he finished his little talk with each one
he carried the visitors hand to the right
and q little downward in the direction
of Gen. Sheridan, to whom he introduced
those who were not already acquainted. Gen.
Sherman evidently tried to know everybody,
but occasionally some lieutenant had TO give
his name. Gen. Sheridan was very dignfed
and sober, and talked very little. He looked
as if he rather wished himself twenty miles
away Gen. Sherman talked all the time.
After the reception Gen. Sherman put on his
old soft hat and Gen, Sheridan his tall silk
one, the top of which reached nearly to Gen.
Shermans shoulder and the two marched up
stairs after Secretary Lincoln, with whom
they went to call upon the President The
two great generals made an odd looking pair
rs they climbed the stairs.
Among those who came to visit the general
were Col. Rockwell, Maj, Lydecker, Capt.
Greene, Gen. Rochester, Gen. Ayres Gen,
Slckett, Gen. Hollabrd, Gen. Benet, Capt.
Wittimore, Gen. Casey, Gen. Swain. Mai.
Roach, Gen. Macfeeley, Gen. McKibben, Col.
Chandler, DIR. Baxter, DIR. Billings, Col. Batch
eler, Gen. Carlin, Capt. Rider, Capt Glenn,
Lieut.. Powell, Gen. Hazen, Lieut. Darlington,
Col Benjamin, Capt. Mills, Gen, McDougall,
Gen. Card, Lieut.. McDermott Capt. Ramsay,
Gen. Drum, Capt. Walker, Surgeon General
Wales, Paymaster Smith, and Commodore
Wilson.
The transfer of the command was made at
noon yesterday by the two orders following
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, Nov.
!, 1sS3-GeHeid orders, No. n: By and with lbe
consent OF. the Pr. sident, as contained In general
orders No H. of Oct lG, 1888, the undersigned re-
linquisheR command of The army of the UBited
States. In thus severing the relations which have
hitherto existed between US he thanks all officers
and men, for their fidelity 10 the high trust Inn
posed on them during his official life, and will in
his retirement, watch Wllh parental solicitnde
their progress upward In the noble profession To
which they have devoted their lives
w. T. SHERMAN, General,
HEADQUARTERS oFTHE ARMY, WASHINGTON, Nov.