Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-11-22

General Sheridan has taken possession OF
the office of commander-in chief OF
writes Washington correspondent.
of the Cleveland Leader. l found
him the other morning in the seat
so lately occupied by bluff Tecunseh Sher-
man. It is one of the best rooms in the
War Department building. 1t looks ou,
upon Pennsylvania avenue, just across
from Corcoran's art gallery. and from it,
east windows you have good view OF the
White House grounds, The room is large
and it is hung wit. oil paintings Of western
views. the taste Of Sherman, who liked
nothing better than life on the plains. The
General sits at desk in the east end OF
the room, and Sheridan was sitting there
as entered. He rose to meet me. and
paid my respects.
Sheridan looks much more like SOL
der than Sherman. He is very erect
though short and fat, and bis air is mar
tial and commanding. He dresses better
than Sherman, and looks as though he
took more care of his personal appearance
He has a large face. a broad. fail fore
head and fat cheeks OF dark red. He
wears no beard, but his moustache, gray
and well trimmed, is decidedly handsome.
He is By no means a bad looking man,
this new head OF the army. He has brave
look. and though his face bears many a
wrinkle, as though much care had de-
voIved upon him, it is a very pleasant one.
His eyes form his chief characteristic
They are gray, small. and sharp as a nee
die. They seem to look right at you. and
they always look right at you when he is
talking. They show you that they have
Il soul behind them. and if their own
er is angry they can, as the blood
andthunder novel says. glare with
look OF balefnl haze. General
Sheridan has short, stiff gray hair smooth
ly combed. broad shoulders, and short
heavy legs. He would, think, look big
ger on horseback than on foot, and doubt
not that as a cavalry commander he pre-
sented a very striking appearance.
Both Sheridan and Sherman are good
examples of self-made men. Sheridan is
especially so. His father was, YOU know,
Catholic Irishman in Perry county, O..
and Phil learned to work as soon as he
learned TO eat potatoes. His father, am
told, worked on the road, and young
Sheridan used to drive a sprinkling cart
through the streets of the little town of
Somerset when he was hardly old enough
to hold the lines. As he got older he did
odd chores about the neighbour 1od. and
when he arrived at the age of II he be-
came a clerk in John 1albot's store. 1t
was like the usual country store of those
days-everything was sold and dry goods.
groceries and hardware were dealt out
over the same counter. While working
here little Phil got to know the member of
Congress from the district, and he, liking
the bov. procured an appointment for him
at West Point. At West Point Sheridan
from all accounts, was pretty wild boy
He was a good enough scholar, and he
studied hard enough, but he got into so
many fights. and was so full of deviltry
generally. that it took him five wears in
stead of four to get through. Among his
classmates were General Mcpherson and
General John NJ. Schofeld, as well as
Sill and TerriIl. and Hood of the Con-
lederate army. Sheridan was % years
old when he graduated. His first service
was in Texas and Oregon, where he stayed
two years. He next went among the troops
guarding the Indians, and served here un-
til the opening of the Rebellion, at which
time he was holding the rank of Captain
When the war broke out he was appoint
ed Colonel, and at Stone River rose to the
rank of Major General.
At the battle of Chattanooga, his splen-
did charge attracted the attention of Grant,
and the result was that he made him com
mander OF the cavalry corps of the army
Of the Potomac. Grant never made bet
ter choice. and this stroke is still consid-
cred one of his best
A story is told OF the battle at Stone
river which illustrates the devl-may-care
cavalry of Sheridan. He and General
Wood each commanded a column, and
each strove to see if he could reach the
summit of the mountain before the other
Sheridan rode in front of his ranks under
the fire OF shot and shell, encouraging his
men and swearing at the enemy like
tiend incarnate bearing charmed life.
Twenty rebel batteries were turned upon
his troops, but he scorned the danger. At
one time he took canteen of whiskey
from his aid. and filling a cup, he raised
ii in the air and yelled. as he held it out
towards Bragg's headquarters "How are
you, Mr.. Bragg"
just then aS he was moving it to his
lips, rifle ball struck it, and took whis-
key and all away.
That's id ungenerous." he said,
and, unmoved rushed on to battle. His
horse was killed. He jumped from the
dying steed and led the rest of the charge
on foot. He was the first man on the top
of the mountain, and he jumped on one
of the guns which his soldiers had cap
tured. and shouted for Joy and swore at
the enemy in turn.
All the world knows of the famous
charge at Winchester. and the story of
his ride there has become a household
song. Il was so in every one OF Sheridan's s
battles. he was always at the front; he
could not stay at the rear and direct as
other generals did. he must be
in the thickest of the fight At the battle
OF Winchester, it is said. he tried to do
as Grant did. and stood for time at one
side. but as the battle became serious, he
exclaimed: by God. can't stand this ~
and rushed into the melee.
"Old Winchester" the horse which
Sheridan rode on this occasion, died only
a few years ago. He was a wonderful an
imal. and Sheridan says he went through
from So to 90 engagements on him. He
was HIT" he says. "but not killed, at the
battle of Chickamauga. A shot passed
under his belly hefween his leps and he