Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-26
GEN. SHERIDAN.
A Record to Compare with That Of
Wellington or Butcher.
A Soldier Of More Experience Than
Any Commander OF the Old
yVOrld---Time's Perfect
TindicatIon.
F'tGathn in Cincinnati Enquirer. !

Gen. Grant attributes TO Sheridan the two
great pieces OF advice he finally accepted
hrst, to let him make an offensive war against
Early in the valley; and second, to let him
pursue Lee with all the violence OF war on
his retreat from Petersburg. Sheridan, by
his lnlpassioned nature intuition and pos
tive grasp of the great possibilities Of war.
thus managed in the very close of events to
mlngie on such e vast scale into the terInina-
ton OF the rebellion that he pushed his name
and character up beside the old veterans OF
the conflict. He was like a race horse who
has oftsl won match for q short distance,
and suddenly astonishes the world by enter
ing at the last moment for the long race and
coming IN first at the pole. The lesson he
teaches to soldiers is that while there is war
there is still great chance left.
No man could have carried cut the policy
of Sheridan who did not possess great bold
ness of mind, intelligence in council and force
OF will over more experienced and cautious
men. His record bears comparison with thatof
Wellington or Blucher in the long cam
paigns with Napoleon. Neither of those men
figured very prominently in the earlier and
greater stages OF the continental wars. Well
ington made his principal impression in the
Spanish peninsula, remote from the great
theatre of war, as Sheridan made his in the
valley of Virginia, where he seemed to be a
mere commander of observation-like dozen
ruined men who had preceded him. But he
reasoned that perhaps the key of the position
was right where he stood-just as the spot
from which Europe was revived against Ma
poleon was in the far-off Iberian peninsula.
The success of Sheridan in the valley reused
the army of the Potomac and the army of
the southwest to emulation. They saw the
genius which could conceive and execute
from distant spot the great whirling move
ments. strategical rather than tactical. Thus
the little man from the valley brought his
army down to Grant, almost in contradiction
OF orders, before Sherman had made his con-
nection with Grants army. The battle Of
Sheridan in pursuit of Lee was the last in the
war of any consequence, and closed it with
perfect blaze of fireworks. Fierce, aggres-
sive warfare Of that kind had not previously
been seen by the rebel army in Virginia.
Late in the war, when Sheridan had extir-
pated Early, he was made brigadier general
IN tie regular army, thereby insuring him
against going back to his mere captaincy. 1t
was after he became brigadier general that
he conceived and executed the remarkable
deeds which got him his lieutenant generalcy
Gen. Sheridan has to-day more experience
in battle probably than any military CON-
mander in Europe. The only cases anal
agous to his are those of the Prussian corps
commanders who were engaged in two very
brief wars-one in 1866. called the seven
weeks war, and another five years later,
which occupied for the whole term of its
transaction not fifth of the time Sheridan
was in battle. Another case is that Of Sir
Garnet Wolseley, who has conducted two
raids very much of the character Of Sheri-
dams marches around Lee, into Abyssinia
and Dahomey.
Whatever may be the result of the pend
ing elections in the United States, the men
who did their duty by the flag of their Union
have all reaped the substantial rewards
of their fidelity. Grant has sur
vived most of his great military
opponents in the south, and is on
excellent terms with the remnant He has
had two terms of the presidency like Wash
ington. His private affairs in the metropolis
of the Union are believed to be in respectable
condition, and he is as useful man in for
warding matters of civilization on this con-
tinent as Gen. Washington was after he laid
the presidency down. Sherman has lived to
see general vindication, not only of his
genius but of his plain common sense. It is
pleasant near the close OF life to learn from
all the fools that one is not fool Thomas
passed to his account, and lies buried Oh the
banks of the Hudson; but his statue in ever
lasting brass rises near to the shores Of his
native Vrginia-in action, as he stool On
the rock of Chicamauga and saved the REM
nant of the western army.
Schofeld, who was by Lyon when he died,
is one of the major generals in the army.
Hancock, one Of the most beautiful spirits at
Gettysburg, commands with respect and
affection the great metropolis Of the country,
and has nearly been president of the United
States General Pope-who was called into
great prominence by the personal confidence
of Abraham Lincoln, and became the victim
of maneuvres to defend the capital and ex-
tricate McClellan's army-is also one of the
major generals in the service, and probably
has his years yet to live to let men under
stand him better. The young Mcpherson,
who never lived to civil employment, stands
among the shade-rees OF Washington, one of
the great figures of that stormy time in
which his life was sacrificed.
All in all, time has worked its perfect
vindication. No shade of bitterness should
prevail in any portion of this country that
the reversal of the vessel has brought to the
top some who were at the bottom, but who
played their part on the new surface Of
things with that force of character which is
the greatest of the riches Of cur republic.
The Applause Of One-Armed Hen.