The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-08
ing: Be ready as soon as my forces Join you,
and we will crush Sheridan"

| ing: Be ready as soon as my forces join you,
and we will crush Sheridan"
| Sheridan at first thought it was only ruse,
| but upon further reflection decided to send
back the cavalry to Wright, telling him he
would return as soon as he could from Wash
| ington, and if in the meantime the rebels
should attack him he could whip them. The
commander then came on to the capital, did
| his business quickly, and started back to his
| army, reaching Winchester late on the night
of October Is, where he slept Early in the
morning he was awakened by the sound of
| cannonading from the direction of Cedar Creek,
where the army lay, but did not at first think
| seriously of it, because q reconnaissance had
been ordered for that day. He rose, however,
| and was soon in the saddle. BY this time the
| firing grew heavier and he hurried forward,
| accompanied by few STAFF officers. When out
six or seven miles he met the advance guard OF
| the fugitives, who told an appalling tale of the
utter surprise and defeat of the Union troops.
He at once sent back his aids to order Edwards,
| who was in command at Winchester, TO stretch
out his brigade across the roads to stop the
| stragglers Then began the ride in earnest till
the field was reached. Sheridan, hat in hand,
rode along the lines shouting to the men:
| This would not have happened If had been
| here! Turn backi We are going to our old
camp-ground tonight! We are not whipped!
| Wen give them hell of a whipping yeti"
AN APPARITIoN.
| 1t seems that many of the soldiers had not
1 known he was away, but they knew it now.
| His black horse was white with foam and the
| rider was dust-coyered from head to foot To
those bewiIdered and beaten troops his appear
ance was Ike sword offre to strengthen them
and confuse their enemies. They were in
! fused with enthusiasm at the courage and con-
! fidence of their returned leader. They firmly
| believed that they could not be whipped under
the guidance Of such a commander. The
| belts with ammunition. They took their
! places in line once more, and again, REINFORCED
| by but single man, that army was inyincible.
The pages Of history are mute when prece
dent for such an event is sought In the
morning tWo-thirds of an army routed and dis
| organized. In the evening its victorious enemy
| of few hours before beaten and defeated with
| disaster by the assistance of but one other man.
| 1t reads ike romance but the truth of it
! is well vouched for. One has only to read the
account Of the battle Of Cedar Creek IN THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of September 18th, and
| the accompanying letters from participants in
that engagement to see how the arrival Of
! Sheridan upon the field wrung victory from
| the very jaws of defeat.
Having received the thanks of Congress and
disappointment as major general in the Regular
army for this achievement he reioined Grant be-
fore Richmond. He commanded at Five Forks
| and would have closed the war on the spot prac-
| tically had not the miscarriage of Warren
| allowed the Confederate army to escape. As
| it was, this decisive cattle necessitated the
abandonment of Petersburg by Lee, and Sheri-
dan followed in hot pursuit TO Sailors Creek,
| where 6,000 CoRfederates were captured. He
confronted Lees retreating army at Appomat-
tox, and on the 9th of April, 1865 was about
/ TO attack, when a white flag in his front
caused him to desist, and was followed by the
| surrender Of the bnlwark of the rebellion to
the victorious Union arms
SINCE THE WAR.
May II, 1855, he was placed in command of the
military division of the Southwest, and of that
Of the Gulf June 81; of the department of the
the Gulf August 6, 1866, and of the fifth mill
tary district, composed of Louisiana and Texas,
March II, 1867. He was transferred to the de-
partment of the Missouri September H. 1867,
| where he remained till March 81, 1869, when,
| being made acknowledgement, to rank from
| March t. 1868, he was given command of the
military division Of Missouri, with headquar-
tiers at Chicago.
He did efficient service in preserving order
after the great confagratien at Chicago in 1871.
In 1873 he was sent to New Orleans during
/ the political disturbances, where he restored
! order, and again returned to Chicago. He re-
manned there till he bid alden to the city,
where he had resided SO long to come to Wash
| iHgton last week.
About nine years ago he married daugh-
ter of General Rucker, of the army Mrs
Sheridan is considerably the junior of the Gan-
eral and IS now in thel full bloom of young
womanhood She IS lady of conspicuous
beauty, OF medium height, pearly complexion,
! eyes that look alternately blue and black, with
wonderful yivacity, and is in every way destined
to be one of the leading ladies of the capital
/ General Sheridan is less interested in his
battles now than in his children, and the old
campaigner would rather be asked about his boy
than about the brightest gem in his crown Of
military honors. He has four children, the eldest
girl, nearly eight years old, then the famous
twins Irene and Louise little fairies, of six, and
Phillip Henry Jr, of three and half.
The Generals Chicago friends emphasized
their admiration for him by purchasing a resi-
dence here and having the deed made out in
his name. 1t was built by Judge Adds, Of the
French-American Claims Commission, who sold
it to the Generals friends for $4,000. 1t is a
three-story brick on Rhode Island avenue,
more calculated for comfort than elegance, and
here General Sheridan is TO take possession In
few days, the people of Washington hope, to
never again change his base nor be disturbed by
an enemy.