Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-28
Lieutenant. General Sheridan.

"'S' Sohoiai, uuuet lHo law OF retl re
ment for age, the army is fortunate il
being able to call to its head SO distin
gulshed successor as ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Phillip II Sheridan.
AS this officer, in the prime of manhood
now reaches the highest prize open to the
soldiers profession in America, back
ward glance will naturally be cast upol
his career with II view to anticipate hi.
probable conduct in his new position. l.
that dashng soldership, it has beer
asked, which gave Sheridan his laurels
compatible with the cautious, wise stabil
lty, needed at the head of the armyP |
might be briefly answered that the impet
Mostly of youth not infrequently become,
steadlnc's in the veteran of fifty; but tn,
true response is that Sheridan was neve
mere beau Sabreur. The quality which
made him popular hero was fiery energ,
on the field; the qualities which have
brought him to his present exalted place
are staunchness, acumen, and great pru
dence, combined with whatever uualtie!
are necessary for general officer. Thi
his history will show.
In the first stages of the civil wal
Captain Sheridan was Curtiss quarter
master, somewhere out in Missouri, ant
one muses. what his subsequent career
might have been save for q lucky disa
greement that left him idle, and free tc
become the colonel of the Second Michigan
Cavalry. As colonel. his conduct during
El.lotts raid upon Bonneville, in May
1862, led TO bis command of the bri sado
and a month later his fight at the SAINT
point elected this econium from Rose
Grams: The GOODNESS, determination, anc
fearless gallantry displayed by Colone
sheridan, and the officers and men OF hi.
command. in this action deserve the
thanks and admiration of the army" A
Perryville, the ensuing October he dis
linguished himself for good judgment anC
wariness. But it was in the subsequent
fierce three days engagement among the
cedar brakes of Stone river, which saw
the old year out and the new year in
hat Sheridan first clearly exhibited his
tactical skill in the stress of battle and his
'plendid steadfastness. "For hours" says
one historian, che held the confcderates al
oay-hours precious, priceless, wrenched
rom fate and an exultant foe by the
skill and courage of this officer, anC
bought by the blood of his valiant men
All to his right had gone like seaweed.
or" by waves from jutting crags; bu
he swelling surges dashed in vain az ,ins
ne rocklIke exlstance of this division
de had lost Sui in the first onset; he
mad lost Roberts, soon afterward Shaeffel
all his brigade commanders killed. lie
nad lost 1896 men; and with the cost Of
heir heroic blood had won three hours
which Rosencrans had been using to the
pest advantage. Here is all that is left,
aid he, sadly. as he joined his chief y
At Chlckamauga Sheridan offered Il like
stubborn front to the enemy's fury
here fell another brigade cuiumander
he lamented Lytle In the ever momora
'ie storming Of Missionary Rldge-tha,
rmous battle in which the soldiers of the
'rmy of the Cumberland forced their way
the loot of the ridge by the orders OIL
he general commanding, and then swept
'Ver It's summit 'bv their own'-it was
The centre OF Sheridan's DIVISION" Gener
q Clsl tells Us that preached The top first
S Ihey were nearest the crest instant V
'conded by the whole line, breaking
Inost simultaneously all over the hcIghts
>ach was The climax of Sheridan career
the west.
Haleck, who is entitled to the credit OF
Iavlng mmended Captain Sheridan,
men at his headquarters, to the governor
II Michigan, when that magistrate APP
died TO him for IN officer to command /,
avalry regiment, now rendered another
ood service. For when General G ant,
flaming his Virginia campaign of 1864
poke Of hts anxiety to find Il suitable
read Tor The cavalry corps of the army OF
ne Potomac, why not take Saeridan?'
'uggested Haleck; and Grant answered,
The very mani The result of this
'holce made known from step to step
throughout the campaign from the Rapl
Ian to AppomattoX, is familiar history.
The combination of good s0diersbip
nd good fortune found IN nearly all great
military successes is visible in Sheridan ;
Virginia campaigns. Had not his troops
tontided in his skill, they could have
'ately trusted 10 his star; but they believed
both. OF his cavalry operations with
he Army of the Potomac, and his conduct
If the campaign in the valley Of the
Shenandoah, distinguishing trait was
ne extreme precau ions he invariably
took to insure victory before Willingly
an operation. Few, if any,
union generals ever fought less ut hap
hazard, or with more careful preliminary
'tudy, or accomplished greater results
with less loss. Even when b filed by the
nemy he had the art OF putting Il bold
face on the situation, and of pelsuading
others that on the whole, the outcome h III
iaFN,
writes a former staff officer, disaster is
iIsheartening, but it passes by General
Sheridan as an eddy glldes round pier
Doubtless it is true of Sheridan. AS of
very other Union leader in the Virginia
campaigns, that were he to conduct them
again, with the light of present knowl
edge, he would here and there pursue a
different course; but it cannot be asserted
hat he has any mannuvers of rashness to
regret, or that any conceivable change of
method or fortune would have added 10
MS present renoWn as Il popular hero.
There is ground for believing that the
career OF Sheridan has not yet reached its
1llmax. Meanwhile there cannot fail TO
De widespread satisfaction in seeing at the
head of the army one who rendered the
country services SO brilliant in its DAYS of
need, and perhaps also a certaln feeling of
in the propitious Influences mat
nave hitherto attended his puollc career
md crowned it with SUGGEST George Z.
Pond IN Harper'S Weekly.
The death is announced uf Albert +.
5ellows, the we'll known artist. MIR