Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-26
SzEEIezDAN,S SADDLE.
An Historic Piece of Harness that
Phil's Daddy Didn't Want. Not
withdrawing II Carried Sh eridan In.
to the Fight from Winchester, Twenty
Miles Away.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
IF any body supposes the Sheridan family
much inflated over :Dashing Phil Sheridan's
great military successes they are very much
mistaken, assure you, said Captain Henry c.
Greiner. the great hawk-sealper from Perry
county, the other day.
Let me tell you little anecdote OF his brother
and father that will illustrate their Indifference
Sheridan. AS you know the Sheridan's are nv
neighbors down at Somerset. where Phil was
born. and have been my friends politically and
otherwise for many years
When | was making my first campaign for
Representative l was riding past John Sheri-
dams house one morning horseback. when
heard him come out and call me-
That's very poor saddle you have can
| TAIN" said he. land suppose you are going to
do good deal Of riding between now and the
election"
Yes, sir" replied, wondering a good deal
at his question.
well, there's better one out at the stable
you can have If you want it. Fathers out there
| now; go out and tell him to get it for YOU 1t is
the saddle Phil sent home with the black mare
| he rode at Cedar Creek
why. John. would like to have that saddle
mighty well, but l don't want to rob you OF
such valuable relic"
Oh that's all right said Pills Younger
and see Iather."
OF course lost no time in going to the
stable. found the old gentleman busy about
his chores.
Good morning. Mr.. Sheridan. John says
there's saddle out here | can have. It's the
one Phil had on his famous ride from Win
chester"
The old gentleman went into the barn. and
after some search brought out strong, we'll
made military saddle. with one of the holsters
I INtl, bad u tl,, b.,r
the stirrups missing. 1t was covered with dust
and looked as if it might not have been dis.
turbed for months. ThethOught struck me that
the missing holster had been carried off by some
strOlling relic hunters, so l asked:
MIR Sheridan, where's the other stirrup and
that holster!'
'Oh the stirrup 6 about somewhere! The
strap got broke and never had it sewed on.
cut the holster off myself to make holder fol
my curry combs. Come in here and will show
it to you"
We went into the stable. and there, sure
enough. tackled securely against the weather
boarding, was the missing part. queer use
however convenient, for relic like that-fOr
one OF the holsters that had carried the gallant
cavalry officers pist OILS on his dashing ride into
the decisive battle of Cedar Creek. The old
man had cut the end of the holster off, nailed it
firmly against the side Of the stable where it
, answered the purpose he intended it for quite
admirably 1t was lost past redemption. though
| did not, indeed, care to disturb it.
The whole circumstance was such great sur.
prise to me that though was anxious enough
to get possession of the saddle could not i'm
aginc how any one, much less the hero's father,
would willingly part with such relic. This
was evidently his intention, so 1 said TO him:
Look here, Mr.. Sheridan don't see how
you can give this saddle up. 1t seems to me
that if one of my boys had played such great
part in the war. and had made such famous
ride on this saddle as Phil did no money. would
buy it of me-
well, captain I'll tell you how that is" sail
| the old gentleman, quickly and proudly enough
81 did feel mighty proud and glad when heard
that my Phil was doing his duty SO nobly. But
never cared about his promotions, nor about
any OF the fine stories or that poem about
his ride 1t would have hurt me terribly to
have known that my boy had sku.ked or played
the coward, or stunned any duty, but it never
mattered to me whether people lioniZed him or
not AS for his old hats and clothes and swords
and that old saddle, don't care anything about
| them. The black mare was good animal as
long as She lasted; but if you want her old sad
die. why just take it along. You're welcome to
it,
This is the way" concluded Capt Greiner,
THAT l came into possession Of Gen. Sheridan's
saddle, and is the accident that led to its event
ually getting into the flag and relic room in the
state house. Perhaps 1t isn't here now, tor l
saw 1t again this summer over at the G. A Il.
reunion at GAINESVILLE. But | shoudered the old
saddle and marched Off. l couldn't help but
think that. after all, the old man was right.
The only concern any soldiers friends ever
ought to have is as to whether he is doing his
whole duty. The tinSel and fame amount to
nothing"