The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-22

NO. XII.
Grant and Sheridan.


tim was to be Sheridan. Stanton was suspended
on the 18th OF August. and on tho 18th Grant re.
ceived the Presidents commands for the removal
of Sheridan. He at once protested against the
execution of the order. He was INDEED pro-
foundly moved, and even exasperated; for his re-
gard for Sheridan had now become personal
Sheridan had almost grown up as a general
under Grants own eye, until finally the chief
declared the subordinate tina peer Of any
soldier of any time Often hare listened
TO Grants encomiums of the Soldier Of the Val
ley more than once have witnessed manifesto
tions of regard on both sides as touching as they
were honorable TO him who gave and him who
received The history of their relations is like
a story from Homer. 1t wasEthe friendship Of
chieftains. the love of strong men who had stood
side by side in war and had watched each others
deeds.
Soon after Shiloh Sheridan joined the army in
Tennessee and so distinguished himself that
Grant at once perceived his military quality.
In September, 1862, Grant was ordered to send
portion Of. his command to reinforce
Rosecrans He was at the landing
himself when the troops embarked
and noticed Sheridan among them at the head Of
his brigade. "You here. Sheridanl" he ex.
claimed; ~ did not mean that you should leave
me-" for be was unwilling to lose man Of
whose stuff he was so sure. But Sheridan
thought that to go to Rosecrans at that time
was to 60 where there would be most fighting.
and he showed no desire to remain. Grant was
nettled at this. and allowed his subordinate to
depart. little dreaming, either of them how inn
~ - - o4H,a
and distant theaters. Grant told me this story
years ago to add to sketch OF Sheridan was
writing for the Century Magazine
Soon, however, the chief followed the sub
altern to the same field and again at Chatta-
nooga the fiery spirit and genius Of Sheridan
commended themselves to his superior. Grant
always spoke in glowing language of Sheridan's
charge at Mission Ridge, and still more warmly
of the pursuit of the enemy afterward. He al
ready detected that quality so rare in illus
trious soldiers-the power to make the most Of
victory
When he became generalin chief, Grant al
once put Sheridan at the head of the Eastern
Cavalry remember asking him about the new
commander whom at that time I had never
seen, and his praise was enthusiastic as he de-
scribed the energy and ability, the promptness
and persistency of his subatern. Grant, In
deed, always became eloquent when he talked
of Sherman or Sheridan His tongue was loos.
ened them however taciturn at other times. His
face was flushed with generous ardor, his eye
cleaned, and he even gesticulated alittle when
he told of the achievements of the only two
men who could ever by any chance be his rivals.
But ignorant of the great things fortune had
in store for him, Sheridan was at this time ra-
luctant to leave the West Not that he was in
the least unwilling to serve near Grant, but he
had arrived at the command of a division; he
was attached to his men and they to him; anG
he would have preferred to remain In the fielS
that he knew. and with the troops he haG
already led. But he was too good soldier ia
betray dissatisfaction. and went without MUIR
murins to the theater where he was TO become
SO renowned, and to the chief with whose fame
his own was to be forever associated.
From that time can testify to the confidence,
the chivalrous admiration. the commentators
Grant bestowed on his cavalry commander. In
the Wilderness campaign the young General Che
was cnly thirty-two) was constantly given the
most difficult and dangerous tasks When he
was sent on distant expeditions his formal or
ders went through Meade, but Grant always saw
him in person and added verbal instructions, ex-
planning his views, defining his aim, but leaving
all details of execution to the subordinate. They
easily understood each other, they had SO much
in common.
When Early advanced upon Washington Grant
selected Sheridan to oppose him, against the VIII
of the government, which thought him too young
and inexperienced for tho post But the ava
lanche of crushed out all criticism Of tho
choice Grant wrote me on this subject from
the Hague in 1878:
Dear General: Your letter of the 18th with
Enclosure, was received before my departure from
Paris But had no time to do more than read
your letter before leaving, so brought the whole
here to examine and approve, or otherwise
have made marginal notes in pencil Of all have
TO say do not think there is anything to strike
. out nor anything to add except what you can
get from the notes referred to. You may racol.
lect that when l visited Sheridan ut Charleston
had plan of battle with me to give him. But
/ found him so ready to nove-plan and all
that gave him no order whatever except the
authority to move. He is entitled TO all tho
credit Of his great victory, and it established
him in the confidence of the President and Sec
rotary of War as commander to be trusted
with the fullest discretion in the management Of
all the troops under him. Before that, while
they highly appreciated him as a commander to
execute, they felt little nervous about giving
him too much discretion"
shall never forget Grants delight over tie
kilograms ne received from Sheridan during
this campaign. They were handed to him usuals
ly as we sat around the camp fire at City Point,
waiting for news, often TIL late into the night,
during that long and dreary autumn Of 1864.
No success had cheered us at tho East for
months. Lee still held off Grant in front Of
Richmond, and Hood had compelled Sherman
to retrace his steps from Atlanta; political hos-
tility at the made the situation at this tront
seem darker even than it was, and the first
CLEAN of light came from Sheridan's victories
in the Valley AS Grant read out the ringing