The Iola register., 1886-10-01

would have preferred to remain in the
| field that he knew and with the troops
he had already led. But he was too
good soldier to betray dissatisfaction.
and he went without murmuring to the
theater where he was to become SO re-
| nowned, and to the chief with whose
fame his own was to be forever associ-
ated. From that time can testify to
the confidence, the chivalrOus admira-
ton. the commendatiOn Grant bestowed
on his cavalry commander. In the VIII
derness campaign the young General
Che was only thirty-two) was constantly
given the most difficult and dangerous
tasks. When he was sent off on dis
tant expedition his formal orders went
through Meade. but Grant always saw
him IN person and added verbal instruc-
tions. explaining his views. defining his
aim. but leaving all details of execution
to the subordinate. They easily under
stood each other, they had SO much in
common.
When Early advanced upon Washing
ton Grant selected Sheridan to oppose
him. against the wish of the Govern
ment. which thought him too young
and inexperienced for the post. But
the avalanche of success crushed out all
criticism of the choice. Grant wrote
me on this subject from the Hague in
1873:
DEAR GENERAL:-Your letter of the 18th,
with inclosure, was received before my de.
parfure from Paris. But had no time to do
more than read your letter before leaving, SO
brought the whole here to examine and ap.
prove. or otherwise. l have made marginal
notes in pencil of all have to say. l do not
think there is any thing to strike out. or any
thing to add except v hat you can get from
the notes referred to. You may recOilect that
when had visited Sheridan at Charleston
had pan of battle with me to give him. But
found him SO ready to move-plan and all
that gave him no order whatever except the
authority TO move. He is entitled to all the
credit of his great victory. and it established
him in the confidence of the President and
the Secretary OF War as a commander to be
trusted with the fullest discretion IN the man.
agement of all the troops under him. Before
that, while they highly ap pprecated him as n
commander TO execute, they felt little nerv.
GUS about giving him too much discretion.
l shall never forget Grants delight
over the kilograms he received from
Sheridan during the campaign. They
were handed to him usually as we sat
around the campfire at City Point watt
ing for news often till late into the
night, during that long and dreary
autumn of 1864. No success had cheer
ed us at the East for months. Lee still
held off Grant in front of Richmond.
and Hood had compelled Sherman to
retracc his steps from Atlanta; political
hostilt ty at the rear made the situation
at the front still darker even than it
was. and the first CLEANS of light came
from Sheridan's victories in the Valley.
As Grant read out the ringing dispatches:
1--WE sent them whirling through VIM
CHESTER They were followed on the
jump twenty-siX;' Il thought it best to
delay here one day and settle this new
cavalry General" his voice BETRAYED
how welcome was the news. keep
on" he replied. land your good work
will cause the fall of Richmond" The
inspiration of these successes and the
encouragement they gave to Grant were
the germ of one of the most beautiful!
friendships in history.
From that time he relied on Sheridan
as completely as on Sherman. The
final movement against Petersburg had
no success for several days. One Of
those whose Judgment Grant often
needed advised him to return. He
himself was gloomy; not respondent,
tor that never saw him in the field.
but profoundly anxious. But one dark
and rainy morning Sheridan came rid
ing into camp, aud talked so cheerily,
so confidently. so intc!ligently of what
he could do. that his mood was cOnta-
a:ous. Grant was in his tent so that
Sheridan first met the staff. The officers
were struck with his temper and tone;
they knew the estimate Grant put upon
his Judgment. and were anxious for
Sheridan to say what he thought to the
chief. They took the great trooper
into Grant, and when Grant perceived
the spirit of Sheridan, he felt that the
time had come. He gave him the task
he sa d he could perform, the orders he
tie of Five Forks.
That battle Grant always acknowl-
edged made possible the final assault on
Petersburg, and opened the way for the
AppomattOx campaign, in which Sheri-
dan led the terrible pursuit, fought
Sailors Creek. and outmarched Lee.
In all these movements he sent back
suggestions daily, almost hourly, to
Grant. every one of which Grant ao-
cepted. l some times think that with
out Sheridan Grants closing triumph
might have been less complete, for it
was Sheridan, who, by his rapid
marches and incessant blows, secured
the envcloping, and thus the surrender,
of Lee. This can be said without de-
tracing one leaf from the laurels of
Grant. The most skillful workman re-
qu res tools of finest edge; the creates.
commander can not win without troops
and subordinates of mettle like his
own.
After this Grant loved Sheridan. The
affection was founded on admiration;
the intimacy grew out of achievement
1t was the strange, rich fruit of battle,
watered by blood and ripened by pat
riotism into a close and tender regard.
l was an inmate of Grants house when
he was believed to be dying. and Sheri-
dan wrote me letter TO present TO the
family when the dreaded hour should
come He added line which venture
to repeat because it shows the peculiar
and delicate nature of the feeling be-
tween the soldiers: 1T is unnecessary
for me-" said Sheridan. Ito use words
to express my attachment to General
Grant and his family. have not gone
to see him as could only bring addi-
t;onal distress to them. and want 10
remember him as l knew him in good
health. adam Badeau tn n Y. Tn
6une.
How He Wanted 1t Stuffed.
Boarder-Mrs. Finnigan, what is this?
clearinghouse Mistress-A chicken,