New-York tribune., 1886-08-22
GRANT IN PEACE.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAU.
NO. XII.
GRANT AND SHERIDAN.
CpDuYlQhf. lkS(

Copyright, 1886.
Stalhou had fallen aud the next official VIC
dim was 10 be Sheridan. SBnton was sisptnu
I'd on the 18th of August, and on the Iri
Grast received the Presidents commands 10 10
the removal of Sheridan. lie at once pIotess'
ags,iAst the execution of the order lie WIS III
deed profoundly moved, and eve; exaspels..en
for his regard for Sheridan had now become
personal Sheridan had almost grown up as n, !,
Gcneual under Grants own eye, until hmlily
the chief declared the subordinate the peer u
any soldier Of amy time. Often have ! ii',entu
TO Grants enconiiums Of the Soldier oi VIZ
Valley none than once have | witnessed man
ifestations of regard on both sides rs toucinnt
rs they wore honorable to him VINO gave 'u'
him who rueived. The history OF thor rn, s
tIons is like a story from Homer. IL WIS n' u'o
friendship OF chieftsns, the love OF st,"s ss,ched
who had stood side by side in war, ana WI -.
zach othel's deeds. Soon after ohiloh % .,''d a..
dan Joined ths army in Tennessee ana 10 urs
tiuguished himself that Grant at once pcrc1saa,G3 aG3
his military quality. In SeIe,'osf'i , Of iis com,
sland TO reinforce Rosecrans. lie "c,S nv, -, kpJ
landing himself when the troops 'uip' NJ NV,
and noticed Sheridan among them at me holo
Of his brigade. "You here, onelam ~, shouid no
ct,imed II did not mean tlnt you shonl.'
leave me :, for he was unwilling to lose e, man man
nj whose stuff he was 80 sure. But SheiiGiil
Thought that to go to Rosecr'ns mt th:at ume
WAS 10 90 where there would be more hgh'ing'
and he Showed no desire to remain. Grant was
nettled AT this and allowed his subordinate tc
depart; little dpcaming, either OF them how
jmportant they were to be to each other on
gr.ndcr and distant theatres. Grant told me
this story years ago, to add to sketch OF Sheil
Soon, however. the chief followed the sub
alteln To the same field, and again, ut Chatta'
nooga, the fiery spirit and genius OF SheI1da
commended themselves to his superior. Grant
always spoke in glowing language of Sheridan :
charge at Mission Ridge, and still more want /,
ci the pursuit of the enemy atterwaid lie AZ
ready detected that qualify so rare even IN IL
mstiious soldies-tle power to make the mos
of victory.
When he became General in Chief, Grant a
once put Sheridan at the head of the Eastern
cavalry. | remember asking him about The
new commander whom at that time had nevel
ssn, and his praise Was enthusiastic as he de
scribed the energy and ability, the plomptnes'
and persistency of his subalteu. Grant in
d,sd always became eloquent when he talkos
of Sherman or Sheridan. His tongue was l0OS-
Cned then, however tslciturn at Other times
His face was flushed with generous mdor, hi
when he told of the achievements of the only
two anen who could ever by any chance he hi
rivals.
But ignorant of the great things Fortune ha'
IN store for him, Sheridan was at this time re
lnctant 10 leave the West. Not that he WI
in the least unwilling 10 serve near Grant, bu
he had arrived at the command of Il division
he WIS attached TO his men and they to him
he would have preferred Ia remain in TIE ticlo
that he knew and with the troops he had al
ready leSl But he was too good a soldier t,
bctfay dissatisfaction. and he wont without
Dmmniins Ia the theatre where he was IL be
c'sne ~ renowned, and Ia the chief with who's
fame his own was 10 be forever associated
fTm that time ! can testify to the confidence
the clivallous admiration, the cOmmeniaton
Grant bestowed on his cavalry commander
ln the wilderness campaign the ycnng Genera
th' was only t'rrty-two), wis constantly giver
fla..a Il.
he was sent oil on distant expedition his fol-
nal ordels went through Meade, but Grant nj
ways saw b'm In person and added verbal in
strnctons: explaining his views, defining IN
aim Int leaving ;Jl dc;ails of execution to tn
subordinate. They clsilv understood eaci
Other, they bud so much in common
When Early advanced Upon Washington
Grant selected Sheridan to oppose him ngsiins
thc wish of the Government. which though
INN too young and inexperienced for the post
But the avalanche of success crushed out nj
criticism OF the choice Grant wrote me ON thi
subject froSn the Hague in 1878:
nfaR GENERAL: Yorr letter Of tho 10Th with
inclasure. was received before my departure from
Iaris frt had no time 10 do more than read
your letter before leaving so brought the whole
here 70 examine and approve. or otherwise have
maze 'na'rin1i notes IN r"ncil of all have TO say.
10 nat th'nk the-e is ANYTHING to strike ont nor
ANYTHING To- add except what yon can ret from the
no. reierred to- ion may recolect that when
bat,'e with me to give him. Rnt found him &c
ready 10 move-plan aud all that gave him nc
order whatever except the authority to move lie
entitled to a tae credit of his great victory and
~ esthoiSher him in the confidence of the President
am secretary Of War rs commander to lie trustee
Win the fullest discretion in the management o
sll The troops under him. Before that while tbcy
highly appreciated him as a commander to rxecnte
much discretion. "
] shall never forget GIANTS delight ovor n,
telcgmms he received from SLeidan dlrin
tlns campaign. They we've handed Ia him usual
Iy a. We sat around tho camp fire at CITY Point
waiting Tor new" often till Late into the night
dining TINT long and drclry autumn of 1861
No success had chceled us at the East fo
snonihs. Lee still held off Grant in front o
Richmond, and Hood hai compelled Sherman
To- rtis'c his steps from Atlanta political hos
tIIi'y at the rear made tho situation at the from
sem darker even than it was, and the frs
elcams OF light came from Shelidrn's victoric
DISPATCHES: We sent thcm whrling through
Wine'esicr y: They were followed on tn
70 delay here one day and settle uo tbs new eaT "
airy general - his voice BETRAYED how wed
come was the ncws keep on,' he replied
"and your. good work will cause the fall o
Richmond." The inspiration of these succcSsc
and the cncouTagemcnt they gave to Gran
were the germ OF one of the most beautiful
friendships IN history.
From that time he relied on Sheridan a
completely as ON Sherman. The final move
hfnt agtli>' IctSDnrg mad no success 10
several days More than ore of those who's
Judgment Grant often needed advised him l.
return. He himself WAS gloomy not deSpond
ent, for that | never saw him in the field, bu
pioionndly anxious But one dark and rain,
morning Sheridan came riding into camp. an
talked 80 chceriy, 80 confidently, so intelI gent
iy of what he could do, that his mood WAS con
taeiouS Grant was in his tent so that Sheridan
first met the staff. The officers were strucl
with his temper and tone they knew the csti
mate Grant put upon his judgment, and wer
anxious fOi Sheridan to ray what he thought Il
the chief They took thc great trooper in t.
Grant. and when Grant perceived the spirit OF
Sheridan. hc felt that the time had come. II,
gave him the task he said he could perform. tn,
oulcrs he asked for and the result was-th.
battle of Five Forks.
lnat n,'ie Grant always acKnowle,go ng mad