Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-10-02
SHERIDAN, UNDER FIRE.

The following from Badeau's article in
the New York Tribune, on Grant and his
memories, will be eagerly read by men
of the Blue and the Gray, as showing
how the magnetic power of one thorough
commander can affect another whom he
trusts.
"When he became General-in- Chief, Grant
at once put Sheridan at the head of the
Eastern cavalry. | remember asking him
about the new commander, whom at that
time had never seen, and his praise was
enthusiastic as he described the energy and
ability, the promptnesS and persistence of
his subaltern. Grant, indeed, always became
eloquent when he talked of Sherman and
Sheridan. His tongue was loosened then
however taciturn at other times. His face
was flushed with generous ardor his eve
CLEANED, and he even gesticulated a little
when he told of the achievements of the
only two men who could ever by any choice
be his rivals. When Early ad-
vanced on Washington Grant selected
Sheridan TO oppose him, against the wish of
the Government, which thought him too
young and inexperienced for the post. But
the avalanche of success crushed out all
criticism of the choice.
| shall never forget Grants delight over
buO bClOSldlllS uC I6C6IN6u 1TOIu
during the campaign. They were handed to
him usually as we sat around the campfire
at City Point, waiting for news often till
late into the night, during that long and
dreary autumn of 1864. No success had
cheered us at the East for months. Lee
still held off Grant in front of Richmond,
and Hood had compelled Sherman to retrace
his steps from Atlanta; political hostility at
the rear made the situation at the front
seem darker, even, than it was, and the first
CLEAN of light came from Sheridan's victo-
ries in the Valley. As Grant read out the
ringing dispatches: We sent them whirling
through Winchester 'They were followed
on the jump twenty-six miles, | 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 re-
piled, and 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 on he relied on Sheridan
as completely as on Sherman. The final
movement against Petersburg had no sue
cess for several days. More than one of
those whose judgment Grant often needed
advised him to return. He himself was
gloomy; not Respondent, for that l never
saw him in the field, but profoundly anxious.
But one dark and rainy morning Sheridan
Sdiho IluluS luJO Cdlu anu Jdlh6u SO cueer-
lily, so confidently, so intelligently of what
he could do, that his mood was contagious.
Grant was in his tent, so that Sheri-
dan first met the staff The officers
were struck with his temper and tone: they
knew the estimate Grant put upon his iudg-
ment, and were anxious for Sheridan to say
what he thought to the chief. They took
the great trooper in to Grant, and when
Grant perceived the spirit of Sheridan. he
felt that the time had come. He gave him
the task he said he could perform, the orders
he asked for, and the result was-the battle
of Five Forks.
That battle Grant always acknowledged
made possible the final assault on Peters
burg, and opened the way for the Appomat-
tox campaign, in which Sheridan 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 accepted. | sometimes
think that without Sheridan, Grants
closing triumph might have been
less complete; for it was Sheridan, WHO bv
his rapid marches and incessant blows.
secured the enveloping, and thus the sur
render of Lee. This can be said without
detracting one leaf from the laurels of
Grant. The most skillful workman requires
tools of finest edge; the greatest commander
cannot win without TROOPS and subordinates
of mettle like his own.