Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-13

GENERAL SHERIDAN's condition is still pre- curious. No decided change having occurred Tho return of appetite, which has been steadily failing for several days, was looked upon by the doctors as an excellent sign. His pulsc which was still abnormally rapid was fuller and moro even than before, and his res- piration, though many degrees too high, was less spasmodic. Upon the whole there is moro ground for hope than there was a week ago.
 The illness of General Sheridan has brought out all sorts of stories and "reminiscences oi him, among the best of which is the following: Tho raising of Lieut.-Gen. Sheridan to the rank of General recalls an incident connected with his promotion to his present grade. The autumn of 1868 will bo remembered by many as having witnessed a series of Indian atroci- ties on the Solomon and Saline rivers, of Kan. sas, as fendish and revolting as any in the bloody history of frontier experiences. Major. Gcn. Sheridan then commanded the Depart ment of the Platte, with headquarters at Fort Leavenworth. With his usual celerity of ae- tion he sent out detachments of troops in pur- suit of the savages, to keep them occupied while he massed his main forces and supplies at Fort Hays and points on that line. He re- solved to mako q winter campaign, an untried and hazardous venture, and determined to take command of the expedition in person. The Indians had been routed at all points, villages had been broken up, ponies captured and utilized or killed, many proud warriors had been laid low, and Moketavetah and his band of dog soldiers of the Cheyennes, the chief perpetrators of the Kansas massacres, had been annihilated with the exception of ono warrior, who escaped. Upward of ten thousand Indians of the Kiowa, Cheyenne, Arrapahoe, Comanchc and Apache tribes had int S,rhi rl "a nQd Inn dor military surveillance in the valleys of the Wichita, near the mouths of Medicine Bluf1 and Cache Creeks.
 THE campaign was ended. Victory had again perched upon the colors of Sheridan. One day towards the middle of February there was a stir in camp. The General was about to return to the railroad at Fort Hays, whence he had started in November. The General a detachment of the Tenth Cavalry, Col. Lebo, Col. Schuyler Crosby, Major J. w. Clous. Col. McGonigle and the writer consti- tuted the party, and before them lay a vast Indian waste of 400 miles. The distance had been traversed. While approaching the Smoky Hill River, less than twenty miles from the fort, fleet courier was seen advanc- ing. It was March 6, 1869. The courier sa-
 auted proudly and galloped by. An orderly
 was sent to halt him. Tho courier, being in- formed that the General was at the head of the party, turned his horse and dashed gall lantly up the General. Bringing his animal son his launches by the suddenness of his halt, standing in his stirrups, and, raising his
 saluting hand to the visor of his cap, he ex-
 claimed: "I have the honor of saluting the
 Lieutenant General of the armies of the
 United States" simultaneously handing de- spatch.
 The General took the yellow envelope. His taco was flushed with mingled sensations of pride and emotion. His hand trembled with feeling as it never was known to under the heat of battle as he opened tho packet. It was telegram from Gen. Sherman substan-
 tjaIly in these words: "Grant has been in- aug,1rated. He has just nominated me for General and you for Lieutenant General" ]" s.To the Lieutenant-G Generalr went up in shouts along the little column of officers and troopers which broke the solemn solitude of the Smoky Hill. ''To the Lieutenant Generalp again and again in rounds of cheers. If ever a brave soldier looked an eloquence of gratitude and pride, Sheridan did on that bright midday on the banks of | the Smoky Hill. Squirting the prancing steeds, who seemed to feel the inspiration of l the stirring martial scene, the column soon galloped across the intervening stretch of plain to Fort Hays. The next day the Gen I eral, Col. Crosby, and the writer went to de- partment headquarters. Before the middle of March they reached Washington, where the Lieutenant.Generalw was laden with social