Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-20
army OF the Cumberland Re-UnIon-Eu-
iogy on General Sheridan.

4 SOLDIER's TRIBUTE.
Army of the Cumberland Re-UnIon-Eu-
iogy on General Sheridan.
CHICAGO September 19th.-The Nine
teenth Annual Reunion of the Army of
the Cumberland, met here to-day. One
hundred and fifty were present. General
Rosecrans was called to the chair and re-
ceived with applause.
General Fullerton moved that a commit
tee be appointed to consider the question of
erecting an equestrian statue to Sheridan in
Washington. After discussion, the matter
was laid over. Then followed the appoint
ment of various committees.
meeting was held at Central Music
Hall this evening at which General Russell
Alger, of Michigan, delivered an eulogy on
General Sheridan, of which the following
is summary:
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE.
General Alger began his address with a
brief sketch of General Sheridan's life.
touching upon the circumstances of his
birth, his graduation at West Point, his
services as Lieutenant of Infantry against
the Indians in Oregon and Washington
Territory. his recall from the Pacific Coast
in the fall of 1861 and assignment to duty
49, OAASA SCAllia,lCl a. ~. LOulS, anu
noted that this great military genius was
not given an Independent command until
May %, 1862, when Governor Blair of
Michigan appointed him Colonel of the
Second Michigan Cavalry. General Alger
continued: " He was a resolute man, and
his command soon learned the fact that
unless IN camp two parties were in con-
slant danger-the enemy and themselves.
He was always genial easily approached
except in battle, when his whole nature
seemed changed, and woe to the man who
crossed him while the fight was on. Speak
ing OF that fact not year since, when told
that he was always ugly in battle, he re-
piled: guess that's so. 1t was the way
always felt"
Summing up sketch of Sheridan's
methods IN preparation and in battle,
Alger said: Such was the combination
knowledge of the topography of the coun-
try, the position and strength OF the enemy.
quick perception and decision, heavy and
intrepid blows-which gave him the sue
cess that crowned him among the foremost
Generals of modern history. Sheridan
never lost battle. He seldom made an
attack that was not successful, and
LIKE A MIGHTY ROCK
Standing in the sea where the waves strike
enemy's host was ever hurled on his COM
mand but TO be broken. Those who saw
handful OF men defeat ten times their num-
Der at Bonneville; those who stood in the
cedar brakes at Stone River and witnessed
the repulse OF the proudest army ever sent
by the rebels to the West; those who were
with him in seven miles of fire at Mission
Ridge; those who were with him in that
hell of fire at the Wilderness, or served
under him in the great cavalry fights of
Yellow Tavern and TervilIian Station;
those who passed with him through the
terrible battle of Winchester; those who
helped demolish Early's victorious army
at Cedar Creek, and those who followed
him at Five Forks, all joined in acclaim
as each victory in turn increased his be-
wilderiDg fame, crowning him with the
plaudIts OF the world. One of the strong
characteristics of General Sheridan was his
intense devotion to the cause of the North.
Soldering with him was not mere occu-
patton, road to crafty personal ambition;
and be believed intensely that
REBELLION WAS A CRIME,
And that it ought to be punished. 1t was
this lntenseness and earnestness that made
his success. His appearance upon the field
at any time during battle always created
the widest enthusiasm. He handled
regiment as though it was an army, and an
army was managed by him as though it
were regiment
After quoting Grants and Sherman's
opinions of Sheridan, the speaker contin-
ued: Sheridan's part in the war was
prominent. Il attracted attention at once
and became the theme of orators, artists
and historians to dwell upon. Other men
have served their country well, and died
hoping that future generations would do
them justice. Sheridan was happy in liy
ing in
THE GLORY OF HIS FAME,
And his fondest friends cen hope for no
more than that the future may ooncnr with
his own time in doing him honor"
The speaker then touched upon the pen
sion question, in passing, and said there
were about 100000 veterans in the country,
who were dying at the rate of 10000 per
year, and added The comrades of our
gallant Sheridan ought to be the nations
wards, and not the nations paupers. A
grateful country should rise ND to give
them their just reward and place them be-
yond the possibility of suffering during the
few years yet allotted to them.''
The speaker closed with an ELOQUENT
apostrophe to the dead General.