The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-06
TRIBUTE TO GEN. SHERIDAN
A Brilliant Pen-Picture of the Union
Army's Great Cavalry Commander.
The Dashing General in the Shenandoah VAL
ley-His Victories Over Early-The Cam
paign Against Lee-The Last Sad Rites.

Odpt. OHuries Ming, OF tno Oultcu SsosoS
army, also we'll known az a writer Of distine-
ton, recently read paper before the United
States Cavalry Association at Fort Leavenworth
on Sheridan. His tribute to the dead cavslry
general was eloquent and touching, while bis
word painting was vivid and graphic
Beginning with Grants opinion Of Sheridan
as text, Captain King described the situation
in the Union army up to the summer OF 1904,
showing that the cavalry were practically use
less, quoting the snser which Hooker leveled az
the corps he know not how to use, Nv hoover
saw dead cavalrymanp and illustrating the
superiority Of the Southern cavalry by the re-
mark of General Meade: swell, never mind
about Stuart he'll do pretty much as be pieases'
anyway"
The speaker then proceeded: 1T was in this
crisis that Sheridan, despite his youth. despite
the Jimorous protests Of Stanton and Halleck-
who thought he might handle cavalry eus
couldn't command o department forsootn--h
was IN this supreme moment that Sheridan was
ordered to 60 In and win field where
hitherto none had gone in but to lose. Fremont:
Banks. Milroy Miles and Hunter, all had
tempted their luckless fate and come out
worsted. The valley Of the Shenandoah up TO
August, 1864, WAS but the valley Of humiliation
for the Union ermies-a broad and welcoming
thorou zhfare for the passage of the soldiers OF
the South whatsoever it pleased them to tramp
that way. Jackson and Jubal Early, stuart
add Ashby, marched hither and thi.her as they
pleased, but Jackson had met his soldier death
IN the moment of supreme triumph at Chancel-
lorsvilie; Stuart, who rode monarch OF all ne
surveyed until tbs Western trooper came, hadt
found his grave before the guidons OF the Union
cavalry Twas time for Jubal Early TO take
heed; q man Of mettle, such as the Shenandoah
had not yet seen, had come 20 try conclusions
with him.
"Why dwell upon III Who can describe the
thrill Of hope, OF almost incredulous delight
wiz MI nj bao rSa wa kad a.
spondency at the tide of triumph that came surg-
ing up with the news from Shenandoah Hardly
had the Nation dried its tea-s-tsars OF srati-
tude over Shermsns capture of Atlanta-when
there came that marvellous dispatch from Vir'
Rinia. We used to news of victory from
the West. We looked for it; expected II. 1t
was here-here In front of our ever-tbreatened
capital We craved success. and had ever been
denied it Wait till they tackle Lee and Stu
art, croaked our cyncs, then you'll see how
your Western generals will go under. Wait till
old Jubal Early gets his grip on Sheridan and
you'll see how he'll drop bis tail There had
strained watching and waiting in hope, and
fear and fervent prayer. and then, sudden As
the leap OF panther, tho furious blow; then
that marvellous dispatch electric in effect vivid,
pulsing with soldier spirit. telling of glorious
victory the very fields where all before had
been disaster, telling-wonder OF wonder6!-of
Early driven back whirline through Win
chester, with our sabers ut his heels.
low tue Joy U6NS rtuH duu chuuou
thunderedl How that new name hew from lip
| TO lip. Sheridan! Sheridan! Cavalry Sheridan!
everywhere How loyal men and loving women
| joined in praise and blessing and thanksgiving
| No laGgard he No general such as We had seen
| too Oft before, wiring the tididgs OF success
| where success was sometimes vivid lie, or
| hating to receive congratulations. The thunder
| of the salvos had not died away before there
| came the second iublles-snother fight;
another triumph: another wild scramble mp the
valley. Early whipped again from his chosen
vantage ground at Fishers Hill. The loyal
| North went wild with joy forthwith, and the
center OF dependency was shifted then and there
| from Washington to Richmond, where the
| Southern mob In derison seized the guns hur-
ried forward to replace those lost along the
| Shenandoah and lettered them: General
| Sheridan. care Of Jubal Early.'"
Continuing to sketch his career, Captain King
| said: Then came the browning proof of hiS
| skill and brilliapcy in the field The Shenan-
| doah had demonstrated his ability to handle
foot we'll as horse. but here sganst the veteran
infantry of Lee, intrenehed in the heart of Vir-
gnia forests, he dared to assault the front with
long lines of dismounted troopers, while 70 the
| Fifth Corps assigned the easier task Of
| turning the flank. Tactically no more brilliant
battle had been planned or fought on the soil Of
| Virginia, and for the cavalry twas a glory
| greater even than Winchester. Merritt's I'M
| petuous charges from the south, Clusters head
| long dash at Fitz Lee the western flank
these aud all their work that April afternoon he
4
| cavalry knew each other thoroughly, and with
| them he had but to order-thsy obeyed. It was
the infantry that needed the inspiration of his
| presence, aud with them he rode into battle
forget the pictured Sheridan dashne in
| among the foremost ranks of the wayer-
ing footmen. his flag cleaning in his
| hand, shouting, cheering, swearing in wrath
at the skulkers, raging At the nerveless advance,
reckless of Kissing lead or burs ing shell, furious
| at the needless delay. and. finally, the incarns-
| tion of battle by the very force and vehemsncs
| OF his nature. hurting the men OK Ayerss division
on that frsfashine parapet, and doubling up
| tho Southern left, even as Merritts men came
| leaping over the breastworks along the front
Five Forks was Sheridans crowning fight and
| the death blow of the Confederacy.
| "And still he was not done Recall the match
| less energy of the pursuit-tbe race on parallel
| lines to Appomattox, the searching raids of his
troopers through every lane and by path, the in
| cessant logging of the Confederate flank, the
| daring stand of lis foremost brigades across the
| front Of the now starving and desperate foe .he
! wild dash at Farmville and Sailors creek che
| capture of all supplies. the sleepless vigilance,
! tho relentless hommering. Who-who in all
| our army from chieftsin down. could match him
| IN energy or excel him IN purposei What man
| CT all our leaders, when at last the worn and
| wearied foe surrendered, had done so much to
bring that foe to bay as he whose troopers
blocked all hope of eseape-'Sharidan the inevi-
| table"
Captain King concluded as follows: .Fairer
day sun never blessed clearer skies or bluer
waters never sniied above reflected back the
white walls 0! the thronging city. Under the
deep foliage OF the fringing trees re-hsaded,
silent, reverent thousands lined the broad ave-
nues along which he rode. All the great digui-
taries Of state we're in his train; all the great
soldiers OF the Nation followed the wheels OF his
triumphal car-that somber flag -dfapcd caiseon.
| Guidons OF his faithful horseuen, banners of
the red artillery, Grape twinsd. bowed above the
helmets OF his escort; solemn strains of martial
| music rose and fell In mournful cadence as with
mufted tread we bore him on. Up the broad
thoroughfare, with its bordering ranks Of sor-
rowing faces, white and black, over the
graceful arches that span the blue Potomac,
through the winding aislss to Arlington we
followed our old commander. hating at last
where the declining sunlight slanted down
that beautiful green slope At its crest the
stately por;ico of the old Virginia mansion, and
the roadway. ranked with silent troopers al
its base the fringe of thick leaving trees through
whose foliage came the CLINT of arms and the
scarlet colors of the batteries; beyond them the
broad peaceful valley, the winding sweep OF
noble river; beyond them all the cleaning white
shaft OF the distant monument, the shimmerng
dome or the Capitol, ell bathed in August sun.
shine. Near at hand q silent, revsrent group OF
uncovered heads. from whence there rises pres
emily the chanting ritual OF the Church OF
Rome. The solemn service is soon completes
the reverend clergy fall slowly back the Loyal
Legion sadly take their last look upon the
shrouded form OF their honored chief and theu
then tears gush forth from eyes long unac
| custOmed. and atrOnO man hoU THAR haads