Milford chronicle., 1888-08-10

SHERIDAN AND GEMS. CROOK AND CUSTER
It was now breakfast time Governor
Blair was now nearly thirty miles away and
there was no time to be lost Gen. Granger
called an orderly, had Capt. Ayers horse
fed and insisted on his taking his morning
meal with him During breakfast the sub
ject of Capt Sheridan's appointment was
earnestly discussed. Before they had fin
ished the meal Lieut. Frank T. Nalbridge,
quaytermaster of the Second Michigan cav.
airy, rode up. Capt. Alger asked permits
sion to take him for his interview
with Governor Blair. Cen Granger as
for the Journey. It was perhaps half
past 0 in the morning when, armed with an
earnest request for Sheridan's appointment,
they left the front of the Federal lines and
rode swiftly to Pittsburg Landing, and it
lacked but half an hour Of the steamers de
partlre with Governor Blair Cn board when
the two officers reached him. The condition
of the regiment was presented by Capt Alger
in q few words and both he and Lieut. Wal
bridge strongly urged the force Of Gen.
Granger's recommendation. The governor
yielded and directed his adjutant general,
Gen. John Robertson, TO write the order. He
seized half sheet Of paper and wrote:
PITTsBURG LANDING, May 25, 1862.
Cant. Philip II. Sheridan Is hereby ap-
pointed colonel Of the Second Michigan cav
airy He is directed to take command at
once. AUSTIN BLAIR Governor.
This was handed to Capt Alger and the
boat pushed out into tho Tennessee, and a
great soldier had been started on his way 70
fame.
The return trip was so rapidly made that
it killed Capt Alger's horse, but early on the
tnffan Al 20
presentiug It and meeting for the first time
his now colonel and future general Phil
Sheridan was that morning the happeSt man
in the whole Of Halleck's army. The colo
nelcy which Ohio did not give her own son
Michigan had provided The officers Of tho
staff were Immediately summoned TO cello
lfate his promotion. As the officers drank
khgir bumpers Of good cheer in his tent they
wished his future success in loyal style. One
rother officer Of the staff, more enthusiastic
than the rest pledged the new eolonels
health with Il suggestion:
''This promotion is only ono more step to-
wards brga,icrs star"
How little maj know OF themselves. Shert-
dan, flushed l.;th the JOY of tho occasion, re-
torted;
''No, gentlemen I thank yon for your good
now a colonel Of cavalry"
He took command at once and his first aP
pearance at dress parade cansed a litter tt
4 run along the line; he was SO short and stout
But he soon had tho regiments respect, ant
en-, a few days after. he led the notee
cavalry pursuit of the retreating Confeder
atos. his men saw that be was indeed sol
dicr. On the ls5 Of July he defeated the Con
fedcrate Gen Chalmers at Bonneville, foi
which he was commissioned brigadier gen
eral. Capt. Alger greatly distinguished
himself in the same battle, and was made G
major In another month Sheridan was II
command Of brigade his commission as
brigGdier general following a month later.
( He was at the same time transferred r
the Army Of the Ohio At the battle Of
I PerryyiIe, Oct. &, 1892 he commanded
division. 1t is singular that al
this battle, which was probably one
( Of the worst managed on the Union side dur
inc the war, there was present q man who
two years afterwards was recognized as ona
i Of the great generals OF the ago Tho circum'
!. stance goes to show how little chance there
I is for subordinate in war to achieve any
/ thing while directly under another's orders
/, But Sheridan's most brilliant success in that
/ army was at Murtreesboro, where ms dlVl
sion held the right wing.
i; An attack on his front had been met and
the enemy driven back, when, by the giving
way OF the two divisions on his right, hi
flank became exposed to the advancing foe
/ Hastily forming a new line under cover OF Q
charge, he made brave resistance fer an
hour, when he was again compelled to take
up a new line, this time connecting with
Negley, Of the center wing, the two
divisions repulsing three desperate assault'
by four divisions Of the enemy, when, Sheri
dams ammunition giving out, be ordered
a bayonet charge and Withdrew his lines from
the field But by this obstinate resistance
priceless time had been gained for Rosecrani
to make his new dispositions. Then caulo 9
commission as major general Of volunteers
under which he commanded divisions a
Chickamanga and Chattanooga and in tb'