The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-01

pointment as colonel of the I'd Michioar
cavalry, and orders believing me as acting
auerternas IA :er general. / was goo5
deal sur rprised, for l hadn't appliea for
n command or a promotion. Everything
ever got came to me unsolicited"
"How did it happen?"
"Well, yo1 see, Gov. Austin Blair Of
Michigan was down there looking after
the welfare of the Michigan volunteers.
Col. w. l.. Elliott, who had come
down with the regiment, had been pro.
noted to brigade commander, which
made O vacancy. The I'd Michigan was
one of the best regiments in the service.
and Gov. Blair wanted an officer from the
regular army TO command it. Halleck
knew that | didn't like the duties of
ousrtermaster and was anxious TO get n
place in the line, and he and Gen. Gordon
Granger recon mended me to Blair.
was not from Michigan, but from Ohio.
but happened to- be the only one there
was around for the place, and was an.
pointed. Il Was Just what | wanted, and
| wrote Gov. Blair a letter of thanks,
every word of which came from the bot
tom of my heart.
THE B1oSvILLE RAID.
"That afternoon ] joined the regiment,
and before night was In the saddle on nv
first mpaigu as a cavalryman. It was
wat is known in military records as the
Boonville raid. We went down the
Mobile d Ohio railroad around Corinth,
and got in between rhe two forces of the
confederate army, capturing a lot of
prisoners-so many that we had to parole
them-and securing some valuable in
formation in regard to the plans and
movements OF the rebels. We captured
the headquarters of Gen. Lsopidas Polk
the iigting bishop, you remember
and took the liberty of bringing away
his best uniforru with me. IL was only
few days sfser when l got in my first fight
and cleaned out Gen. Chslmers-the man
who was afterward membt of congress
from Mississippi, you remember. That
made The brigadier general, and was al
ways glad that Chalmers let me lick him,
although he had about three times as
many men as l."
"When did You meet Grant nextf"
at was good while between the time
when / was introduced to Gen. Grant in
McPherson's tent, and my next meeting
with him, for although we were in the
same army, he was at headquarters, while
was at one of the outposts near the town
of Rienz, Mise, with brigade of cavalry,
covering the front of the army and scour-
ing around the country good deal.
After Nelson wss killed Halleck ordered
me to report to Gen. Busll at Louisville,
and when vas on my way to the cars I
stopped at headquarters to say good bye
to the boys, and there saw Gen. Grant
for the second tile in my life. was
only barely acquainted with him, .ou
know, and being an insignificant subor-
dinate | did not have much to say, but he
spoke very kindly to me, compl!mented
me for the work had been doing down
IN Mississippi, and said he was very sorry
had been ordered away"
And when did you meet nexty"
II didn't see the general again until the
siege OF Chattanooga. There had been
n good deal of fighting going on in the
meantime, and had been in the middle
OF it. I'd got TO be a major general and
had command of a division in the en-
pagemeat ct Chattanooga on the 25th of
November. Grant stood on Orch ard
Knob and saw my men climb Mission
Ridge, and when we broke the rebel lines
he saw Us charge them. My horse was
Shob shoSE iALe Ih bhhb suR RabsLntHS aDu
spent most OF the day oli foot, bat after
the pursuit was over and had set up
tent on Chickamauga creek, got word
from Gen. Grant and soon after received
visit from him. But then didn't see
him but few moments.
After that campaign Grant went east
to take command of the army, and was
sent up 10 Knoxville TO reinforcs Burn.
side. | lay around there for q while and
one morning got telegram to report at
Washington at once. | went right on,
brt had no idea what was wanted of me
until | So to Washington and called on
Gen. Grant who gave me command Of all
the cavalry of the army of the Potomac.
After that | saw him great deal. and we
became very good friends. Our intimacy
was never interrupted for moment"
And when did you see him last?"
"fhe last time l saw Gen. Grant," con-
tinuea Sheridan, Twas in the library of
his house in New York, shortly before he
Went to Mount McGregor to die. He sent
for mo to come over aud make him visit,
and Mrs. Sheridan and / were there a few
l..