The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-07
THEIR ESTIMATE OF HIM.


GtnBfNlA ShtFtiiitI UllN AtH'AhS ~
She, Idnn's Greatness.
New YoRK, August G.-Gen. W. I.
Sherman has been so anxious during
the entire illness Of Lieutenant General
Sheridan that he has taken especial
pains to keep himself informed, and
when the danger has been particularly
threatening has remained up all night
in order that he might receive the dis
patch from Washington. When inform
ed by n reporter that his old friend and
Comrade was dead Gen. Sherman was
yisibly affected, despite the fact that he
had expected the sad intelligence and
was to some extent prepared for it.
SHERIDAN was eleven years younger
than ]" said Gen. Sherman, musingly,
"ior he was born in 1886. To Mrs. Sher-
man and myself he was always com-
paratively young man. In the ordinary
course Phil should have outlived me.
Now that he is gone, the people OF this
country have lost a gallant and great
soldier" In November, 1868, Gen. Grant
succeeded to the command OF all the
armies in the Mississippi valley, includ-
ing the department OF the Cumberland.
At that time Sheridan commanded di-
vision OF the army OF the Cumberland
under Rosecranz and bore ConspiCu-
GUS part in the battle OF ChiCkamauga.
In the battle OF Missionary Ridge under
the immediate supervision OF General
Grant he commanded Il division which
again attracted Grants attention by its
special gallantry in charging upon and
purSueing the enemy. That was in No
vember, 1863.
"Whcn, subsequently, General Grant
went east rs Commanding General OF all
the armies OF the United States he took
Sheridan with him rs one whom he
would surely need and assigned him TO
the command OF the cavalry corps in the
Army OF the Potomac. Shcridan's his.
tory is identical with that OF the Army
OF the Potomac until he was detailed by
Grant and sent to the Shenandoah Val
ley. He there displayed the uneQualled
characteristics OF one in command OF a
separate line OF operations. His DISPOSE
tiOns and manoucVers ut Winchester
were admirable in NIL their details and
his success was corresponding. He closed
the Shenandoah Valley forever to the
operations OF Lees army us base ofsup-
plies and line for diversions into Mary
land and Pennsylvania. The battle OF
Cedar Mountain or Fishers Hill will
compare with any example in ancient or
modern history to illustrate the force Of
one man to turn the tide OF defeat into
victory. Finally the battle Of Five Forks
which he fought was the real cause OF
Lees abandonment of Richmond and
the collapse Of the whole Confederacy." ."
scnoFIELD's ESTIMATE.
"Yes, / have just heard OF General
Sheridan's death, saidI General John NJ.
Scofield last night, land ] am endeNvor.
ing to recover from the shock given me
bv the news. | had entertained hopes
that he would ultimately recover from the
attNck, therefore his death has made the
blow all the more severe. Now, that
the end has come, ! deeply regret the
loss the army has sustained, and have
lost very dear Comrade and lifelong
friend. Sheridan and l were at West
Point together. He entered the acade.
nv in lSiS and / came the following
wear. We graduated in the same class,
| however, in 1858, as did also General
James B. MCPHERSON, who was killed in
| 1854 at Atlanta, while repulsinga sOrtie
John B. Hood, who rose TO the rank ofa
General in the Confederate service, was
likewise n iellow-classmate OF ours. All
four OF us were warm friends through all
our lives. For Sheridan | always en-.
tertained deep affection, a sentiment
knew he returned. Mcpherson cher
ished the same feelings for Sheridan and
myself as we did for him. Though
Hood was on the other side, we who
remained in the service OF the UniteC
States Government only regretted thai
his different ideas OF duty had separated
us from pleasant comrade.
Regarding General Sheridan's military
career, do know that ! can't say any
thing to add to his fame, Both Gran
and Sherman have taken occasion II
their memoirs to speak OF Sheridan In
the highest terms, and ] consider tht
estimates Of these two ChiefCommander
are Just, and their praise well deserved
Grant knew Sheridan best, and his trib
ute to his gallant subordinate is one o
the many touches which have revealed
to US the true character and generou
nature Of the greatest soldier OF history
To Sherman my dead friend was bes
known as young officer full Of dasl
, and vigor, yet he saw enough OF him 4
know that Philip Sheridan was no com
r mon soldier. He was q marked maj
even Mt West Point, for he displayed u
that early stage in his military life tn
; samesterlingqualities which subsequent