The Irish standard., 1888-08-11

;. the famous Fifth military district
comprising the states OF Louisiana ant
Texas in 1857. He removed the Gov
ernors Of these states on the ground
:. that they were impediments to recon
struction, and supported congress ir
it's contest with President Johnson
who removed Gen. Sheridan from his
Icommand in 1867, against the advice
and strong protest of Gen. Grant, On
|,election of Grant to the Presidency
ISheridan was appointed lieCtenantgen.
eral to succeed Gen. Sherman, who was
made general in place of Gen. Grant.
For years Gen. Sheridan commanded
the military division of the Missouri,
with headquarters at Chicago; and on
the retirement of Sherman in 1884, re-
moved to Washington and assumed,
as next in rank, the command OF the
army. On the LIST day of June, during
the illness of Gen Sheridan, bill was
introduced and passed by congress re-
storing the rank Of General Of the
Army. The bill was approved oy Pres
ident Cleveland, who at once sent the
name OF Gen. Sheridan to the senate
The nomination was confirmed in three
minutes after it's reception, and at 2:45
o'clock, June l, 1888, Philip H. Sheri-
dan was commissioned General of the
| Armies of the United States. An hour
later Gen. Sheridan signed his accept
ance of the comm ssion and issued his
drst general order.
HOW SHERIDAN BECAME A SOLDIER.
General Sheridan never gave up any
thing he undertook. and his ambition
! to become soldier was no exception.
Believing q will always made a way,
he applied to Hon. Thomas Ritchey,
member Of congress from his county,
for appointment to West Point. The
gentleman was pleased with the boys
determination to succeed, and though
such places were usually reserved for
those whose fathers had served in the
Mexican war, he did all in his power to
secure him the appointment. Perhaps
no one was more surprised shan Phil,
himself, when, after preliminary ex-
animation, he was informed Chat he
had passed, and that the dream Of his
life was, indeed, to be realized.
Feeling that he was deficient in
scholarship, he applied to his room
mate, Henry w. Slocum, afterwards a
major general, for assistance in study
ing algebra and geometry. He would
hang blankets at his window at night,
and keep up his studies after the hour
designated for retiring. In 1853 he
graduated, and was made second lieut.
enant in the United States infantry,
Fort Duncan, Oh the western boundary
of Texas, being the point to which he
was assigned. Here he first encoun-
tered real hardships, and learned some
thing of the self denials which war de-
mands.
His mother said that she was bitterly
opposed to his entering West Point,
but as things turned out, she was
willing to acknowledge that hs under
stood himself better than she did.
LETTERS OF COINCIDENCE.
Among the many letters of condo
lence received by the bereaved family
of General Sheridan were the following
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHING
TON, Aug. 6. l888.--To Mrs. Sheridan,
Nonquitt, via New Bedford: While
the nation mourns it's loss and shares
your sor, ow, let me express to you my
personal grief and most sincere condo.
lence. GROVER CLEVELAND.
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug, 6.-To Colonel
Michael Sheridan, Nonquitt Cottage:
The Irish National League Of America
sympathizes in your bereavement, and
begs of you to convey to Mrs. Philip
Sheridan and family its coincidence in
the great aff1ictlon that has befallen
them in the death of her gallant and
beloved husband. The Irish race
unites with the American people in the
national sorrow that mourns the loss
Ol Gu6 lllSu.aluOl1C1u LULU VI w III
chester, whose military genius contri-
buted so much to save the Union, and
whose devotion to Ireland was second
only to his love for America.
JOHN FITZGERALD,
President I. N. l.. of A.
THE SHERIDAN OBsEQUIEs.
The remains of General Sheridan ar
rived in Washington Thursday after
noon, and were taken directly to st.
Matthew's church, where they will re-
main until taken to the cemetery.
Father Mackin went from Washington
to Baltimore Wednesday to arrange
with Cardinal Gibbons the details In
regard to the funeral services. At the
special request Of Mrs. Sheridan, Car
dinal Gibbons will preach a sermon at
the funeral of Gen. p. III. Sheridan on
CONTINUED on Eighth PageJ