The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-07
"REMINISCENCES.
Sheridan as a Cadet and a Brevet Second Lieuten-
ant-An Incident at CincinRRti-SOme Hitherto
Untold History and Incidents.
OK mn OREGON FRoNTTER


The first time that Gen Sheridan was de-
liTious TO any extent, was Sunday night May
81 after the use of oxygen had been adopted to
aid the lungs IN purifying his sluggish blood.
In bis wild fancies there was nothing IN his
later life as General Chief of the Army, nor
as Division Commander at Chicago, nor even
Of his wonderful exploits during the war but
his mind was busy over the trihes and details
Of his duty more than 80 years ago at the little
post Of Fort Yamhill, in southern Oregon,
where lie was Post Quartermaster and Commits
ssry.
His clerk there was a trooper in the 1st Ora
goons. named William T. 3. Levy, and almost
ali Of the sick mans talk was with and Of Levy.
Levy lives here in Washington now, keeping
little store on Four-and-a-half street south
west, and the writer hunted him up last week
10 talk Of those days when Sheridan was a
Lieutenant.
Sheridan was sent to Yamhill in 1855 when
that post was established, after the Yakima
Indian war, in which the future General had
CALAMITY distinguished himself
it was In the Yakima war that Sheridan,
with q detachment of only 40 men, attacked
and rounded up over 600 OF the hostiles at the
Cascades Of the Oregon.
Old Serg't Levy tells me that Sheridan was
the most kindly and cousiderate man to his sub
orliuatcs that he ever served with during about
so years IN the army. and he doubts il any OIL
Ger was ever more dearly loved by his men.
lie had the devils own temper, Levy says, but
il was like setting Of a blank cartridge with a
coal of FIRE wide fash puff of smoke in
tie shape Of emphatic remarks, and the whole
thing Was over. Lieut.. Sheridan was not strong
iE 0rtbog@pby in those days, and never paid
the least attention TO such a trihe as punctga-
ti0u One day he famed out at Levy il his
imteiuOus way, and told him very emphatic
ally thac he wanted a certain official letter he
had prepared, copied just as it was, verba-
tim. Levy Obeved orders and followed copy
SO literally that Sheridan told him that he
might haye put in a little better spelling with
out hurting himself or disobeying orders, and
smiled grimIy as the letter was handed back to
/ be rewritten.
Sneridan's Captain in the 4th Inf in those
days an Oregon was David A. Russell, vino be-
came NHj0r-General during the war, and was
killed at Cedar Creek while leading division
Of the Sixth Corps under his former Lieuten-
ant. The First Lieuteuant of the company
WAS THAI john b. Hood whose relel army was
destroyed hy Gen. George Ill. Thomas.
III l156, while still stationed at Fort Eamhill,
the Rogue River Indians became uneasy at the
eacr03chmea- Of white men upon their lands,
and threatened to - out on the W8rpatn. The
! tribe WAS related to and somewhat ike the
! Naz rercas in character, aud tile danger was
/ alarming. Sheridan took the bull 1y the horns
lie took a detachment OF not more tHau dozen
or - Dragons of 4. J. Smiths troop, rode
rapidly hundred miles away TO the Rogue
4 River reservation. and dlsarmed the whole
IIi5a almost single handed That settled the
. whole business that year, although the trlbe
broke out three years later and was subdued
. only after great exertions.
lu l-J6 Fort SlletZ was established on tht
Columbia River near The Cascades, and Sheri
daH was sent there 10 build the post, and Levy
was lett behind. ears and years later Onl 5
some dozen Of years ago, Gen. Sheridan, while
commanding the Division OF the Missouri
paid an Official visit 10 Fort ID. A. Russell
10 Wyoming. near Cheyenne. Among tht
troops there WIS the company commanded bs
Mai. George K Brady, 23d IuL Levy vas
serving in the company, aud took occasion tC
present himself to the Lieutenant-General ht
had cerked for Is Lieutenant - years before
Well, Levy" said Sheridan, recognizing
him at once What's up? What can do foI
you2"
Levy told him he wanted to be appointed {
COmmis>aTy Sergeant as ne was kept Oh cieri
cal duty all the time. and could get 10 promo
tiou.
You Just mail me an application direct,
replied tbe General I'll get it for you
Brady or no Brady clerk or no clerk. / know
you are competent for the position, aud yol
know exactly when mess pork should read sal
and hardtack mean beans"
Levy got the place he wanted Just as gUel
IS tic maiis could reach C0mmiss4r rystIenera
iiac.eely and carry back the desired warrant
and that's how 2aj. Brady lost his compan.
clerk.
BUCHANAN READ AND SHERIDAN.
When the rebellion ended in 1915 the write
had MS headquarters II Coyiugtoa, Just aCros
the beautiful Ohio River from Cincinnati, Az
while stationed there Sheridan came aiun
from the las, "a route TO New Orleans to tax
command there
lie was preceded to Cincinnati by the 1st {
S. Cay.-the old ist rag0Ous-WAicn was the
his body gCaTd, sna rhe whole OF Cincinnati
went wild wlth excitement over the advent c
the hero ol Cedar creek.
IL arrived On a train that came IN from CO
lEHIbus a about go p. U., delayed somehow
bur the loyal men there were waiting SheT
dan was one Of the three greatest military idol
% The country. &ug al the tGrcC-tIrant, Suel
man aud sHGrldau--Werc buckeyes, two Dor
T On OHios soil, and the other raised there roI
bis early 50yhOOd. Shy should not OHIO Inc
, troop forth 10 greet the hero they were s
proud Of
Illuminated screeds Of welcome decorated ih
streets through which Sheridan passed fr0i
tae depot 10 -he Burnett House. and thence
the great Opera House Of PIke=, where I'll
. sturdy solder had agreed by telegraph 10
. present tHal night.
-tTak0scls Italian Opera troupe sang tn
+ then new opera oE LAlucaiue thar night, ar
: i was during taal scene when tie deck OF Oil
pirate ship S crowded ylth Is crew aud tho
p ll.appg FgI7JGcr5 t4aJ q little hustle in I'll
[. rear 9t iHe lauas announced the arrival
sheridan. Ihe house was crowded from pa
guet 70 gallery, aud as the General and 3
I escort entered the .rigat-haud stage box {!
great audience rose As one man and broke loo
/. iii roar of cheers.
!. Sheridan 5lusHingly bowed his thanks f
d the ogaaUn, but the uproar did not end. i
O. opera aid eud Tor a time, aud the host OF sin
er= and chorus drew lack in u long line III g.l
& sal stage ~ give way ~ tire greater a5J9ucti9
4 j was in the great audience with Gen. Jam
4 T. Wade, now Colonel Cf the 5th Z. S. Ca
. AND beta 0l rs being brother buckeyes, we ~
Il Hahed cur fuI proportion o. tie 80 Sc. II
!. sa-ags oH the stage sang Eail Columbia
H and Tic StaF-Spaug!ea Banner" iu grai
3 chcsaS. bus the audience had "a lui prOporii,
!. Of old soldiers ia IT, aud there was a gcner
.e de.a4ul Tor Speech Speechl' Sheridan ecu
II uet see T. aud oGiy answered by ircquc
.- cefrecat0ty D0Es gf acknOwlea zment.
d, After about - minutes of The riot, han
!, seHl, long mus ached veteran in the 0rchest
"a c.re.e SIS Iug his one remaining leg up into /
c4a.r and held one Of hls crufches aloft
= c..il attention lie wore the uniform Of
r iu.tutry Captain, and the house quoted dol
i. Sd asa iU5-aat 20 ngar him.
-n Iltae hero OF Cedar Creek and Winchest
- won't make as a speech he SAID, lets hl
~ Thomas buchanan Read reciie lis story