Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-08-15
GENERAL SHERIDAN.


Genuine regret Is expressed for the
gallant soldier, Phillip H. Sheridan. Vet
Grams Of the war are telling stories
of his martial deeds which serve to ex-
tend still more the public regard for the
hero whose exploits recall the chivalry
of the lion hearted Richard and the re-
sistless onslaughts of the great Napoleon.
Sherman, the last Of the three great com
manders, whose names loom up above all
others, was deeply affected when he
heard of his gallant comrades death. lie
could say much Of the gallant command
er who rendered his own success so Sc
cure, but what nobler verdict could sher-
idun desire from his companions-in-arms
than Sherman has expressed in this ex-
cellent opinion IF his matchless SER
vices:
Sheridan's history is identical with that
OF the army of the Potomac until he was
detached by Grant and sent to the Shen-
andoah Valley. He there displayed the
unqualified characteristics OF general IN
command Of separate line Of operations.
His dispositions and man9uvers at Win
chester were admirable in all their de-
tails, and his success was corresponding.
He closed the Shenandoah Valley forever
in the operations Of Lees army as a base
of supplies and line OF diversions into
Maryland 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 confederacy.
This judgment corresponds with the
public verdict, which after lapse Of 20
years unites IN according the highest
honors to Sheridan who was awarded by
congress rank equal to that held only by
Washington and Grant .....-.
1t was characteristic of Sheridan that
the minor incidents of his career display
ed his merits as we'll as those brilliant
deeds which astonshed the people. Thus
being asked long after the war what was
his opinion of the Army Of the Potomac
his warm regard for the rank and file
found expression in the remark: "The
Army of the Potomac was all right. The
trouble was the commanders never went
out to lick anybody, but always thought
first of keeping from getting licked"
Sheridan was also seen at his best in the
reply he made to Meade who had said to
him after foray in which he had brush
with Stuart's cavalry: "Never mind
Stuart. He will do about as he pleases,
anyhow. 60 on and tell me what you dis
covered about Lees forces" This made
Sheridan mad and he retorted in the
rough and ready style of soldier:
"D-n Stuart; I can thrash hell out of
him any day." Meade appears to have
taken him at his word, for soon after he
was ordered to cross the river, engage
Stuart and clean him out The result
Sheridan related briefly: II knew could
whip him." he said, "if could only get
him where he could not fall back on Lees
infantry. So thought the matter over,
and, to draw him on, started straight for
Richmond. We moved fast and Stuart
dogged right at our heels. We kept on a
-'-S vi
J lis, just where we wanted him. He had
marched all night and got around us.
Then rode him down. Ismashed his
command, and broke up his divisions and
regiments and brigades and the poor fell
low himself was killed, too"
Sheridan further relates how, with his
600 men, he might then have made dash
on Richmond and entered that city, but
he resisted ''the greatest temptation of his
life" rather than sacrifice his men for his
own fame. "He fought for results and
not for glory" as one of his admirers
says. ..-- .l.@
No wonder that today soldiers and civ
ilians filled the church where his requiem
was sung and that thousands followed
the remains of the brave soldier to the
grave where he SLEEPS among the com
rades he loved so we'll.