Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-31
GEN. SHERIDAN,s FIRST COMMAND.
How He Became Colonel Of the Second
Michigan Cavalry.

| General sheridan, at the meeting OF the Society,"
Of the Army OF NE Cumberland, at Grand Rapids
Mich, in 1856, gave an interesting account OF hi
experience on FIRST taking command in the war
Governor Alger, In his address Of welcome to tn,
society," referred to the fact that IL was at Crane
Rapids that the old Second Michigan Cavalry
General Sher1dan's d rst command in the war; wa.
born and Graded. General Sheridan In his Response
said: IL started, might say you know from Crane
Rapids As the governor has said, the regiment
| frst commanded during the war was raised IL
| this place, and was appointed its colonel. d.
| not know who recommended me; all know is that
l was IN my tent down at shiloh and Major Algel
| came In and presented me a telegram from Gov.
| ernor Blair appointing me colonel OF the regf.
ment l went u see General Halleck, and he said
| could not do It, could not 60. / waited for an
hour or two, and after some further conference he
| consented 70 my taking command OF the regiment.
! was quarterInaster then, and commissary, too
1 think; and turned over my property as Quieuy
| as could that afternoon and joined the regiment
after dark. 1 did not know q single man
| In the regiment; was introduced 10 them,
and took piece Of bacon and bareback, and ate
ton the pomrnel OF my saddle, and we started out
| ana made that rad across TO Bonneville. We
seemed TO get along pretty well together, and we
fought seven or eight times that month; and In a
| few months after took command OF that regi-
Inent Was brigadier-geDerai. Now, ii is Sngu-
| lar, but l never was mustered into the service
until a few days ago. had command OF the I'd
Michigan cavalry, but never was mustered In; !
Old not have time. And Gov. Robinson knows that
was acknowledgement before I asked him to
commission me as colonel OF the % Michigan cav
alry."
WHAT GEN. ALGER SAYS.
Detroit (Mich) special to the Phila. Press says:
"1t seems but yesterday that saw him first, IN
1862, when the I'd Michigan cavalry was before
Cortnth, and Halleck had command OF the western
army" said Gen. II. A. Alger to-day, In speaking
OF Gen. sheridan. 81 was then on one Of the cam
paigns OF the I'd. Gov. Blair came to the camp
with Gen. Robertson, acknowledgement OF the
Landing, thirty miles south. Col. Gordon Granger
was promoted ENCOURAGEMENT, and that left us
without colonel. The officers chose capt. Sheri-
dan, at that time acting commSSary On Hallecks
staff. Twas charged with the duty OF communi-
eating the Officers wishes TO Gov. Blair, and with
Lieut.. Frank Walbridge rode TO Pttsburg Landing.
delivered my message, but the governor hesi-
tated. reiterated the fact that he was considered
the best man for the place: AN right said the
Than l. He wrote Sheridan's appointment on a
page OF note paper.
.'walbridge and.I rode back to camp that night.
My brother officers deputed me 10 acquaint Sher-
ldan with his promotion, and rode down to Hal
lecks headquarters. L had never seen Sheridan,
ana was somewhat surprised when 1 was intro
duced 10 a little bit OF fellow weighing about 13o
pounds, with big head, resolute eye and broad
shoulders. ills form tapered down To his feet Ike
an iron wedge. DESIGNATING, l. said, rs This
Colonel SheTlQaI?'
I'm Captain sheridan, of the Army he replied,
with quiet glance The word Army with West
POINTERS meant Regular Army
wen you're my colonel said, handing him
Governor Blair's note. He was considerably elated
Other stan officers, suSpecting something, gath
ered around and Sheridan handed them the note
10 read. Then came deluge or congratulations
and Misunderstanding and an adjournment to q tent
Tor refreshments.
Colonel here's your health, said the officer
nodlng up glass or spirits and hope that IL Is
only a step 10 a brgadier's STAR The toast was
drank with enthusiasm, but Sheridan said: mo,
tnank you, gentlemen, am now a colonel Of cav
airy, and have got all the rank want
"HoW little many men know what they want at
any period or life and how little did he anyone
eIse 1Orsee his future progress TO the head or the
Army OF the United States. From the first day
the regiment warmed TO It's new commander. The
contact was like the sharp blow or a steel weapon,
scattering showers OF sparks, The name kindled in
the nrst Iwenty-fOur hours and before we returned
10 Corlnth the enthusiasm and devotion for our
new commander were intensified with a vivid
name Of i6olitary.
'ln battle Sheridan was terribly ugly man. He
was proane and bitter in his obJurgatlons In case
OF tarulneS5 ana failure. He never raved or
frothed at the mouth, but he was short sharp hot
peppery, crusty, sarcastic, vehement and full OF
ngnt even with his own staff. Excuses were In
vain. When his maneuverS were successful he
never stopped 10 receive praise; he accepted 1t as
perfectly natural, but when anything went wrong
he was perfectly savage. But IN repOSe he was
KIND, genial, ana gentlemaniy. He had none Of
the starch aud dignity that attach 10 many regu-
lar Army officers, ana was approachabie even by
the lumDle,C QriyateD