The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-08-18

ldan as OeDeTai Oh the AdVdiTf loICts
the nation had complained that the
Federal cavalry had not performed
service commensurate with that of the
confederates and there had been some
grounds for complaint. ''rhe fault,
says history of the times, crested not
upon the men, nor of late upon the
leaders, but rather upon the com
manding generals, who failed to APP
preciate the true work of this arm OF
the service. They had been mainly
employed as scouts and in guarding
trains. Sheridan (to quote his own
words from his report, took up the
idea that our cavalry ought to fight
the enemy's cavalry, and our infantry
his infantry, and he resolved to cor
rect the want Of appreciation on the
part of infantry commanders as to the
power of Il large and well managed
body of horse, which led to the estab-
lished custom of wasting cavalry for
the protection of trains, and for the
establishment of cordons around u
sleeping infantry force"
Sheridan now found himself at the
heal Of Il cavalry corps of three divis-
ions numbering oyer 10000 men. He
thoroughly recognized the corps and
ever after that no word of censure was
uttered against the efforts of the cav
airy. Crossing the Rapidan he faced
the enemy compact body of horse
and men, covering the armies front
flank and rear with precision and
power. Now they would be found
fighting on fort and then mounted
would pursue the enemy, secure strate-
gic positions, in short, succeed where
ever they went.
When Lee fell back to Richmond
in the Spottsylvania campaign, Sheri-
dan was sent toward Richmond to
operate upon the enemy's line of com
mnnication while Grant took up his
position at Spo,tsylvania. The de-
sign was covered by movement east
ward towards Fredericksburg which
drew Stuart's confederate cavalry in
that direction. Sheridan then turned
sharply southwark, struck straight for
the railroad between Lees army and
Richmond. To cut off communication
with the confederate capital he de-
stroyed the railroad as he advanced,
while Stuart followed after him, at
lacking him in the rear, but without
any success. Now note the consummate
skill of the braye cavalry chieftain.
He had completely severed the con-
Tolerate cavalry from the main body,
and was strategically inviting them to
a conflict. Leisurely he proceeded to-
wards Richmond, and at Ashland
about twenty miles from Richmond he
fell upon Lees provision trains and
destroyed a ,nillion and half of rations
and most Of the medical stores. A
grim alternative indeed, but such is
war. BY this time the brave Stuart
of confederate cavalry fame, overlook
Sheridan at the Yellow Stone Tavern,
few miles from Richmond. The
union cavalry turned on their foe with
relentless energy and drove them back
with terrible hayoc and defeat. The
Sheridan of the confederacy, gallant
Stuart, was slain in this conflict, and
from that moment the confederate
cavalry was demoralized while the
union cavalry had won lasting laurels
for efficiency and success. Sheridan
pressed on to Richmond, passed
through the outer dcfences and if he
had had support Of the infantry would
haye passed through the inner ones
The intrepid warrior accordingly
struck for the James River below the
city to communicate with Butler as
well as to rest his men and horses and
get food and forage for them.
1t is certain that no cavalry corps
did harder work than Sheridan's from
May 1st to the end of July "a there
was hardly a day when he was not
engaging the enemy, and there were
many days when two and three times
in the day in succession he was fight
ing. Night or day the grand corps
was always ready, and so efficient did
the men and horses become that they
were declared invincible. Time and
again the infantry lost heart in their
conflict with the immovable Lee, bat
the cavalry nerer. Each successive
engagement they entered cheerfully
and hopefully with dash and spirit
which made them the admired of all.
The personality Of Sheridan was their
inspiration. Grant had so much CON
fidence in the General that he allowed
him great freedom Of action not in
frequently giving the simple order
ego in, leaving the method of "going
i'm TO Sheridan. 1t is true that Sheri-
dan impulsive i'll movements and had
much of the spirit known as the dare
devil spirit but it will be impossible
for any one to find a single instance
in his whole military career where he
rushed into action without cool calcu
lation before hand. He had head
on his shoulders. He made his plans
carefully, and then with dash car
ried them out. We have only to re-
view his experience at the battle OF
Opequan to prove this, and this was
the most critical period Of his military
life. Grant selected him to drive back
Early's forces from Virginia and
Maryland but Halleck and Stanton
objected giving as their reason that
they thought him still too young and
inexperienced. Grant however was
obdurate and Sheridan was given the
command. Now, defeat of Sheridan
corps and forces meant invasion OF
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and a
tedious prolongation of the war, but
the brave general was not afraid. He
went Immediately to the new scene Of
operations, taking with him one of hi:
old divisions of cavalry, and not long
after, calling for another. With these
and the troops he found in the valley