The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-06-16
A Passage in Sherldan's Life.

| Fnllauelphla Times: The raising O1
Lieutenant-G General Sheridan to the rank
OF general recalls an incident connected
with his promotion to his present grade
The autumn of 1868 will he remembered
by many az having witnessed series of
Indian atrocities on the Solomon and
Saline rivers, of Kansas, as tiendish and
revolving as any in the history of from
tier experiences. Major-General Sheri.
dan then CO ommanded the department OF
the Platte, with headquarters at Fort
Leavenworth. With his usual celerity of
action he sent out detachments of troops
in pursuit Of the .savages, to keep them
| occupied while he massed his main
forces and his supplies ut Fort Hays and
other points on that line. He resolved
to make a winter campaign, an untried
and hazardous venture, and determined
to take charge Of the expedition in per-
| son. The Indians had been routed at all
points, villages had been broken up,
ponies captured and utilized or killed.
Many proud warriors had been laid low,
and Moketavetah and his band of dog
soldiers Of the Cheyennes, the chief per.
petrators of the Kansas massacres. had
been annihilated with the exception of
one warrior, who escaped. Upward of
10000 Indians of the Kiowa, Cheyenne,
Arapahoe, Comanche and Apache tribes
had been brought into subiection and
placed under military surveillance in the
! valleys of the Wichita, near the mouths
of Medicine Bluff and Cache Greeks.
The campaign was ended. Victory had
again perched upon the colors of Sher-
dan. One day towards the middle Of
February there was Il stir in camp. The
general was about to return to the rail
road at Fort Hays,whence he had started
iu November. The general, detach-
ment of the Tenth cavalry, Col. Lebo,
Col. Schuyler Crosby, Maj. j. W. Clous,
Col. McGonigle and the writer constitu-
ted the party, and before them lay vast
Indian waste of 400 miles. The distance
had been traversed. While approaching
the Smoky Hill river, less than twenty
miles from the fort, fleet courier was
seen advancing. 1t was March 6, 1862
The courier saluted proudly and galloped
The courier, being informed that the gen
eral was at the head of the party, turned
his horse and dashed gallantly up to the
general. Bringing his animal on his
launches by the suddenness of his halt,
standing in his stirrups, and raising his
saluting hand to the visor of his cap, he
exclaimed:
NJ have the honor of saluting the lieut.
enant-general of the armies of the United
States," simultaneously handing him
dispatch.
The general took the yellow envelop.
His face was flushed with mingled sensa-
tiOns of pride and emotion. His hand
trembled with feeling as it never was
known to under the heat Of battle as he
opened the packet. 1t was telegram
from General Sherman substantially in
these words: "Grant has been inaugurated
He has just nominated me for general
and you for lieutenant-generdl."
ITO the Acknowledgements went up in
shouts along the little column of officers
and troopers which broke the solemn
solitudes of the Smokey Hills. ITO the
lieutent-general!' again and again in
in rounds of cheers.
If ever brave )ldier looked an elo-
quence of gratitude and pride Sheridan
did on that right midday on the banks of
the Smoky Hills. Spurring the prancing
steeds, who seemed to feel the inspiration
Of the stirring martial scene, the column
soon gallOped across the intervening
stretch of plain to Fort Hays.
The next day the general, Col. Crosby,
and the writer went to the department
headquarters. Before the middle of
March they reached Washington, where |
the lieutenant-general was laden with |
social honors by the President and army
in recognition Of his victorious campaign |
and well earned promotion.