Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-09-07


said he in recent interview. II have
known him from the time he and en-
tered the same class at West Point in
1848.
"When he left West Point he was
sent to Texas as second lieutenant of
the First Infantry, and I saw little of
him until 1854. when he became second
lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry, of
which [ was also in command. The
following year, when / was on the Pa
cific coast, General Hood, who was
commanding the cavalry, was sent
away on a surveying expedition, and
during his absence General Sheridan
was assigned to take his place as Sec
ond lieutenant of the Second Cavalry.
l was then with him during the topo-
graphical expedition through the Cas-
cade range of mountains in looking for
suitable military pass. After this we
did not meet again till 1863, once in
the Army of the Cumberland, and then
[ did not even get chance to speak to
him.
"Our most memorable meeting was
when Gen. Sheridan made his famous
ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek.
[ was the first man he spoke to after
he had time to get his breath on reach
ing the Union forces. NLiddletown
was some distance away from where
the main body of the army was rally
ing along Cedar Creek. The turnpike
road leading through the village of
Middletown ran along Cedar Greek for
some distance, and we could see the
General flying on his horse long dis
lance before he was within ear-shot. I
can see him now as he came riding up
with his horse all in foam, his TANKS
bleeding from spur-thrusts, and the
rider flushed with excitement and al
most as breathless as his steed. 1t
was scene never to be forgotten.
ave had routed the enemy some
thirty minutes or so before Gen. Sheri-
dan reached us, and we were spending
our time in gathering up the stray
glers. There seemed to be no imme-
date danger, and we were taking the
situation rather coolly. Sheridan, of
course, had no knowledge of what had
been done, and thought that great
issues hung on his arrival in time. He
rode up to the general headquarters,
leaped from his horse, and without
ever taking time to tie it, called out:
Where is Gen. Crook?'
II was not far away and ran up as
soon as possible. What is the situa-
tion?' he asked. 1 told him that there
was no immediate danger as our
forces were largely in the majority and
our position was pretty we'll guarded.
He said: we must never give up till
we have routed the enemy These
were not his exact words. They were
in the more forcible language in which
Gen. Sheridan in moments of excite
ment was wont to indulge.
"The distance which Gen. Sheridan
rode, think, was something like twelve
miles. The story Of the ride as told in
the favorite poem is tritie idealized,
but in the main a pretty correct account
Of the event And yet no poetic Ian
guage could express the thrilling in
terest of that scene, as the soldiers be-
held their commander coming to their
aid, and raised their voices in q univer-
sal shout as he approached, riding as
only Phil Sheridan could ride.
after it was known that there was
no immediate danger, Gen. Sheridan
gage his orders to the different officers.
He, of course, assumed chief command,
instead of Gen. Wright, Of the Sixth
Corps, who had been in command dur
ing the Generals absence.
''Ihe rest OF that engagement is now
part OF history and need not go into
the details. But 1 will add this, that
the ride and the engagement that fol-
lowed illustrated in notable way
Gen. Sheridan's style of fighting.
Many people have given him credit
for great dash, brilliancy, and boldness
i'll battle, but this is not the truth. His
dominant characteristic as fighter
was his tenacity. He never would
yield as long as there was the shadow
of a chance. It is said that he never
knew fear. This consider no compli-
ment to any general. 1t means either
that he had not enough se"aa To rnaliza