Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-16

ing. from which point after resting three days,
he returned to the army on the 24th. having de-
stroyed many miles OF railroad track, besides
trains and great quantity OF ratioas, and re-
capturing S75 Union soldiers on their way to
Libby prison This expedition included repul-
ses fthe enemy at Beaver Dam May 10, and
NJ Meadow Bridge on the 18th. and the defeat
on the intervening day. of J. E B. Stuarrs
cavalry AT Yellow Tavern, where Stuart was
killed Sheridan was next engaged at Hanover
town and Totopotomy creek. May q; Halves
Store. May -; MatadeQuin creek, May 50:
Cold Harbor, May 81 and June l. On June he
was sent with two divisions TO cut the Virginia
Central railroad near Charlottesville. and to es-
cort across to Grants army the Shenandoah
valley forces OF General Hunter. The enemy's
cavalry. under Hampton, disputed his
progress 1T TreVillian station. June IL.
but were driven back after n severe
battle. The next day. however. Sheridan.
satisfied that neither Charlottesville nor Cor
donsuille could be reached. and hearing moth
ing Of Hunter, withdrew his forces, having
broken the railroad at Trevillian ON his return
the enemy's cavalry attacked him AZ TunStall.
on the 2lst, and he skirmished again on the cath
n ST. Mary's Church. Toward the end OF July
Sheridan moved north or the James, 10 aid
General Hancocks operations At Deep Bottom,
and on the 18th was engaged at Darby town
Meanwhile. Early maintained q threatening
position in the valley. Grant, accordingly, on
August Z. put General Sheridan In command OF
the middle military division. with army COM
prising two divisions OF his own cavalry the
Sixth corps. under Wright, a part OF the Nine
teenth, under Emery, and the Army OF West
Virginia, under Crook. Six weeks passed with
out result, as Early had been reinforced and
kept Sheridan on the defensive near Harper
Ferry. But on September -. when Early 5
forces had been diminished. Sheridan crossed the
OpeQuon, and, in q hard battle, completely de-
feated him. sending him, as Sheridan tele-
graphed, 'whirling through Winchester" The
next day President Lincoln, Mt Grants recon-
mendation, appointed Sheridan Brigadier-
General In the regular army. Pursuing Early
up the valley turnpike, on the 20th, Sheridan
found him strongly posted on Fishers Hill,
just beyond Strasburg. Secretly moving
Cooks command through the woods, he turned
the enemy's left on the I'D. and drove him
from his stronghold. capturing sixteen guns.
The losses of Sheridan and those OF Early
were almost exactly equal in these two battles
combined, being about 5,4O0 eauh; but
Sheridan had also captured twenty-dne guns
and many small arms. Sheridan continued the
pursuit up the valley, and took post at Harrison
burg, while Early withdrew TO Browns Gap.
Believing 1t impracticable or hazardous TO pro-
coed either to Lynchburg or Charlottesville,
Sheridan. with Grants approval, withdrew
down the valley, burning its mills barr end crops
on the way. Early followed with his csvairyunder
Rosser and Lomax TO Toms BrooRt near Fish
er's Hill, where Sheridan's horsemer, uader Tru-
bart, turned and defeated them, OCtober9, cap
turing eleven cavalry guns, and. il decd, almost
''every thing on wheels, ;" and driving them back
twenty miles. Sheridan then passed through
Strasburg and posted his troop on tile farther
bank OF Cedar creek while he himself on the
10th. went TO Washington in response 10 a re-
quest from Mr. Stanton for consultation. Be
fore sunrise OF October 10 Early, who had been
reinforced, aided by fog surprised the left OF
the Union army, held by Crooks command,
and uncovered the position also OF the Nine
teenth corps, capturing twenty-fouI guns and
about 400 prisoners. General Wright sue
ceeded in retaining his grasp on tie turnpike
by moving the Sixth corps TO its western side
and the cavalry TO its eastern, but the whole
army, in the process, had been driven back be-
yond Middletown. Sheridan. who was at Win
chester, on his return from Washing ton, hear
ing the noise OF battle, dashed up the pike with
an escort OF twenty men, rallying theefugitVes
on the way. and. after a ride OF a dozen miles,
reached the army, which received him with
great enthusiasm Having fully prepared
his forces during lull OF several
hours, he ordered an advance, and
swept the enemy from the field in one of the
most overwhelming routs of the All of
the lost Union guns were retaken and twenty
four Confederate guns and many wagons were
captured. Congress passed a vote Of thanks to
him and his troops for the brilliant series Of
victories IN the valley, and especially the one
at Cedar creek Sheridan was appointed by
the President a Maior-General in the regular
army FOR the personal gallantry, military skill
and just confidence in the courage and patriot
Ism OI your troops QlSp oyeQ Dy you on bne lOLn
day of October"
On February % 1867 General Sheridan moved
his cavalry, 10000 strong, up the valley to
Waynesboro. where March 3 1t overthrow the
remnant of Early's force. capturing about $50
men. He then destroyed the locks OF the
James river canal and broke the railroads
toward Gordonsville and Lynchburg. Making
his way towards Grants army, he arrived OF
White House March 10.
With She ridan's cavalry at his disposal Grant
now began the final campaign. Crossing the
Peninsula to James river March ~, Sheridan
passed TO the LEFT OF the Union army. and on
the 2eth occupied Dinwiddie court house. Two
days later he was attacked by a heavy force OF
Lees infantry under Pickett and Johnson, but
the following day. being reinforced by the Fifth
corps under Warren, Sheridan. by a beautiful
tactic movement, entrapped and completely
routed Pickett and Johnson at Five Forks, cap
turing thousands OF prisoners. Petersburg be-
ing assaulted the next morning, Lee abandoned
that city and Richmond and took flight. The
pursuit was prompt, with Sheridan far in the
van, constantly harassing the enemy, and final
ly, aided by the Sixth AID Second corps, cap
turing nearly all of Ewells command on the 9th
at Sailors creek. Two days later Sheridan
again fought the enemy at Appomattax station,
and on the 9th occurred Lees surrender.
Later in April, Sheridan conducted an ex-
petition into North Carolina, and on June 8
took command OF the military division OF the
Southwest, at New Orleans. Relieved by Pres
ident Johnson, August 70, 1857, during the re-
construction troubles in Louisiana he was as
signed September 12 TO the Department OF The
Missouri. On March 4. 1852 he was
promoted to the rank OF Lieuten-
ant-General and the 10th assumed
command of the Division OF the Missouri. with
headquarters at Chicago. During the Franco
German war OF 1670-11, he visited Europe, anc
was present as a spectator at several famous
engagements. On November ]. 1885, by di-
rection OF President Arthur. he assumed COM
mand OF the army OF the United States with
headquarters al Washington, in place of Cen
eral Sherman, who was relieved by request,
preparatory to retirement in the spring of 1854
General Sheridan's rank until recently had
been that OF Northumberland but since his
illness, evidence of the high esteem in
which his services TO his country were regarded.
a bill was quickly passed by both houses Of
Congress and signed by the President confer
ring upon him the title OF General Of the armies
OF the United States.
General Sheridan married Miss Ire ne Rucker