Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-12
GENERAL PHIL SHERIDAN.
Incidents of the Life and Battles Of
the Dead Hero.
HOW HE WENT TO WEST POINT
An Experience as n Licutcnant-Thc
Mission Ridge Charge-How Sheri-
dams Ride Came About His
Bravery i'm Battle.
How He went to West Point.

unused Colonel William Sexton. Il can
tell you u story about Pills father that
is pretty good | remember telling this
story to u crowd at meeting of the
Loyal Legion one night. General Shcr-
idan was one of the party and enjoyed
the yarn hugely. He neither affirmed
nor denied the truth of the story, and
I'll give il to you for what it's worth.
Phil Shcridan's father, John Sheridan,
was good old Irishman back in York
state. He was something of u politician
in those days, always voting the straight
democratic ticket. The congressional
district was largely democratic. One
day an old friend of his-of the same
nationality and of the same jolly old
class-came to old man Sheridan and
says: John, I've got great moind
to run for congress. There s darned
sight bigger fools than myself in Wash
ington. If you'll back me, old man, I'll
give 'em whirl Just for the fun of the
thing Sheridan promised his hearty
cooperation. and his friend secured the
nomination and was elected by u rous
Ing majority. He went to Washington
and served his first term, acquitting
himself fully as well as the majority of
his associates. On his return home he
went to the house of his old friend,
John Sheridan. After a general con
versation about the scenes and events
at Washington, the newly fedged
statesman said:
"'John, have found out that have
the appointment OF n cadet think
that's the name-to a government
school at West Pint. | have decided to
send one OF your sons. Now which one
shall | name. Mike or Philip
The old man thought while and
asked: ''What kind of school did you
say it was, Pat?n
"'Faith don't know iist what kind
of a school it is, but from what | can
learn it's place where they make sol
jers.
"Soliers moditated the old gentle
man, glancing at the two BOYS. who
were most attentive listeners. I'll tell
you what you do, Pat. Foind out jist
what kind OF a place this government
school is. If it's a school whore they
teach book-larning I'll send Mike, but
II it's fighters they want, be the powers
III send Phil, who can lick any boy in
the district'
"After the necessary investigation
had been made, ," continued Colonel Sex
ton, ''the old man selected Phil, and
that was how he came to go to West
- Pcint. His subsequent career demon
strates that neither his father nor con-
gressional friend made any mistake"
When Sheridan was last in Chicago
he told some friends of the incident of
his career as second Lieutenant,
Fourth infantry, in 1854. 1t was in con
nection with escort duty to a paymas-
ter, U. S. A., and the safekeeping Of
about $4,000. The disbursing officer
had provided himself with that sum, all
in gold. pieces. in a canvass sack, in
tending to use the money to pay off cer-
I.
proper destination. Meantime the re-
sponsibility for the custody of the
money was vested in Lieutenant Sheri-
dan, who found himself incumbered
with troublesome yellow elephant.
The general said that one night
he didn't feel well, so he left
the camp, and taking the money
with him, went to sleep in Il rough
looking house near by. The lower part
of the house was filed with the usual
western rough characters, and the lieu
tenant knew that if he didn't keep one
eye open he'd stand good chance Of
losing the gold. Said he, in telling the
story: During the night it became
necessary for me to leave my shake
down and visit the guard on something
OF course | had to carry the money with
me, Then had to lug it upstairs
again to my room. Not many minute.
later had to do the same thing ovel
again, and the canvas bag was intern
ally heavy to carry. There / was, hin
dered and burdened by a pile of metal
afraid to go to sleep lest | be robbed
unable to leave it for the same reason
sweating and anxious. My arms ache,
good deal that night, Juggling the ba!
IN and out, as my necessities compelled
and I've been a convert to paper none,
ever since"
The Mission Ridge Charge.
Chicago Tribune: 1.-THE first time
saw General Sheridan" )" said membe
Df the Nineteenth Illinois infantry
''was at the battle of Mission Ridge
We had formed in line of battle in tn
timber facing the ridge, not KNOWN
what was coming. We were ordere
forward and emerged from the timbe
in full view of the rebels. There was
small creek in our front and many of ou
boys were trying to keep their feet dr.
by crossing on a log, but a comman
from one of our officers brought the boy
into line again and the creek wa
waded. Then we started across tn
clear space between the timber and tn
foot Of the ridge, in one of the prettie,
lines ever saw; the flags were fyin
and it looked like a grand rt
view. The rebels in the first line
breastworlls were making their way
the top of the ridge, and we soon occl
pied their places in the works they ha
Just left amid shower of bullets and
fusillade OF cannonading. Then con
menced our scramble up the hill, taliir
advantage of every stump, bush, an
rocky prominence to cover our advanC
and pick off the sharpshooters in froi
who were annoying US. At this m
ment, to my surprise, a man in a cor
mon blouse, riding black horse, can
picking his way up the ridge right
Dur ranks. sald to some of the bo
nround: Why is that foolhardy mt
who is courting death?' That is Ge
eral Sheridan said one Of the boys, al
then a cheer went up as he continu,
On his way. Occasionally he would ST.
TO give advice or directions and e
couragement to the boys, but never di
mounting. We lost in that advan
four color-bearers and large numb
pf men, but the little general rode /
horse unlujured to the top of the ridg
/ saw him again as we had almC
reached the crest, picking his W