The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
GEN. SHERIDAN'S MEMOIRS
Interesting Extracts from the Book
Written by the Great Cavalry Leader.
Marching and Camping with His Men-His
First Interview with StantOn-The Ride 10
Cedar Creek-Estimates Of Lee and Grant.

lu6 DtEEdLAF ~ OifAA 4 ~
does not advance far before the reader begins to
understand the sources Of Sheridan's popularity
with his soldiers. Here is a paragraph from .
chapter on the expedition to Bonneville. show
ing the care he displayed for the bodily comfort
of the men who followed him:
Men who march, scout and fight, and suffer
sll the kardships that Fall to the lot OF soldiers
II the field. IN order 20 do vigorous work must
have the best bodily sustensnce and every COM
fort that can be provided. | knew from my ex-
periencs on the frontier that my efforts In this
direction would not only be appreciated, but re-
Quilted by personal affection and gratitude; aud,
further. that such exertions would bring the
best results TO me. Whenever my authority
would permit. | saved my command from need
less Sacrifices and unnecessary toll; therefore,
when hard or daring work was to be done, | eG-
pected the heartiest response, and always got
II Soldiers are sverse TO seeing their comrades
killed without compensating results. and none
realize more quickly than they the laundering
that often takes place on the field OF battle.
They want some tangible indemnity for the loss
Of life. and as victory is an Offset the value of
which - manifest, IL not only makes them con-
tent to shed their blood but also furnishes svl-
dence OK capacity in those who command them.
My regiment had lost very few men since COM
ing under my command, but it seemed. in the
eyes OF ell who belonged to it. that casualties
TO the enemy and some slight successes for Us
had repaid every sacrifice, and 10 consequence /
q kdlUt4 q Only lutlE COuuQclCcd . i4lcE
but also their esteem and love as men, and to o
degree far beyond what l then realized"
That the General himself learned what the
severest hardship was may be seen in a para
graph from the account of the battls OF Chicka-
manga He was greatly depressed by the out
come Of the fighting on that field. When night
came on he sought rest as follows:
Il lay down At the foot Of a tree. with my
saddle for o pillow and saddle blanket for a
cover. Some soldiers near me, having built a
fire. were making coffee, and l guess l must
have been looking on wistfully. for in a little
while they brought me n tin cup full OF the cof-
fee and = small piece OF hard bread, which |
relished keenly, i, being the first food that had
passed my lips since the night before. I wss
very tired, very hungry and much discouraged
BY what had taken place since morning. had
been obliged to fight my amman under the
most disadsantageous circumstances discon-
nected, without supports, without even oppor-
tunity to form In line OF battle, and at one time
contending against four divisions OF the enemy.
In this battle of Chickamauga oct of the effective
strength Of 1000 bayonets / had lost 1.507 Of
6cers and men, including two brigade COM
manders. THIS was not satisfaerory-indeed. il
was most depressing-and then there was much
confusion prevailing around Rossyille. and this
condition of things doubtless increasing my
gloomy reflections, IL did cot seem to me thai
the outlook Tor the next day was at ell auspic-
ious unless the enemy was slow to improve his
present advantage. Exhaustion soon quietsd
all forebodings. though, and l fell into q sound
elccp3 lEouu WHICH i was nOb dEOQSco III Oby-
light"
His earliest experiences in the far West and
Southvest had been Of . trying character. He
had not been long out OF college when he found
himself obliged to make the best of life In the
following circumstances:
my furniture was very primitivs-a chair or
two, with about the same number OF camp
stools, a cot. and a rickety old bureau that I
obtained III some way, not now remembered.
My washstand consisted of a board about three
feet long. resting on legs formed by driving
sticks into the ground until they held it az
about the proper height from the floor. This
wash-staDd was the most expensive piece of
furniture / owned, the board having cost me
lumber on the Rio Grande was 30 scarce in those
days that to possess even the smallest quantity
was to indulge IN great luxury. Indeed. about
al that reached the port was what came in the
shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these
were reserved for collins in which 10 bury our
dead
Here is q pleasing bit of description Of one
phase Of bis life on the Mexican frontier:
" generally danced in . long hall on q
hard dirt floor. The girls sat on one side of the
hall, chsperoned by their mothers or some old
duennas. aud the men on the other. When.
then, music struck mp each man asked the lady
whom his eyes had already selected TO dance
with him. and il was not etiquette for her to re-
fuse, no engagements being allowed before the
music began. When the dance, which was gen.
orally q long waltz. was over, he seated his part
ucE Nucu Hcnk " - COuuttF IL " elQ
of the room and bought his dulcinea a plate of
the candies and sweatmeats provided. Some
times che accepted them. but most generally
pointed to her duenna or chaperon behind, who
held up her apron and caught the refreshments
as trey were slid into it from the plate. The
greatest dscorum was maintained at these
dan les, prImitively IS they were conducted: and
n "a region so completely cut of from the world
their Influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a
considerable degree in softening the rough edges
IN q half-breed population"
An account OF Hookers engagement on Look
ont Mountain by an eyewitness Of 10 like Sher-
idsn will interest many readers
AT first. with good glasses. we could plainly
see Hookers troops driving The confedsraies mp
the face Of the mountain. All were soon lost TO
view in the dense timber. but emerged again on
the open ground. across which the confederatss
retreated at q lively pace, followed by the pur-
scing line. which WAS led by a color-bearer. who,
Ia Ic advance. was bravely waving on his coIc-
rsdes. The gallantry of this man elected much
enthusiasm among rs all, but, as he was & con-
sicerable distance ahead OF his comrades. / ex-
pected TO see his rashness punished at any mo-
SDent Oy death or capture. He finally got quite
near the rstresting confederates, when sudden
ty they made n dash at him; but he was fully
alive 10 such a move. and ran back, apparently
EninJured. TO his friends. About this time o
small squad OF men reached the top OF Lookout,
and planted the stars and stripes on its very
srest- just then a cloud settled down on the
mountain, and q heavy bank OF fog obscured the
whole force. After the view was lost the sharp
Tattlo o. nuskety continued some time, but,
practically, the fight had been already won by
Hookers men, the enemy only holding on with
a rear guard TO assure his retreat across Chatta-
nooea valley TO Missionary Ridge"
When Sheridan was called 70 Washington 10
take command OF the cavalry corps of the Army
OF the Potomac the information. he says. az
first staggered him.. since he knew we'll the
great responsibilities of the position, and had
but slight acquaintance with military operations
"a NfrCarfa stlhan tim ~ laUo The Gan..l
'the higher officers of the Army Of the Potomac
were little known TO me. so at the moment 1
felt 10th TO undergo tbs trials of the new posi-
ton. Indeed. I know not a soul in Washington
excspt General Grant and General Halleck. and
5hem bu- slightly, and no one in General Meads's
army from tn Commanding general down. ex-
eept . few officers in tbs lower grades. hardly
any Of whom ! had seen since graduation 1T the
military academy" His departure from Chat
tsuoogs snd the regrets be had are referred To
"a follows:
When | took the train &C the station ths
wnole command was collected on tho hillsides
lrouno 10 see me of. Thew had assembled
spontaneously. officers aud men, and as the cars
moved ont from Chattanooga they waved me
farewell with demonstrations OF affection. 4
parting from such friends was indeed 10 b. re-
grsttsd- They had nsver gwen me any trouble
nor dine anything that could bring augbt but
honor TO themselves. had confidence in them.
And ] believe they had in me. They were ever
steady whether in victory or misfortune, and as
] tried always to be with them to put them in
60 tho hottest ire IL good could be gained or
save them from unnecessary loss az occasion
required. they amply repaid all my care and