The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-15
Sheridan'S Ride.

ultimately associated with Cen
n sheridan than any other officer
nthe United States army. "PhiI is
ft's greatest soldier in the army"
Sn'a ne in a recent interview. 81
''aVp Known him from the time he
,,nu entered the same class at West
Point in 1913.
/ when he left West Point he was
Scut 20 Texas as second lieutenant Of
'ne FIRST Infantry, and L saw little of
INN until 1854, when he became sec
oMtleutenant in the Fourth Infan
tlhof which | was also in command.
AWfollowing yer, when | was on
WPaclfic coast, General Hood, who
WIS eammanding the cavalry, was
away on a surveying expedition, and
Fgiing his absence General Sheridan
IN assigned to-taizeshis sal aoe#s .s,s,-
@d lieutenant of the Second Cavalry.
| vasthen with him during the topo.
grDhieal expedition through the
Caeade range of mountains, in look
inGor suitable military pass. After
thi'we did not meet again till 1868,
one in the Army of the Cumberland,
an0then | did not even get a chance
to 9eak to him.
our mostmemorabIe meeting was
whn 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
reaching the Union forces. Middle
town was some distance away from
where the main body Of the army
was rallying along Cedar Creek. The
turnpike road leading through the
village of MiddletoWn ran along
Cedar Creek for some distance, and
we could see the General fving on
his horse a long distance before he
was within ear-shOt. | can see him
now as he came riding up with his
horse all in a foam, his f1anks bleed
ing from spur-thrusts, and the rider
flushed with excitement and almost
as breathless as his steed. 1t was a
scene never to be forgotten.
I'VE had routed the enemy some
thirty minutes or so before Gen.
Sheridan reached US, and we were
spending our time in gathering up
the straggIers. There seemed to be
no Immediate danger, and we were
taking the situation rather coolly.
Sheridan, of course, had no knowl-
eus~ of what had been done, and
| thought that great issues hung on
| his arrival in time. He rode up tC
the general headquarters, leaped
from his horse, and without ever
taking time to tie it, called out
Where is Gen. Crook?
~ was not far away and ran up a
soon AS possible. what is the stu.
alton p he asked. | told him that
there was no Immediate danger, as
our forces were largely in the major.
ity and our position was pretty well
guarded. He said: I'VE must never
give up till we have routed the
enemy.' These were not his exact
words. They were in the more for
sible language in which Gen. Sheri.
dan in moments of excitement was
won't 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 a trifie
idealized, but in the main a pretty
correct account of the event. And
yet no poetic language could express
the thrilling interest of that scene, as
the soldiers beheld their commander
coming to their aid, and raised theil
voices in a universal shout as he ap'
preached, riding as only Phil Sheri.
dan could ride.
"After it was known that there
was no immediate danger, Gen.
Sheridan gave his orders to the dif-
ferent officers. He, of course, as
Sumed chief command. instead o.
Gen. Wright, of the Sixth Corps,
who had been in command during
the Generals absence.
"The rest of that engagement il
now part of history and need no
90 into the details, But l will ado
this, that the ride and the engage
ment that followed illustrated in {
notable way Gen. Sheridan's style o
fighting. Many people have gIver
him credit for great dash. brilliancy
and boldness in battle, but this is no
the truth. His dominant character
tistic as a fighter was his tenacity
He never would yield as long a
there was the shadow of IA chance. l
is said that he never knew fear. Thi
consider no compliment to an!
general. 1t means either that he hat
not pnOuuh Sanca tO rnaliZn danpar n