The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-15

the Republic. He was commissioned in
May, 1851, to be captain and was trans
ferred TO the 18th Infantry. lie remained
among the Oregon Indians for some little
time, impatient, however, to be on the
greater stage of action. Ar length that
other Indian fighter, fremont, was re-
moved from command in Missouri, and
Sheridan was summoned from Jefferson
barracks late in lS6l and made president
of board to audit claims The unfamiI-
lar work he performed well. and he was
made Quartermaster and COmmissary for
General Curtis when the Pea Ridge cam
paign began. A modest, quiet fellow be
was in those DAYS, with the boisterousness
of boyhood gone and the confidence of
manhood not altogether developed. But
one day he spoke too plainly about some
matter of discipline, and Immediately
after the battle of Pea Ridge, in March,
1862, was sent by Gen. Curtis to St. Lou
is under arrest.
This trouble was settled soon, however,
and Sheridan was sent up to Wisconsin
TO buy horses for the Government lie
was there when Shiloh was fought. And
then Halleck, on taking the field in per-
son, sent for him to join his army at Cor
inth. There he served on the Generals
staif for time IS quartermaster, and
then got into his proper place, at the
head of cavalry command.
THE CAVALRY LEADER.
This was on May y, 1852, when be
was made colonel of the 2d Michigan
Cavalry. Three days later he Was OF on
a raid 10 Bonneville, and on May 30th he
was in pursuit Of the enemy recreating
from Corinth In these raids sheridan
did his work so well that be was formal
ly made commander Of brigade Of cav
airy and again sent to Bonneville, twenty
miles in front Of the army. Here, on
July l, 1862, General Chalmers, with
force nsmbering between ( 900 and 5000
men, attacked Sheridan's little band of
two regiments. The latter retreated slow
ly toward his camp where, with his back
10 a swamp, he kept up the unequal fight.
Seeing that the day must go against him,
Sheridan prepared for a brilliant move
against the enemy. Selecting a body Of
picked men, scarcely a hundred in all,
he sent them by circuitOus route to the
rear Of Chalmers forces. Meanwhile he
sturdily held his ground on the front
suddenly the enemy was startled by the
crack Of carbines in the rear. Volley af-
ter yol!ey poured in from the revolving
weapons of the little party till the roar
seemed 10 betoken the attack of at least
Brigade. Then charging recklessly into
the rear, the little band penetrated al
most to the heart of Chalmers command
and for little time had possession of the
Confederate commander himself This
was the signal for Sheridan. At the head
Of two regiments he led an inpetuous on
set upon the confused enemy, who, think
ing himself surrounded, hastily fed, leay-
ing dead and wounded on the field For
twenty miles Sheridan kept up with his
1900 men this pursuit of 5000. In hon
or of this brilliant little battle he was
commissioned as a brigadier-general If
volunteers.
MAKING HIS MARX A. An INFANTRY con-
MANDER-
After he had shown his special fitness
for dashing cavalry exploits, Sheridan
was sent to Kentucky to take command
of 6 division Of infantry. Bragg was then
moving rapidly upon Louisville, and Bu-
ell was Fastening back with his army to
confront him. Sheridan was energetic
in his efforts to place the city in posi-
ton for defense. Then joining Buells
army, he moved out with his division in
that pursuit of Bragg which, pressed by
some subSrlinates too incautiously, sud-
denly brou sht the Confederate leader saw
agely to bay at Perryville, KY, October
:, 1852. Whatever was thought of the
conduct Of the battle at this point, there
was no doubt of the praise due to Sheri-
dan. He kept his position-the left of
Gilbert's corps-with obstinate yigor, re-
PEELED a fierce attack and directed the
fire of his batteries so as to do what he
could against the assault that was cutting
McCOok's command to pieces. He held
the key to the Federal position with te-
nacity and used the point TO the utmost
advantage. Thenceforward the position
Of the new general was secure in the
army. His soldiers believed in him and
his superiors trusted him. But tie coun-
try knew little of him and much hard
fighting was still awaiting him before ne
could aspire TO popular fame.
With the exception of skirmishes with
Forest and Van Dora, not much was done
by Rosecrans, who succeeded Buell., until
late in June, 1868, but in all the work
that was done Sheri Ian kept up MS rep
utation as a skillful fighter and soldier,
always prepared for unlocked for emer-
gencies. At Murfreesboro' he was the
hero of the day, and it was his splendid
fighting that saved the army.
Early in 1863 SheriIan received COM
mission as majGr-general, TO date from
Stone River, December 81, 1852 Through
out the long delays that consumed the
spring and summer ofthat year Sheridan
was growing in the confidence of his su-
periors the soldiers had long trusted
him implicitly. In the TGllahoma adj
vance he handled his division energetic
ally. When the Confederates crossed the
Tennessee he was sent forward in sup
port of Stanley's cavalry TO try and save
the great bridge at Bridgeport He dashed
on with such vigor that his infantry out
stripped the horsemen they were to sup
port On the evening before Chicka-
mauga he was of essential service in sup
port of Woods and Davis's division
against the attacks Of Longstreet Sheri-
dams action at Chickamanga, September
70 and 20, 1868, was not SO distinguished
as at Stone River, and after the disaster
he was able to bring no great aid to the
portion of the army that still kept up the
struggle But he fought his command
with gallantry, rescued it from perilous
isolation and marched it, not like the
rest, toward the rear, but in the direction
of the enemy's guns. For the disasters