Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-02
GEN. sHERIDAN,s EARLY CAREER.
Incidents of His service a. q SECOND
Lieutenant I'm the Far Northwest.

From the New York Sun
During the last few days many incidents in Gen.
sheridan's military life have been recalled, and
some have been spoken Of that have never yet been
given TO the public.
Among the most interesting OF these are incl
dents OF his service in oregon and Washington
Territory, where he was on duty for half q dozen
years before the outbreak OF the civil war. He
arrived there as q second lieutenant at a turning
point In the history OF the two territories which
had Just BEGUN to attract attention again, after
pause in their settlement during the period eaps-
ing since the massacre OF Dr. whitman and
his associates In Walla Wala Valley to
ward the end OF the year 1S47. The
region had only a few thousand people.
scattered along its coast and Its great rivers
Lieut.. Sher1dan's duties were In the neighborhood
OF the Columbia, and particularly near two points
known as the Cascades and the DalleS, the former
being the spot where the river which rises In the
Rocky Mountains breaks through the Cascade
Range in its course toward the sea, and the latter
forty fifty miles farther east, where according
TO the expressive saying, the river 'turES on its
edge" The Columbia is red by various streams,
very familiar In the annals OF Indian warfare
among them the snake, Willamette, Walla Wala,
Wenachee, Deschutes and John Day. Then as
now they swarmed with salmon, while the land
was stocked with game. Railroads were o. course
at that time wholly unknown there. and indeed
more than a dozen years later there were only
twenty miles OF rail in operation in the territory.
dragon who served under Sheridan at that
period tells some stories OF his career at the far
Northwest. IL is interesting by the way, to note
that sheridan, though an infantry officer, was as
signed TO the charge OF small detachment OF
dragons, as II in q fOret0kening OF his future
fame as a cavalryman. One OF his duties was TO
make a march from Fort Reading to the north
side OF the Columbia River. This was accom-
pliShed without serious opposition, except at one
point In the MOdOc country, where the Indians
fired upon the party, but without wounding any
body. The ex-dragoon remembers that, at kia-
math Lake Lieut.. Sheridan deserted a canoe on
an island, and, In order TO take possession OF It
and 10 discover whether IL was clue TO anything
al zalfx laI n rfr and
tured II, one man accompanying him on either
side.
Another expedition in which Lieut.. Sheridan
took part was into the Yakima country. While
thus engaged on one occasion he was ordered TO
cross a sIream in order TO scout against Indians
supposed TO be on the opposite shore. He ex-
ecuted this order by placing an infantry sharp
shooter In the saddle behind each cayalryman.
The stream was not deep but rapid and two
artillerymen who followed with the howtZer,
were drowned in crossing. The dragon who re-
calls this incident says he remember his dis
charging his piece without aiming, and that Lieut.
Sheridan chided him for having fired before he
knew what he was firing at CayuSe scout en-
poyed by sheridan on this expedition was known
as Cut-Mouth John. and on one occasion an Indian
called out 10 him TO know II he would stalk"
John replied feroeiouSly, 'PH Kill you first and
talk afterward." The dragon adds that he was
as good as his word and got his enemy's scalp,
which he stretched that night with hoop and
things, having little scalp dance around 1t by
himself. John used TO be on good terms with all
the officers, but AFTER Major Rains ordered him 10
bury that scalp, he sulked and had nothing more
To do with them. This was the only Indian known
to be killed on this expedition"
ON arriving at Yakima Mission orders were re-
ceiyed 10 proceed With Col. NeSmith and a party
of volunteers toward White River or Natchez
Pass. Maj. Maloney was supposed to be coming
from Fort SteilacoOm, on Puget Sound, to hem In
The Indians from the north. Ii was showing furi-
ouSy, and the Dragons crossed Bald Hill in 4 cold
storm, Lieut.. sheridan and all ais men being CON-
PEELED To disaOunt and lead the horses. Further
progress being impossible, and Maj MalOney not
being met the command returned to the Dalles
and camped on Mill Greek in tents. The dragons
were camped a short distance above the tort,
which was rebuilding under Capt. Jordan. Maj.
Halter was In general command, and the soldiers,
says the dragon, "uSed occasionally 10 trouble
him by raidlng on his hogs
The events thus spoken of occurred during the
autumn or 1855, or a little more than two years
after Gen. Sheridan'S graduation at West Point.