Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-06
Death of General sheridan.

General Sheridan has surrendered to
tide Invincible Conqueror. The daunt-
less spirit. that never quailed before
mortal foe, has met defeat at last. The
eye that blazed in battle has lost its
lustre. The voice OF command that
summoned always to victory is silenced.
The intrepid heart, as gentle as it was
brave, is still and pulseless. The great
soldier-one of the greatest the world
has known-has joined the innumerable
army Of immortals. The profound sor-
row OF nation will attest how entirely
the dead hero possessed the affection
and honor of his countrymen.
General Sheridan's career was
wholly military, and it consti-
tutes one Of the most illus
trious chapters of American mill
tary history. OF the great triumvirate
whose ability and achievements were
pre-eminent In the war of the rebellion
on the side of the Union-Grant, Sher-
man and Sheridan-history will record
that the soldier who has just died de-
serves to occupy a place of honor not
less elevated than the others. The as
sistance he rendered to Grant in Vir-
ginia that great and just commander has
borne most ample testimony to. He
gave Sheridan his fullest confidence,
allowing him the largest latitude for
the development and execution of his
own plans, and invariably with results
that were of the utmost advantage to
the union armies. The future reader of
the history of the rebellion will dwell
terest than that which records the first
raid Of Sheridan in the Shenandoah
valley, his advance toward Richmond,
his ride to Winchester, when he
snatched victory from the jaws of de-
feat, and his brilliant and masterly
achievements in the grand movements
| of the army of the Potomac, which
ended with the capture OF Richmond
and the overthrow of the rebellion.
Among the great soldiers of history
there are not many whose victories as
subordinate commander were more
honorable to their wisdom and their
valor, or more valuable to their country,
than were those won by Sheridan after
he was placed in command of the cav
airy of the army of the Potomac.
All this splendid work of Sheridan
demonstrated that he was soldier in
the broadest sense-not simply bril-
liant and intrepid fighter. In this re-
spect few of the great cavalry COM
manders of history will stand compari-
son with him. Ney, Murat and others
who will be naturally suggested, pos
sessed the gallantry, dash, and all the
mere fighting qualities that distin-
guished Sheridan, but in the larger
ability that makes successful COM
manders-that plans as well as
wins victories-the American gen.
eral was the peer of the greatest of
| Of inestimable value.
AS a man, General Sheridan had a
most kindly heart, and he made and
held friends. He was a modest man ,
| whom fame and station did not spoil.
| He had no ambition above that of being
commander of the army, and when
talked OF as possible presiden-
tial candidate he promptly and
unqualitiedly refused to allow
his name to be considered in
that connection. 1t was sufficient to
him to be the first soldier of the repub-
lie, and in that capacity he rightly
avoided all ASSOCIATION with politics.
His death will be sincerely mourned by
grateful people, to whom are left too
few of the distinguished soldiers whose
genius and prowess preserved the
union, and his memory will be cher
ished and perpetuated as one of the
most brilliant and successful of the ma
tion's military chieftains.