The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-07

vi ct bic summer residence 1t Nonqullt. {
vi Buzsard's Bay. Massachusetts,, Suod,
niRht Al 1920 o'clock, and although Il
fatal termination OF the malady vii
8 which he had been sufferiog had bee
anticipated for months, yet the frequel
] reporisof his physicians that he W,
steadily improving, caused the news
bis sudden demise to be received vii
considerable surprise.
al While The South Is ready to gran
0 to General Sheridan oil the homo
o that is Justly HE due, there is no csus
whv 1t should indulge In any gush owe
,, him. He was fair soldier, being brav
, and active, bat without any brillian
genius. This was clearly proven by lb
fact that he made no reputation of con
sequence until after stuart fell, no
even then until after the Con
federscy had become weakened b,
the long and bloody war which thinned
the ranks of the Confederate armies and
steadily sspped their strength. Indeed, il
Is remarkable fact, and one that history
will record no matter what pains Norif.
ern writers may take TO suppress It, that
none OF the Federal commanders gained
any fame during the early years of the
contest while the Confederate army was
filed with the flower of Southern
manhood, and was possessed of the
means to successfully cope with its ene-
mice. Though at that time, men in
every respect far In advance of the latter
day heroes OF the Federal army were in
command Of the Federal forces, they
could make no Roadway against the
Irresistible valor OF the Southern Army,
and 1t Is safe to predict that had Grant.
Sheridan, Sherman, or any Of those who
survived the war and came out of 1t witt.
honor, been subjected to the test re
quired OF Mcclellan and the Northern
commanders of bis day who had to op-
pose the peerless Lee, they would have
been literally and completely over.
wbelmed.
So much by way of parenthesis. To
return TO General Sheridan and his rcla-
lions with the South, there is, as already
nothing in his record to induce
his section Of the country to feel any
special admiration for him. The chief
of bis career, since he be
,ame at all known to fame has been his
hatred OF everything Southern. When .
With his $4,000 troops, well mounted and
quipped, he opposed General Early with
bout $4,000 men in the Valley, and,
fter nearly two days fighting, managed e
gain an advantage, he sent ;,
is celebrated message to Washington a
hat he intended 20 ravage that beautiful "
ortion of Virginia so completely that a n
row flying over 1t would have to carry .,
s rations, he proved himself to be more of In
warrior upon women and children then
pom men. And then, after the war, when "
rant had taken military possession of
ouisiana, and forced upon the people of 10
at State, at the point of the bayonet. III
eature Of his own, defeated at the polls. Fl
found no more willing henchman to pc
rry out his despotic acts than Phil. n,
'eridan, who, backed up by the whole SUI
rec OF the Uniled States against single in
nquered province, gained some addi. 81 81
NAL reputation by denouncing gentle Sol
IN OF New Orleans as banditti," and Sc
lorously announcing that he was mot on
raid"
lie mortuis nal nisi bOnum. What we
We written Is not penned in a spirit of the
'aticism or hate, but merely in a sense an
justice. The South accords to Sheri. be .
dash and courage; has always been ant
ling for him to wear whatever laurels En-
may have gained, and has sympathized c ca1
y with him In his tedious sickness sur
sufferings. While giving him what ces
Justly his due, however, 1t Is not ready 4
'ush In maudlin sentiment over him. t ogl
indulge in hypocritical tributes to his -
nory. T