Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-08-23

SENATOR t'IbtnD relates the IoiIowths.
"Ialways think of Sheridan in connection
with one conversation ! had with him.
General, ! said, you were in the west
before you came east. What was your
opinion of the army Of the Potomac? >
You remember il was criticised about
that time as not doing its share of
the work.
oh, the army Of the Potomac was all
right said Sheridan. The trouble was
the commanders never went out tn lick
anybody, but always thought first Of keep
ing from getting licked
sheridan" continued the senator,
came east when the cavalry of the army
of the Potomac was not in good condition
and Grant gave him the task of reorganiz-
ing il and raising its efficiency. He had
worked away some time, when Meade sent
him over the Rappalannock ON n recon-
nois-ance. Sheridan came back, and, in
making his verbal report. alluded to IL
brush he had with Stuart's cavalry.
Never mind Stuart. said Meade, inter
ruptine. He will do about as he pleases,
anyhow. Go on and tell me what y"u dis
covered about Lees forces
That made Sheridan mad and he re-
torted:
% stuart can thrash |, - cut
Of him any day
Those were times. you know, when men =
uit.ranc,.s. like their deeds. were not fash
ioned upon the model of these days of peace.
Well. Meade repeated th. remark toGraat.
who queri-i:
"'Whv aiinf ,o tell hiw :" d" ~
"Not long after ca. sheridan got an
order To cross the river, engage Stuart, and
clean him out
"'l knew ! could whip him. said Sheri-
dan, If could only get him where he could
not fall back On Lees infantry. So
thought the matter over and Ia draw him
moved fast and stuart dogsed Us right at
our heels. We kept ON II second day
straight for Richmond and the next morn
ing found Stuart right in front If us just
where We wanted him. lie had marched all
night and got around us. Then rode him
upWn. sitistbthu
up his divisions aud regiments and brigades,
and the poor fellow himself was killed
there
Right here, senator" he continued. 81
resisted the greatest temptation "r my life
There lay Richmond before ms and ther,
was nothing To keep us from going in. II
WOlild have cost live ar six hundred lives
and ! could not have held the place, %
course. But ! knew the moment il was
learned in the north that Il union arm,
was in Richmond. then every he'll would
ring and ! should have been he hero Of tn.
hour. ! could have gone in and burned
and killed right and left. but had learned
this thing, that our men knew what the.
were about. had seen them come out %
"a fight ia which only n handful were killed
discontented, mad clear through becaus.
they knew IN opportunity had been lost ol
n sacrifice, small as il was, had been need
lessly made, and had seen them come out
good -natured, enthusiastic, and sI,oilin.
ior more, when they had left the ground =,
thickly covered with dead that you coult
have crossed portions "f the field ON th'
bodies alone. They realized that notwith
standing the terrible sacrifice the objec
gained had been worthy. They would hav
followed me, but they would have know
as well as ! that the sacrifice was for n,
permanent advantage"
That" said senator Plumb, "exhibit
the man and the commander. He aime,