The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-07

his old friend and comrade was dead Gen.
Sherman was visibly affected, despite the
fact that he expected the sad intelligence,
and was to some extent prepared for it,
sheridan was eleven years younger
than me, said Gen. Sheridan, musingly,
"ior he was born in 1881. To Mrs. Sher-
man and myself he was always compar-
atively young man. In the ordinary
course, Phil should have outlived me.
Now that he is gone, the people of this
country have lost gallant and great sol
dier.
"In November, 1868, Gen. Grant sue
ceeded to the command of the armies in
the Mississippi valley, including the de-
partmcnt Of the Cumberland At that
time Sheridan commanded division of
the army OF the Cumberland, under Rose
Grams, and bore aconspicuous part in the
battle OF Chickamaugua. In the battle OF
Missionary Ridge, under the immediate
su, ervision OF Gen. Grant, he commanded
a division which again attracted Grants
attention by its especial gallantry in charg-
ing and pursuing the enemy. That was in
November, 1868. When, subsequently,
Gen. Grant went east as commanding
general Of all the armies of the United
States, he took Sheridan with him as one
whom he would surely need, and assigned
him TO the command of the cavalry corps
in the Army of the Potomac. Shcrldans
history is identical with that of the Army
OF the Potomac until he was detached by
Grant and sent to the Shenandoah valley.
He there displaced the unqualified charac-
teristics OF general in command of sep
arate line Of operations. His dispositions
and maneuyers ut Winchester were admi-
rahlc in all their details and his success
was corresponding. lie closed the She
nandoah valley forever TO the operations
OF Lees army as n base Of supplies and u
line for diversions into Maryland and
PENNSYLVANIA. The battle Of Cedar Mount
ain or Fishers Hill will compare with any
example in ancient or modern history TO
illustrate the force of one man 10 turn the
tide of defeat into victory. Finally the
battle Of Five Forks, which he fought,
was the real cause Of Lees abandonment
OF Richmond and the collapse OF the whole
Confedcracy."
GEN. sCHorIELD SPEAKS.
eyes, ] have Just heard OF Gen. Sheri.
dams death, zud Gen. John VI. Schoheld
last nigh, "and ! am endcayoring 90 re-
cover from the shock caused me 10y the
news. ! had entertained hopes that he
would ultimately recover from the attack,
therefore his death has made the blow all
the more severe now that the end has
come. deeply regret the loss the army
has sustained, and have lost n very dear
comrade and lifelong friend. Sheridan
and | were at West Point together. lie
entered the academy in lSiS and came
the following year. We graduated in the
same class however, in 1853, as did also
Gen. James II. Mcpherson, who was killed
in 1864, at Atlanta, while ppulsing q
soriic. John B. Hood, who rose TO the
rank ola general in the Confederate service,
was likewise a fellow classmatc Of ours.
All four Of Us were warm friends
through all our lives. For Shcri-
dan | always entertained deep
affection, n sentiment know hc returned.
McPhcrson cherished the same feelings
for Sheridan and myself ~ We did for him.
Though Hood was on the other side, We,
who remained In the service Of the United
States government. only regretted that his
different ideas Of duty had separated MS
from pleasant comradc. Regarding
Gen. Sheridan's military career, 10 not
know that can say anything Ia add 10 his
iAlilts pNlil NtlANA anu 'iifllllNl llNNi
taken occasion in their memoirs Ia speak
OF Sheridan Ia the highest terms, aud |
consider the estimates of these two chici
commanders nrc Just, and their praise well
deserved. Grant knew Sheridan best, and
his tribute 20 his gallant subordinate Is one
of the many touches which have revealed
20 M the true character and generous ma.
turc nf the greatest soldier of his time. 10
t..aal
~ a Young officer, full of dash aud yigor,
yet he saw enough OF him IN know that
sheridan was no common soldier To me
Sheridan was always the beau ideal Of a
true soldier and a really great commander.
lie II one oi the few American OHcCn who
attained high aud responsible mnk through
his natural force Of character and
his military genius lie was
q marked man even at West Point, for he
displayed at that early agc in his military
life the same sterling qualities which sub.
seuuenty made him prominent character
in our national history. OF Coursc, YOU
know | wis not present in the Shenandoah
valley during Shcridan's famous campaign,
but have had the scenes in the battles oi
| Winchester and Cedar Mountain yiyidly
described 10 me by competent eye wit
ncsses. From these scenes ! became con.
yinccd that those important victories were
not only gained by his military skill, bui
were due In n great measure to his soldier.
ly qualities and personal magnetism and
| electrical influence over his troops. Every
officer have ever met whatever rank thcy
might have held, Who served under Shori
/ dan in the west Or the oust, have shown by
their language that they honorcd and loved
4 him. That is something you cannot Say
Of every nan who wore the shoulder slraps
/ OF n general.