Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-06-13

Hon. Martin Maginnis Delivers an Eloquent
Address in Memory Of the Great Soldier.

Adsress IN memory OF the 0reot OOloler
The following is Il liberal extract
from the splendid address delivered
by Marin Maginni- before the Sheri-
dan q A. u. Post, Great Falls, on
Decoration Day:
SHERIDAN was % soldier born. Tie
had the warlike instinct which is he
littest niatrix fora military education.
Nature made him One nj those wl4O
are ever ready to redress the wrong
and to establish the right 10y force Ol
arms. His military education taught
him how to organize and WELD and
direct the force Oi arms. Ills abound
ing energy. his tirelesS brain, his small
but enduring ply sique which no illness
ever shook. and no exertIOn ever ex-
hauste'l. no hardship ever conquered
made HIM ever active. Nioilant and
aggressive. lie was not al the school
Oi the modern commanders. who sit
ia headquarters and direct their vast
armies like great machines. lie was
oi the old type, which warmed our
young immaginatiOns, of Alexander,
'soishiNp' anu .Nh-
poleon, who supplemented strategy by
tactics; who saw the lighting where IT
was going ON, directed it ii successful
and threw himself into the movemen;
tO ret rieVc disaster: who saw the tac
teal ml~tak. Of his enemy and took
advantage Oi it. Stonewali and SkO
bclofi were most like him in mel hods
there H. no evidence that lc was
approached in completeness of con
ceptiOn and pef'feciness of plan. Ills
education was well fitted to teach him
how TO carry out his master passion
which was not only to defeat. but to
destroy his enemy. Ali the teaching>
oi the art Of war, all the strategy ol
the books, will not ill IA man with the
desire and inspiration to conquer.
unless it is assimilated by man who
loves to win, and to fight in order to
win. This innate qualification was
characteristic OF Sheridan. Still his
training was eood-the son OF an Irish
emigrant who lett his country because
he would ha f""- .untrN men, con
ui,,,,o. ~, railroads and public works
Sheridan went To work early To sup
port himself and help his parents. He
obtained an appointment to the mill
tary academy and graduated early IN
the iiities and began to fight Indians
in Texas.
During all the summer oi 1861
while he war was raging IN the states
sheridan waited at the quiet post Tor
a summons to n field of glory. II came
at last lie was made quartermaster
iorten. Curtiss and did much to assist
/, oil. IN liz IL fhrntlpil
Missouri, and to secure the victory al,
Pea Ridge. The cont ract Ors did not
like sheridan lie was as honest n
he was brave. The same integrity and
economy which he aitrrward displayed
when hundreds of millions of con
tracts passed under his approval with
out one cent OF benefit Ia him. made
him odlous To the iackals who followed
the supply train. by chance he got
| int % his rlahtiul sphere of action. The
second Michigan cavalry needed II
trained and professional soldier ior a
colonel. Gen. u. \. Alger recommended
| sheridan to Governor Blair and hs
obtained the commission. This at n
time when the politicians were making
political brigadiers 10y the score, Sc
| hat you could not throw "a stone any
place around Washingt ON without hit
| ( ing an ornament al but useless genera
The story of his ability was soon told
In tln summer of 1861 he was u lieu
tenant. In another year he WAS |;
general Of division and two year
laierall the world knew the name -
sheridan. He was always successful
Under Buell. or Rosrcrans he Was ~
efficient and ma steriul a> he wa- after
ward under Grant. No matter VIVA
happened tn OF her parts al he army
the sorry of Sheri.lan's division wa
he ory Of IA division rapably han
died md fought to the finish. Perry,
vile, stone River. MurfreesbOrO,t thica
manga directed on sheridan theatten
tion Df the army. while the press q
the country was ringing with othe
names. At the battle OF Missionar,
Ridge his division was ordered to ak
sOmt advanced position and to STOP
This done his quick eye took in wha
should be done. Without orders tn
: division rushed like "a storm up tn
precrpitOu~ hill, carried the crest
pushed the pursuit away beyond int
the valley and astonIshed and graf
fled Gen. Grant with "a victory M
planned and unprecedented at
pOin. where it was unhOped for. Gran
: had his eye on Sheridan before. TIL
made him his devout admirer. Whe
GRAFT was called TO the scene OF til
great struggle in the east he wante
Sher dan Sheridan's energy, quicl
ness, and conquering vigor. lie wa
callel to the command OF the cavalr
eorP:. = ,;,,,, . :,
: charge with the tlnIes-the old uses {
cavalry seemed to be obsolete. Ii n
longer charged i'm heavy masses an
decided battle by its weight and shOcl
It was used as feelers-to guard Il
hanks and rear-to act as the anteI
} NE OF armies. 1t was sometimes OF
OF tie way when wanted, in the wa
!, when not wanted-and received mo-
criticism than commendation. I.ll
all original minds, Sheridan saw thi
the time had come for IA new Use Il
II cavalry; that it should he an army
itself and fought as an army. Mea,
was disposed to use it as the bool
directed, and Grant thought such u
"a proper one I'm such service Il
enemy cavalry operating in their ou
country had IA great advant age.
gained reputation at home and abrof
for il. dash and efficiency. One ds
a Meade complained to sheridan in
peppery temper-the fiery little wa
riOr retorted in the same spirit-to
Meade that his system was ial