The Irish standard., 1893-12-16
PHILIP SHERIDAN
The Irieh-Amerfcan Hero Ranks
Next to Grant in the War
of the Rebellion.

l.
Next to Grant in the War
Of the Rebellion.
HIS VICTORY AT CEDAR CREEK
Is Considered a Greater Military
Achievement than Napo-
Icons at Marengo. Al
Last Thursday, says the Seattle Post.
Intelligencer, Of Oct. 20, was the anniver.
sary Of the Union victory Of Cedar Creek
the brightest rose in the chaplet of Sheri.
dan, the greatest solcier of the war save
Grant 1t is true that be never com.
manded to exceed $4,000 men, but that
was BIS many as Bonsparte bad when be
won his most brilliant fame in the cam
paign Of 1876. From Perryville, where
Sheridan first commanded q division OF
infantry in a pitched battle, to Cedar
Creek, includes about two years OF fight.
ing and in every instance it is Sheridan
who carries off the honors OF the day,
whether he commands infantry, calvary,
or all three arms of the service. He is
the savior of Buell's center at Perryvile,
the savior OF Rosecrans' army at Stone
River, the spear head of Grants assault
on Bragg's center, at Missionary Ridge,
the foiler Of Lees turning movement at
the Wilderness, t. 9 victor Of Winchester
and Fishers Hill, and the incarnate
pe, nt battle at Cedar Creek.
't' 1 iAt Ueda- !" aek Sheridan reinforced
his beaten army Y. .,.essinple man.
Sheridan, and olvictory fer, 2.;:as, ), bird
from the side of the enemy and perche.z
on his shoulders. The spectacle OF q single
man furiously riding to the front OF q
beaten army and by his mere voice
and presence halting u long, rolling
stream OF fugitives and make them rush
eagerly back into battle they had fed
from, is the spectacle OF q man who has
the gift of leadership, and the spectacle
Of that man reorganizing those fugitiyeg
and venturing to wrest victory from the
enemy is the figure of man of such ex-
ceptional military eye, hand, moral cour-
age and execution that nothing will de-
scribe it save the word genius.
According to the maxims of military
prudence as found in the books Sheridan
ought to have been content to hold his
ground and stand off the enemy, but he
took counsel OF his robust brain and
stout heart and Cedar Greek is more
wonderful exploit than Marengo, for
Desaix brought mp 5000 fresh men to
change Napoleon's defeat into victory,
while the only reinforcenents that s oer-
idan brought up were the tugitivee who
had run away from Wright, but eagerly
ran back with Sheridan.
At Winchester, month before Cedar
Greek, Sheridan sends in Upton's bri-
gade just at the critical moment, restores
his broken lines, strikes EARLY in the
flank, and saves the day. At Cedar
Greek, when the Nineteenth Corps re-.
coils, it. is Sheridan that personally
heads McMillan's brigade and skillfully
striking at the reentrant angle OF Early's
line, smashes it, and wins the day. It is
Sheridan who, when falling back with
his calvary before the Confe Ierate in
fantry to Dinwiddie Court House, sud.
denly makes detour and strikes his
pursuers Unexpectedly in flank and rear.
It is Sheridan that, at Five Forks, per.
sonally rides to the front and restores
Wsrren's recoiling line and sends it IN q
sudden wave OF fury over the enemy'a
intrenchments. It is Sheridan who ie
first in the hunt Of. Lee, and hunts him
to death. La fencing for an opening he
was cautious and cunning as Fabius; in
battle he thought with the acntenesa
and acted with the energy and GOODNESS
Of Marlborough; butin pushing q charge
to the death he fairly raved, shouted
and geeticulsted SO fercely az to make
in one, instance q wounded man ride
back into action and fall dead in the ef.
fort electric and contagious was
Sheridan's enormous nervous energy Of
body and mind. He could patiently
fence with EARLY for five V weeks to get an
opportunity for home thrust, but when
he struck he welded his whole army like
the battle-ax Of Richard Lion Heart
using either hand with equal skill and
strength, whether he struck his enemy'f
helmet or rained blows upon his breast
plate.
The English aud German military men
b we ienorantly rated Sheridan as ''dis
tinctiyely ! cavalry commander Of gen
ius,r whom, il fact, his genius was fol
infantry, tor he fought his cavalry al
every opportunity as mounted infantry
moving them rapidly TO the point of at
tack and then dismo ounting them 70,
battle This foreign deaorip ption fol
IsSharidan 81 aIDoat 81 abaI1rd a. it wot1I6