Omaha daily bee., 1895-10-12
RECOLLEcTIoNs OF SHERIDAN.
Historical Mistakes Corrected re
gnrtiing His Commission as Colonel

historical Mistakes Corrected Re
Gnrding His Commission as Colonel.
In General e. A. Davies biography of Gen,
eral Philip H. Sheridan. recently published,
the statement is made THE one accident
of Sherldan's military life seems to have
been his appointment as colonel of the Sec
ond Michigan cavalry He himself was neve.
able to learn to what circumstances 1t was
due. The fact is that through the
| same period from the beginning to the close
OF the war he owed nothing to the help of
friends"
General Sheridan, in his memoirs, makes
similar statement, which was probably the
basis of General Davies error, for error 1t
is. according to General Russell A. Alger,
who probably was closer to Sheridan through
out his marvellous career, from aide-not
quartermaster-on General Halleck's staf to
the head of the army man any other comrade
In arms The story that General Alger tells
of Sheridan's first promotion in the volunteer
service is a most interesting one and the
facts were we'll known to General Sheridan
who often rscounted them in social hours.
He wrote his memoirs during the last two
years of his life, wh=n decaying vitality had
probably weakened his memory. Hence an
error which, though seemingly unimportant,
yet seriously msstates a historical fact
which was pregnant with importance in shap.
ing his military career. General Alger thus
particularly described to New York Mail
and Express reporter the incidents which led
Of the Second Michigan cavalry:
at was the 26th or 9th of May, 1862
that the Second Michigan cavalry, of which
was captain, lay at Pennington, one of the
outposts OF the union army then drawing its
lines around Cornth, Miss, in which lay
Beauregard and what was left of the army
that struck Grant at Pittsburg Landing six
weeks before. The Second Michigan had just
lost its colonel by the promotion of Gordon
Granger to brigadier. Our lieutenant colonel
haI inat left ha nrpin in md
two majors were too inefficient to be trusted
with command of the regiment. In fact
both left the service soon afterward.
ION the day named / had just finished
tour of duty twenty four hours long as
field officer of the day. OF course cavalry
furnished the outposts, videttes and pickets
nearest the enemy, and the line of guards of
which | had charge stretched out several
miles, and required such constant vigilance
on the part of the field officer Of the day
that l spent those twenty-four hours in the
saddle or afoot visiting the outposts, and
without minute for sleep. When l arrived
at General Changers headquarters to make
my report of the previous day | was almost
tired out. and hoped for the usual day eff
duty in which to rest.
"As soon as l had made my report General
Granger told me that Governor Blair of
Michigan and his adjutant general, John
Robertson. had visited him the previous day
Ihey spoke OF the condition OF the Sec
y, r.,
without commanding officer and without a
field officer capable of setting a squadron in
the field. They asked me If l could suggest
any officer qualified for its command. l knew
that Blair was prejudced against regular
army oficers, deeming them too severe in
their discipline OF a citizen sodiery and had
said that he would not commission one of
them. l could not think of any suitable
otllcar Just then, but after they went away
the very man occurred to me- He is csptain
Phil Sheridan OF Halleck's staff. Possibly
Blair would listen to you il you tell him
that we are on the eve of very active opera
tlons, and that the Second Michigan ofIicered
as it is. may become hopelessly demoraIlzed
Blair viii be at Pittsburg Landing at 80
this afternoon to take-the steamer down the
river. You will have ltime by hard riding
to catch him there and perhaps he will listen
to you and commission Sheridan
Granger had thoughtfully told his orderly
to feed my horse and get breakfast for me.
While we were breakfasting Adjutant Wal
bridge, OF the Second Michigan, rode up with
the regimental report, and was told OF my
proposed mission. II He asked and obtained
leave to accompany me. Shortly after a.
m. we rode on toward Pittsburg Landing
thirty miles away,i with only a margin of
Ave hours to do it, 80
Our route took us through the Shiloh
battlefield, the unburied bodies OF hundreds
of horses still tainting Ithe air long rows Of
fresh graves showing where the blue and the
6iuy "eic awaiting tue HIlil roll call. we
arrived at Pittsbnrg Landing and found
Governor Blair and General Robertson al
ready aboard the steamer, which was soon
to start. was on exceedingly friendly
terms with the governor, and opened my
subject to him at once. When / said that
Captain Sheridan was the man that General
Granger recommended the governor promptly
declared that he would not commission any
regular oftcer. / demonstrated, telling him
that the efficiency of the regiment and its
usefulness to the state and to the cause hung
upon his decision He said that he would
appoint and commission a certain captain of
the regiment pointed out that the promo
tion OF the captain named over the heads of
field officers would breed disaffection. He
clung to his views, and We left the boat
and, going ashore, sat down on some COM
missary boxes and continued the discus
sion.
REALLY the deciding voice was that Of
Adjutant General Robertson, a clear minded
Scotchman, who was generally right when