The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-06

ing the command of the army of the
Potomac. He did not have an oppor-
tunity to refuse ii, as Couch did, but he
was recommended for the place by a
committee of congress. IL the recon-
mendation had been acted upon by the
military authorities he would have dis
placed General Meade, for it was in
the winter of 1854 that the proposition
was made. General Grant and Presi-
dent Lincoln did not think that Meade
merited removal. They might not
have been willing to appoint Pleas
anton if they had, but the fact that
he was recommended shows how high
~ ne was regarded at that time.
General Robinson, like S1ckleS, left
leg behind him in action, and CRATE
full republic took munificent care of
him for the remainder of his life.
The careers of these men prove anew
that merit does not always reach APP
propriate reward. and that favor-luck,
if one will so regard it-has often much
to do with shaping mems destinies.
General Robinson was a plain, every
day soldier, by no means great as
commander or leader, and but for the
incident of battle which deprived him
of a limb would never perhaps have
attracted more than the attention of
brigadier. But congress nearly 80 years.
ago put him upon the retired list as a,
indJOA SCnCA oil dl SO,O-O d yCoA- Vel
eral Pleasanton, the dashing cavalry
leader, recommended by a committee
of congress for high communicative,
had it not been for one little weakness
known TO Mr.. Lincoln, would certainly
have had the opportunity to win the
laurelS of Meade or Sheridan-waS
gradually thrust aside, until in a pique
he resigned his regular army commits
sion and was ever after an object of
pity and commiseration. Pleasanton's
life in Washington for ten years sue
ceeding the close of the war was a sad
commentary upon the gratitude of ma
tons. His life was one of bitterness,
of vain and vindictive regrets. Believ-
ing that he had been ill-treated, be-
lieving that the political fates were
against him, and that the world had
misunderstood and Knocked him, he
gave way to the cynicism of his nature
and hated his fellow man. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty in his later years
that influence enough could be mus
tered to get him on the retired list as
a major.
There is lesson in the careers of
two of these lately deceased veterans
that it may be we'll for young soldiers
and young men in any walk to take to
heart. Mediocrity, as in the case of
Robinson coupled with sturdiness of
character is pretty sure to win. Bril-
Hancy, brains and dash, II not attend
ed by steadiness of purpose, as in the
case of Pleasanton, are pretty certain
to fall in the final essentials of a sue
cessful career.
Up to the final period when Pleas
anton's infirnity of habit and temper
began to make him conspicuous there
was no more promising officer of his
rank in the army. When Sheridan
took command of the cavalry of the
army of the Potomac, Pleasanton had
probably won more fame as a cavalry
leader than any other man. The
Union commanders up to the time of
Grant and Sheridan had not been Civ
ing the cavalry an opportunity to win
the distinction which the cavalry of
the confederate service attained. Sher-
idan had a bitter struggle with Meade
before he was allowed to change the
method of using cavalry, and it was
only by the aid of Grant that he over
came Meade's objections. So it may
not have been altogether Pleasanton's
fault that he did not as commander OF
the cavalry of the army of the Po-
tomac win the fame which afterward
fell to Sheridan. But there can be no
disputing that he distinguished him
self as a brave man, quick to think and
quick to act But his uncomfortable
temper, his unguarded tongue and his
reckless use and misuse of stimulants
proved his final undoing.