The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
SHERIDAN AND THE WAR.
HIS FIRsT ENTRANCE INTO ACTTVE
SERPIOE IND WHO HELPED IT.


For six years previous to his participation in
the war OF the rebellion, Capt. Philip II. Sherl-
dan of tho regular army had been stationed in
the wilderness OF Oregon, chasing Rogue River
Indians. and combating hardships OF various
kinds with his Characteristic fortitude, energy,
and ability. He was young, brave, healthy,
insensiblo TO fatigue, a man Of irrcpressible
activity, and. on the whole, seems to have
enjoyed the wild, hard life which he lod
on tho outskirts of civilization, though
IL must have been very trying at times to
In progress elk months and several important
battles had been fought when Sheridan's chance
Mt last came. During all that Time he had been
chaing at his impotence In the Oregon woods
and longcd to get East and take a hand In tho
great events there occurring. Indians began to
look like pretty small game to Sheridan, al
though he had distinguished himself In that
warfare, having been mentioned In general or
dcrs, and was already known in the army as q
bold, rcsourceful officer.
His opportunity did not come until late in the
fall Of 1861. From Second Lieutenant in regu.
lar course. but very rapidly owing to numerous
designations and dismissals Of Southern officers,
Sheridan had been promoted out of his old regi-
mcnt, the Fourth, to be Captain In the Thirteenth
Infantry, n new regular regiment provided for
by Congress In tho ~exigency Of war. Of which
w lIIldll 1. SnPTLldU was fmluc colonel. ltG WAS
ordered East TO join his new command. When
this new Captain arrived in New York in No
vember, 1861, he lacked about four months of
being 81 years old. In those days OF intense
activity Sheridan was n very small man. In
height hc was 3 feet 9 Inches, and he weighed
only about ll5 pounds. In social intercourse no
was lively, genial, and bright, enjoying good
company and a roaring time; on duty alert and
oihcer-like. somewhat nervous and abrupt, but
always very clear, direct, and positive; indeed,
in action he was what Is popularity called a bull
d~ozer-icrce. domincering, and intolerant-
taking littlo heed OF manner or the ~nicctics of
language in conveying his orders or meaning to
subordinatcs, and especially thoss who were
slow in coming up to the work" His predor-
inant characteristics shone out in battle.
Capt. Sheridan's new regiment was being re-
cruited and organized at Jefferson Barracks, a
post just below St Louis. To this rendezvous
Sheridan now proceeded, on the route taking
opportunity to pay Il flying visit to his parents,
who resided near Somerset, Perry county. o.,
whom he had not seen for several years.
Gen. Henry w. IIallcck, who had only Just ar.
rived from California and superseded Gen. John
{. Fremont In Command OF tho Western Depart
ment, was bringing order out OF chaos In tho
military administration. He was greatly in need
OF educated. experienced officers. Sheridan had
previously known both IIallcck and Sherman.
probably on the Pacific coast. Upon his arrival
at st. Louis he ut once called at headquarters
and paid his respects to the commanding Gen
eral, who received him very kindly
Tho result was that u few days after his ar
rival at jefferson Barracks Hullcck sent for
Sheridan and put him upon special duty at
headquarters. Shortly afterwurd. Dec. 80,
1861, he was made Chief Quartcrmaster and
Commissary OF Gen. S. r. Curtis's Army OF the
Southwest. which in the following spring de-
foated the enemy Mt Pea Ridge, Ark. In
this campaign Sheridan had an opportunity to
display his energy and capacity on the grand
scale; for more than throe months he success
fully supplied this marching army, far from It's
base, under almost ~insurmountabls din.
cultics. lie subsequently fell into a contro.
vcrsy with Curtis, and was relieved from
duty. Sheridan had seized and turned In GER
tain stolen horses, for which he positively re-
fused to pay some Iowa men, although ordered
to do so, holding that the animals belonged to
the Government. He again reported at st.
Louis for orders. under something OF "A cloud,
because Curtis's influence at that time was very
great. llallcck now sent him out into the coun-
try to purchase horses for the department. 1t
was an irksomo service to q man like Sheridan,
but he performed It satisfactorily, visiting va
rious places in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Meantime tho battle Of Shiloh occurred: Hal
leck had left 81. Louis and gone TO the front TO
assume command OF the combined armies oper-
ating against the rebel stronghold Mt Corinth.
These great events again aroused the sleeping
lion in Sheridan. Longing for active service. he
made an excuse 10 return to st. Louis from Chi
cago, where he was at tho moment buying
horses, hoping that something would turn up 10
enable him 10 get down 10 the front Hullcck
hHd left his Assistant Adjutant-Gcncral, Col.
John c. kelton. temporarily in charge OF head
quarters at st. Louis, preparing for its per-
mGnent transfer to Tennessee. In his " Per
sonal Memoirs" published twenty.six years
afterward, Sheridan states that no reported
TO kcltou. and made known his anxiety for i'm
mediate active service, which he could not hope
for for many months to come II he joined HIS
embryonic company at Jefferson Barracks. KEEL |
c1tded TO assume tho responsibility Of sending
I IngrIhan 70 Th fisP %ps 10 a Wen Gsn; III m" ten Sb at p nt,ar b I[S
battle of Shiloh. Sheridan says: This | con.
slider the turning point in my military career.
his act, which 70 greatly Influenced my future"
Sheridan quickly found means OF getting up
In due course reported to Gen. Halleck. Alter a
slight delay he was assigned TO duty under Col.
who. put him To work cOrdnroying roads and
Getting ne trains up from the landing. This
able sheridan, lit was near the hold OF active
operalions'i and determined 10 do the best
f tSins Be- Bette, .a I'M m.g fa0 a ERpSF"'unsst Soon f0E he 'C %"s
made ~Commissary anu ,Q~uartermaster at
nhiecR,s lcaduunrters. ms york attracted
Hallcrks favorable attention; within a few
weeks he was fairly launched as Colonel OF tho
Second Michigan Cavalry. He became famous
by lighting and defeating Chalmers at Boone
vile on the LIST of July, 1862. for which he was
made n Brigadicr'G General on HLllcck's recon-
mendation. Hardly more than four months
from tho day, as an infantry Captain, ho began
corduroying roads al PittsbIrg, Sheridan was in
command of u division OF 1000 men. which he |
carried into the battle OF Porryville.
The foregoing Is mainly Sherilnns recollcc-
tons, US recitod in tho " Memoirs" There il no
dispute, about Col. Kelton's Dstrumentality in
forwarding Sheridan TO The front, in which, in
deed, he took some risk, because HalloGk Was an
authoritative man, who dislikcd unwarranted
Interference ON the part of his subortinates. But
the late Gen. George Thorn disputed Sheridnn's
recollection of the event, and wholly laid claim
to the honor of having ut That time put him in
the way OF active service. AS "A matter of fact, |
Thorn gave undue Importance to the episode; no
was deeply wounded by what he claimed was
Sheridan 5 forgctiulness of his (Thom's) personal
service htn crisis in his fortunes.
This Thorn was IA considerable parsonage. in
every way an interesting figure. He had gradu-
nj ted from "nli Paint Sn = IA tlirI y-ppn ,lA,ta |