The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-31

Perhaps the greatest ride OF his life
was his famous dash through the Rocky
mountains, when ne rode night and
day to the rescue of Major Tii6rnburgh's
command, hemmed in by the Ute Indi-
ans at the time of the White river mas
sacre. The soldiers were surrounded
and being slowly shot and starved to
death. A single man managed to crawl
out one night and escape, and after in
credible suffering reached Rawlings Sta
tion on the Union Pacific railroad,
nearly 200 miles to the north. A "hur-
ry'' telegram was sent to General Mer-
ritt, then colonel OF the Fifth cavalry
at Fort ID. A. Russell, near Cheyenne.
After reaching Rawlings or the nearest
railroad point to the White river Indian
agency, General Merritt had to ride
four days and nights continuously with
light supply Of food and ammunition.
Thornburgh was dead, and his men
were ON the point of starvation, wound
ed and barely able to cling to their guns
behind their intrenchments. Merritt ar
rived at the break Of day, advanced
with yells and scattered the Indians,
who were waiting like coyotes for the
soldiers 10 die or surrender. General
Merritt's wild ride through the Rocky
mountains will long challenge the rec
ord. 1t is considered remarkable that he
did not kill a horse or man during his
mountain march.
With Custer, Mcpherson and Sheri-
dan, Merritt was called one Of the boy
generals of the war. Graduating from
West Point but few months before the
civil war broke out, he joined the Sec-
ond dragons and continuously distin-
guished himself in the cavalry service
all through the war. He was Sheridan's s
right hand man in the great campaigns
of the Shenandoah leading up to the
battle Of Five Forks and the surround
ing and crushing of Lee. Merritt's six
brevets from major to major general for
his heroic and irresistible fighting at
Gettysburg, Yellow Tavern, Howe's
Shop, Wincester, Fishers Hill, Five
Forks and the Appomattox campaign
are among his undying achievements in
the great war.
General Merr;tt's military career in
closely contested engagements, in great
and hazardous campaigns, was always
that Of q soldier and hero. He was
graduated from West Point July 1,
1850. just before the rebellion, and
reached captaincy in the Second cav
airy April s, 1852, and was brigadier
of volunteers June 30, 1868. In the
Army Of the Potomac, on the staff of
General Cooke, and later with General
Stoneman in his famous raid toward
Richmond he won renown. In COM
mand of cavalry he crossed the Kappa
hammock and surprised the enemy, but
for hours was nearly surrounded and
once on the point Of being captured.
Later General Merritt succeeded Gener-
al Buford in command of cavalry, oper-
ating in central Virginia. He was In
the Richmond campaign in 1864, fight
ing with Sheridan at the head with his
columns in his historic raids through
the valleys, always closing in ON the
armies of the dying Confederacy. His
division (the First), composed Of II
regiments Of cavalry, embracing Gen.
eral Clusters command, won him honor
for the masterly celebrity with which he
drove Early and his troops whirling
through Winchester.
Merritt's next brilliant achievement
was at Cedarville, on the Shenandoah.
This was followed by his glorious VIC
tory at the battle of Cedar Creek, where,
without infantry support, he made In
cessant cavalry charges-tremendous,
overwhelming. The enemy could not
survive his assaults Of tornado impetu-
osity. With Sheridan, Merritt displayed
distinguished part in forcing the sur
render Of Lee. On that memorable oc-
casion, so graphically described by
Grant and Sheridan, General Merritt
was appointed one of the three commits
sioners to carry out the terms OF the
treaty.
And now in q new and globe encir-
cling war this brave, sagacious and com.
petent man of the people, who in his
turn was farmers boy, typesetter. pub.
Usher, editor, lawyer, cadet, soldier
and then victorious and always con.
quering officer in the great armies Of
the war, is again wanted at the front.
Those who know him best agree that
he has judicial temperament and is
eminently fitted for action in civil OF
military affairs requiring wisdom and
justice. In appearance Merritt looks
much like distinguished judge.
It is singular commentary on the
- nj xxx,l,Ito lifo thot ~,
the Army Of the Shenandoah was a
modest, fearless major known as Nc.
Kinley. He is now president of the
United States and has appointed "the
general" to carry peace and reform to
the Philippine islands. General Mer'
ritt's friends say he is a man fully
tipped for the great mission. New
\ ork Herald.
II Euh