The Portland daily press., 1898-12-17

results that hung on small sohances that
day, it is difficult to say how great Aier-
ritt's service to his country on this co as
ion really was. 1t did not go unrewarded
| for Merritt was breyeted major from July
Ii, 1868, tffor gallant and meritorious con-
Duct
On the 18th of May, 1864, Sheridan was
only six miles from Richmond, when he
was opposed by Stuart's cavalry. The
latter believed that the safety of their
capital was at stake and fought like de-
mons. Sheridan usually knew how his
battles were coming out, but he was
anxious on that day, and for time the
issue hung in the balance. Then great
| cheer rose on the left of the Union line,
and Merritt's and Wilson'S divisions
| dashed forward in a saber charge that
| swept the Confederates off the field and
| carried the day for Little Phil. That ac-
ton made Merritt breyet lieutenant
] colonel.
MERRITT'S FOURTH PROMOTION.
Merritt's fourth distinguished reward
was won in the battle Of Howe's Shop.
seventeen days later. aregg's division
and the brigades of Torbert and Merritt
were opposed by the enemy from strong
| 1y entrenched position. Mounted troops
could not dislodge them, but the cavalry
men held their own in the face of a gall
ling fire until Clusters men, who had
been hastily dismounted, came up with
| band playing and colors flying.
| hot r,,uoio Nd tho x,o1I xxybjoh oil rova
identified Clusters men was like an cleo
trio shock to u.s." says one of Merritt's
officers, "and we went forward over the
Confederate works as though carried on
a wave. The General was in front
among the Johnnies, yelling with the
best of us. We were all delighted when
he was breveted colonel for his work ON
this day."
It was only year from the time when
Merritt was assigned to duty as line
officer with the cavalry of the Army of
the Potomac and already his ''gallant
and mer1torious conduct had been re-
warded four times from Washington.
During the following year he added three
more to his list of breyets
| 4 When the battle OF Winchester was be-
gun Merritt was six miles away facing
lBreckinridge's column. He followed
Breckenridge into the fight. although he
knew nothing of the state Of the battle
or whether he might not have to face the
whole Confederate force. He fell upon
the line with rush, breaking it,, driving
the cavalry back through the infantry
lines and, in the words of Sheridan's
report, "sent the enemy whirling through
Winchester. For his service in this
battle and at Fishers Hill, one mont h
later, Merritt became brevet Major Gem
eral of volunteers from Oct. 10. 1864.
In the following spring occurred the
| battle of Five Forks, in which Merritt
and Fitzhugh Lee fought on opposing
sides. Some of the fiercest fighting of the
whole wan occurred here, and General
Merritt was in tho thick of it. His cav
airy command disting uished itself by its
gallant work on ground as unsuitable for
the operations of mounted troops as any
that could well be selected. 1t charged
through woods and other earthworks.
captured battery of artillery and carried
every thing before it. Merritt's bravery
was again rewarded, this time by q
| brigadier gsneralship in the United
| States army, dating from March Is, 1865.
BECOMES A MAJOR GENERAL.
In the days succeeding this conflict
Merritt's command was in almost daily
collision with the forces of the enemy
down to the 9th of April, when Lee sur
rendered the remnant of his defeated
army. General Merritt was one of those
present at that memorable conference in
McLean's house which marked the practi-
cal end of the attempt to disrupt the
Union. He recsived the exceptional honor
of brevet major generally, U. S. A..
'for gallant and meritorious services dur
ing the campaign ending with the sur
render of the army of Nor thern Virginia.
This was one of the rare instances in
which division commander was reward
ed for services during an entire cam
paign. AT the same time he was appoints
ed to major generally of volunteers
with rank from April l, 1865.
| cat the close of the war, " said General
Rodenbough, Merritt was regarded by
most of those who had served with him
as the general officer par excellence. He
was 20 ung and OVERLOOKING with the
vitality of youth. Trained in the school
of the gallant Buford, he was as dashing
oavalryman as ever drew saber, yet as
cautious and cool headed as Sheridan
himself, man of healthy instincts, jolly
and compan1onable, but as strict disci-
plinarian as ever buokled sword belt
about his waist. He was q good fighter
and good leader. if one may accept the
judgement of that best of courts, the
| opinion of his own men. 10 my mind
there is no better exam pie of the capable
| American officer than Merritt. He repre-
sents that high conservatism which. frem
| Washin gton's time until now, has made
our great generals successful in admins
| trative positions as well as on the battle
| field. "-Chicago Inter-Ocean.
A CARD.