The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-11

The division at that time was in charge
of Major Starr an old officer who had
been in the service when Merritt was
born. Merritt was marching with his
regiment, but of course his promotion
put him in charge of the brigade. He
rode UP to Major Starr, who was Sit
ting on fence, and showed the order
to him. Starr at once slipped down off
the fence and saluted. After few
words of further conversation, Merritt
rode to the head of the column and
Starr went back to his own regiment.
Then we went on and until we went
into camp that night not one man in
ten knew that there had been a change
in the command. That was character
istic of Merritt. His promotion was a
big jump for a boy like him, but he
did not parade his neW-Won honor.
He simply went ahead and took up the
duties of the place for which he had
prepared himself thoroughly before
hand, although he couldn't have antici-
pated that he would be called upon to
perform them so soon. 1t used to be
said that Merritt knew exactly the du-
ties and requirements of every position
from that of commander-in-chief down
to orderly, and L believe that it was
true
KEPT LONGSTREET BUSY.
cat the battle of Gettysburg, his next
big fight, Merritt performed a service
which was not fully appreciated until
later. His command got into the fight
on the third day, the day of Pickett's
charge, and engaged the extreme con-
federate left, near Round Top. He was
facing a. superior force but he kept
it so busy that when Lee sent word to
Longstreet to move forward and back
up Pickett, Longstreet replied that the
Yankee cavalry were giving him all ne
he could attend to, and that he was I'M
able to help Pickett. Considering the
mighty results that hung on small
chances that day, it is difficult to say
how great Merritt's service to mis- coun-
try on this occasion really was. 1t did
not go unrewarded, for Merritt was
breveted major from July /, 1863, for
gallant and meritorious conduct
on the 18th of May, 1864, Sheridan
was only six miles from Richmond,
when he was opposed by Stuarts cav
airy. The latter believed that the
safety of their capital was at stake,
and fought like demons. 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 a great cheer rose
on the left of the Union line, and Mer-
ritt's and Wilson'S divisions dashed
forward in a Saber charge that swept
the confederates off the field and car
ried the day for little Fhil. That ac-
ton made Merritt a brevet lieutenant
colonel.
NERRITTS FOURTH PROMOTION. /
Merritt's fourth distinguished reward
was won in the battle of Howes' Shop,
seventeen days later. Gregg's division
and the brigades of Torbert and Mer-
rift were opposed by the enemy from
a strongly entrenched position. Mount
ed TROOPS could not dislodge them, but
the cavalrymen held their own in face
of a CALLING fire until Clusters men.
who had been hastily disn Ounted, came
up with band playing and colors fly
ing.
THAT music and the yell which al
ways identified Clusters men was like
an electric shock to US" says one of
Merritt's officers. and we went for
ward over the rebel works as though
carried on wave. The general was
in front among the Johnnies, yelling
with the best of US. We were all de-
lighted when he was breveted colonel
for his work on that day"
1t was only a year from the time
when Merritt was assigned to duty as
a line officer with the cavalry of the
army of the Potomac and already his
gallant and meritoriouS conduct had
been rewarded four times from Wash
ington. During the following year he
added three more to his list of brevets.
SENT THE ENEMY WHIRLING AT
WINCHESTER.
When the battle of Winchester was
begun Merritt was six miles away fac
ing Breekinridge's column He fol-
lowed Breckenridge into the fight, al
though 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 rebel line with