Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-23
GEN. MERRITT'S RISE.
MADE A MAJOR GENERAL At THE
AGE OF ~ YEARS.
He Won Seven Brevets and Promotions
I'm Two Years and Came Out of the
Civil War Dashing Officer Little
Phil" Praises Him.

An lWo IchTs anu NaWe Out Oh INV
Civil War a Dashing Officer 'Littls
+ Phil" Praises Him.
Seven brevets and promotions, all fol
gallant and meritorious service" in
the field, all won in the space Of two
years, is the unique record established
by Major General Wesley Merritt. Six
times he was rewarded thus for brav.
cry in particular engagements, and
once for his service during the entire
campaign. In 1860, at the age Of %,
he graduated from West Point. He
emerged from the war major general
Mt "a.
1T was in the battle Of Beverly
Ford that Merritt made his mark"
says Gen. Il. f. Rodenbough, who
served with him through most Of the
rebellion. He set 1t high up, too, for
in that one day he jumped from the
rank of captain, acting as colonel, to
the position OF brigadier general, and
the command Of the regular brigade,
Familiarity known as the Old Guard.
I'm the spring c. 1868 the Union cav
airy, which had been split up into small
divisions during the earlier part Of the
war, was recognized, and Gen. Pleas
onton was made chief of cavalry OF the
Army of the Potomac. Merritt was as
sighed to the Second Cavalry, with the
rank of captain.
AT the beginning Of June it was re-
ported that Lee was getting ready to
move north, and force of 10000 cav
airy was sent out to see IL they could
locate any large bodies of Confederate
troops, with view to determining the
truth Of this report. In the course of
our expedition we ran into some 1900
Confederate cavalry under Jeb' Stuart,
not far from Culpeper. Fording the
Rappahannock in the early morning we
attacked the Confederates' camp.
THE ensuing engagement, known as
the battle Of Beverly Ford, is recog-
nized by military writer's as the most
conspicuous cavalry engagement OF the
war. The numbers on each side were
nearly equal, the ground was favorable
for mounted operations, and the fight
ing lasted all day, from s in the morn
ing until nearly at night.
There were two young officers on
the Union side who won great glory
that day. They were Merritt and Gus
ter, both Of whom were Immediately
afterwards made brigadier generals.
Better than all else, Merritt won the
warm commentator Of his old com
manier, the gallant Buford, Of whom
he afterward wrote:
q" His slightest praise was more
valued by his officers than a brevet
from the War Department
AT the battle Of Gettysburg, his next
big fight, Merritt performed service
which was not fully appreciated until
later. His command got into the fight
on the third day, the day after Pick.
ett's charge, and engaged the extreme
Confederate left near Round Top. He
was facing 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 was giving
him all that he could attend to, and
that he was unable to help Pickett
Considering the mighty results thai
hung on small chances that day, it II
difficult to say how great Merritt's ser
vice to the country really was. 1t die
not go unrewarded, for Merritt was
breveted major from July 1, 1863, FOL
gallant and meritorious conduct"
On the 18th day of May, 1864, Sheri
dan was only six miles from Richmond
when he was opposed by Stuart's cav
airy. The latter believed that the safe
ty Of their capital was at stake ant
fought like demons. Sheridan usual,
knew how his battles were coming out
but he was anxious on that day, ant
for a time the issue hung in the bal
ance Then great cheer rose on tn,
left of the Union line. and Merritt,
and Wilson's divisions dashed forwar,
In saber charge that swept the Con
federates OFF the field and carried tn
day for Little Phil. That action mad
Merritt a breyet lieutenant colonel.
Merritt's fourth distinguished rewar,
was won in the battle of Howes' SHOP
seventeen days later. Greggs division
and the brigades Of Torbert and Mel
rift were opposed by the enemy from
strongly entrenched position. Mounte
troops could not dislodge'them. but tn
cavalrymen held their own In the fac
Of a calling fire until Clusters mer
who had been hastily dismountet
came up with band playing apd color
flying.
THE music and the yell which a
ways identified Clusters men was lik
an electric shock to u.s." says one Q
Merritt's officers, land we went fol
ward over the Confederate works a
though carried on wave. The Geners
was In front among the Johnnies. vel
Ing with the best OF us. We were n
delighted when he was brevetted co
onel for his work on this day"
It was only year from the tim
when Merritt was assigned to duty q
a line officer with the cavalry OF n
( Army Of the Potomac, and already b