The National tribune., 1905-11-09

dams leadership and the impact with
Stuart's forces on the field Of Yellow
Tavern, when the squadrons of the
South, the pride Of the COnfederacy.
reeled in disastrous defeat, their gallant
leader dying in his saddle.
The mention of the name OF Sherf-
dan, the mere sight of his pictured face,
brings instantly and irresistibly to mind
| thoughts of perhaps the most striking
experience in his whole life, and GER
tainly one of the most striking iiiusira
tons of mans power over his fellow
men that history affords us any knowl-
edge of. 1 allude, of course to the far
famed ride from Winchester to Cedar
Creek and what followed.
Familiar as you all are with the his
tory of that great day, bear with me
i'll brief reference thereto.
In his absence his forces had been
surprised and, to great extent, routed.
His personal headquarters had been
captured. Reused from his sleep at
Winchester, twenty miles away" he
heard the sullen, defiant roar of his
reckoning cannon. Pressing forward,
ne was appalled, when eye and mind
first grasped the extent of the disaster.
He tells us himself that his first thought
was to reform his lines at Winchester
and there make stand; but instantly
there came into his mind the thought
that he had previously been in the
midst of his men on every serious occa-
sion, and he felt that he must get to
them at once, and if defeat was in
evitable, share the fate of his devoted
troops.
You know the result-the magical
effect Of the presence of the MASTER
the rally, the forward movement, and
how grandly his inspired forces made
good his declaration, Face the other
way, boys; we will go back and recover
our camps" how they swept through
- I,ox IL fcSncs
ter of the morning was retrieved; how
the sun set on one of the most men,
orable victories of the war, and Early
went "whirling through the Valley"
And the Shenandoah Valley, "the gran
ary' of the Army Of Northern Virginia,
flying DER it would find 1t necessary to
carry rations or abandon its flight.
Sherfdan's Pre-eminent Qualities.
/ cease right here in this very slight
attempt to call attention to some Of the
pre-eminent points in this great career.
Much followed worthy of the most
elaborate reference. Five Forks and
Sailors Creek were each chapters Of
vital history; and when at midnight Of
the day Of the battle Of Sailors Creek
Sheridan wired to Grant the news Of
the capture of large numbers Of the
enemy, including six general officers,
and added, II think il things are pressed
surrender will follow" Grant repeated
the message to Mr.. Lincoln at City
Point, receiving the laconic response,
Let things be pressed" Sheridan APP
piled the pressure; the bugles sang
truce; surrender followed; and at APP
pOmattox the curtain fell on the clos
ing scene Of the mightiest tragedy of
modern ages.
The Union was secure for all time,
it's manifold blessings to be enjoyed
alike by former friends and foe, by
their children and their children's chill
dren to the latest generation.
Then as the years ran away and he
went "afar countries to see," he found
four quarters Of the world. And SO 1T
was that the son Of the poor Irish emf
grant was the welcome guest of
Princes. Kings and. Emperors; and In
the majesty Of his illustrious American
manhood he stood proudly among them,
the peer Of their best.
Grant, in a spirit Of elf-effacement.
| said OF him that he was the greatest
General Of modern times; that he al
citation OF just what his opponent would
he doing. and that never once did he
fail to measure up fully to what was
required Of him. And Grant knew a
General when he met one.
But, alas! To him, as will in Gods
good time to all Of US, came the CON-
fiict in which man has never yet and
! never will be victor. Slowly the chords
which bound him to our plane Of ex-
istence loosened. Loving hands bore
him to the far Atlantic Coast, where
sound Of his dulling ears seemed to
urge him to hasten and iOfn his com.