Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-26
Executive Extols Brave Deeds of Civil
War General.
DESIGN IS BY GUTzoN BoRGLUM
Work of Former Omaha sculptor
Admired by All Who See 1t,
HERO APPEARS ON HORSEBACK
Piece is Twelve Feet Ions NnA EIght
Feet Hish and Contains More
Brass Than Any statue
Ever Cast Here.
tFrom a sad corresrondentl

WASHINGTON, Nov, s5-(special Tcle-
gramD-ro an Omaha boy, Gutzon Borg
lum, has been awarded the very distin-
guished honor of having had unveiled to-
day the most striking and the most artistic
statue in the nations capital. the statue OF
General Philip Henry Sheridan 1t is full
of life and color. executed with Aash and
a full appreciation OF the possibilities as
exemplifed In the achievements of one Of
the greatest soldiers of one Of the greatest
wars in history. MIR. Borglum took that
| incident in tho stirring life of the great
cavalry leader where his soldiers, sorely
tried and almost ready TO thrown down
their arms arc in full retreat, now known
as the battle of Cedar Creek or Winchester
He has refined up his horse, his slouch hat
is crushed in his hand and he is telling his
men that they must turn back and retake
| the ground from which they have been
driven. And So "sheridan's Ride" came to
be written and so Borglum has sculpturcd
him, achievement which has brought
! thousands of congratulations TO one who
made Omaha his home for several years
and where many of his family still reside.
The president paid glorious tribute to
| Mr. Borglum, saying during the course of
! his address that first thanks were due to
1 the sculptor because there the begin
ming of the celebration OF today. Taking
| Mr. Borglum by the hand, the president led
him out in the presence OF a great con-
course and presented him to the audience.
| Mr.. Borglum bowed his acknowledgements.
With military pomp and splendor am
heroic statue of General Philip Henry Sheri-
dan was unveiled in this city today. The
president of the United States and members
of the cabinet. the diplomatic corps, justices
| Of the supreme court of the United States,
senators, representatives In congress, vet
Grams of the civil war and many others prom
inent in official life as well as large con-
course of citizens were present Thousands
OF soldiers OF the regular army and of the
National Guard and United states marines
and bluejackets from the navy were as
sembled tribute to the dashing soldiar
Of the civil war whose effigy las displayed
10 the public gaze for the fiiS; time in this
city today.
The statue. the work OF Gutzon Borgum,
was admired by everyone who 1t. II
represents General Sheridan on horseback,
his steed being shown In a position of
action rather than standing placidly, as is
the with 50 many OF the equestrian
statues OF this city.
Waves Men TO Action.
The statue is one and three quarters times
larger than life and depicts General Sheri-
dan at the cage at which he performed his
greatest deeds. The pose is taken from the
occasion when he returned to the field at
the battle of Cedar creek. He had been
, defeated by General Early and as he rans
in his horse he turns to hh5 ruen. waving
hat in hand and shouts to them to turn
e back. He is mounted on his celebrated
8 horse Rienzi The sum of s50,0e0 was gp-
| Via bNy, fnr Io efa bf a
e is said to contain more molten brass than
e ever before cast in this luhuy. The piece
is twelve feet long, eight feet wide and as
completed the entire bronze piece Is four
, teen feet in height
I Especial interest was given the occasion
s by the presence of the widow of the DASH
ing soldier and her son, Lieutenant Phil
Sheridan, of the army. The statue was
unveiled by Mrs. Sheridan, herself pulling
the cord that held the drapery in place
The statue is located in the most
$ fashionable residential section Of the city,
- in what is known as the Sheridan square
G at the intersection of Mas ,achusetts avenue,
q Twenty-thrd and r streets, II is sur
. rounded by many splendid mansions and
d is on the line OF one of The most popular
n driveways of the city.
0 Military Parade.
The military parade was headed by Cen
: eral ]. Franklin Bell chief OF staff OF the
- army, with General William p. Duvall, as
y his chief aid The Thirteenth Cavalry.
d the Fourth Battery OF field artillery, the
= Seventeenth. Forty fourth. Forty-fifth, and
d One hundred and fourth ar ilery, Companies
! e and II OF the United States engineers, Bat
teries d and f Of the Third field artillery.
{ the Fifteenth cavalry, and four companies OF
marines two companies OF blue Jackets.
. from the presidents yacht, Mayflower and
the Dolphin were in line. the United States
Marine band rendering appropriate music.
The second division cons sted of the Dist ici
e OF Columbia militia, composed OF the First
II and Second regiments OF infantry, the First
{ Separate battalion, the Signal Corps, the
II First Battery Field artillery, the Naval
l. battalion the High School cadets headed
&c by the Engineers band.
The third division OF the parade was
composed OF the veteran societies Of the
10 Army of the Potomac. OF the Cumberland
of the Tennessee and the Ohio. whose mem
g. bers served under the famous soldier In
st whose honor they were assembled.
IT President Roosevelt addressed the assem-
n blage and pronounccs a splendid tribute
e. to the valor and the military genius OF
in Sheridan. Horace Porter formerly ambas
N sador to France, also spoke IN honor OF tht
n soldier and patriot and told OF his daring
TO deeds on the field OF battle.
Address of the President.
te President Roosevelt said:
VI 1T is cmihently fitting that the nation
re ilustrous men. the men who loom a,
ne heroes before the eyes OF our people, shoul.
ID be fittingly commemorated here al IN,
~ national capital and ! am glad indeed t,
he take par. IN the unwilling OF this statu'
Il. to General sheridan. His name will alWay.
an stand high on the list ~ American wor,h'es
Not only was he a great general bu
OF he showed his greatness with that touci
m OF originality which we call genius. Indee,
~ this quality Of brliiance has been in on
- sense a disadvantage to his reputation. 10