Evening journal., 1913-07-05
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Sheridan Was Made
Full General Of the Army
By Holland


Some time in the summer Of 1883
President Cleveland received two or
three senator's, gna of whom mad been
a conspicuous officer in the Confede-
rate army. who called upon him for
the purpose Of urging him to take ia
vorable action upon the proposition TO
name General Philip H. Sheridan full
general in the army Of the United
States.
The late William r. Grace. who We.
twice mayor of New York. and who
was an intimate personal friend Of
General Sheridan. narrated to me an
incident associated with the naming
of Sheridan as general of which the
public had no knowledge.
General Sheridan was suffering
from organic disease in the early part
of 1888. said Mr.. Grace. when the
hot weather came his physicians ad-
vised him to 90 TO the seashore, and
some friends offered him hospitality
with his family at a beautiful place
upon the shores OF Buzzard's Bay,
near the point where the bay unues
with the ocean.
Some of Sheridan's friends-my-
self among the number knew that he
did not have any income to speak Of
excepting his salary as lieutenant
general. n is my recollection that ne
cot very little for his war memoirs,
at least In comparison with what Gen
eral Grant and General Sherman re-
ceived for their works.
owe thought II would be gra-
cious thing il Congress would pass
the necessary legislation which would
make IT possible for President Cleve-
land TO name Sheridan a general.
That would be very gratifying 10
Sherman and. in case OF his death. II
would provide a larger pension for his
widow and family.
"When we suggested the matter TO
certain senator's and told them that
Sheridan could not live very long
they said that they would see Presi-
dent Cleveland and If he looked ia
vorahly upon the proposition they
would undertake to secure the pas
sage Of the resolution.
"They did see the President. They
were a little timid at first not know
ing how President Cleveland would
look upon the proposition But after
they had stated the case 10 the Presi
dent they were very glad they had
called upon him He told them that
II would be with real satisfaction
that. II Congress gave him the power
he would name Sheridan as general,
so that the three conspicuous com
manders of the Union Army, Grant,
Sherman and sheridan would 90 into
history as the only soldiers since
Washington who had been named
general
"The resolution was quickly adopt
ed by the Senate We all thought
that in the House Of Representatives
it would be as quickly put through
/ There was reason for haste, since we
! had received had news from Buzzard''
Bay TO the effect that Sheridan was
failing rapidly
"ft was necessary to get unanimou
consent for immediate action by tn
house. One man objected There
upon Speaker Crisp. of Georgia
quilted his chair and went upon th'
floor and made a beautiful speech
! urging especially upon Confederate
who had fought at Gettysburg and a
! AppomattoX to unite with all others
/ I'm paying This worthy tribute to n dy
| ing man Meanwhile some Of the othel
members Of the House had persuaded
| the obiecting member TO 90 TO thu
! cloak room.
Then the resolution was speedily
adopted and President Arthur wa
not more reioiced when he signed tn
resolution which restored Genera
Grant. then stricken with mortal i'll
ness. to the office OF general and re
tired him with full pension than wa
Grover Cleveland when he had Oppor
tunity to sign the resolution which en-
abled him to name General Sherida
as general.
1--WE were very fortunate 10 pu
this through both houses of Congress
when we did. for IL was only two o
three days. I think certainly q yer
short time-before the death of Sheri
dan that we were able 10 communi
cato 10 him the gratifying fact tha
he had been named general of tn
army"
(Copvwrieht 1913. nv r. J. Edward