The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1913-04-05

tie of GettyslurQ. the most stu
lendous artillery and infantry
combat that ever took place
OH American soil. saw the high water
mark of the rebellion. Shortly after
Pickett's column had dashed itself to
pieces against the iron bound. flame
frnged Union lines on Cemetery ridge
the tide began to ebb. slowly hut stead
lily. back froln the hills of PENNSYLVANIA
aud Maryland mellow the old triuu,
prart lines nf the Potomac AND the
RappaIinnnock. finally to cease. twenty
mouths .;ater. by the remote hanks -of
the Aplnnattox.
The Federal army, cautiously nnlteu- I
vertd by Meade followed Lee into Nir- |
ginia but did not attack him. and the |
remaint!s.r Of tie summer season was
one Of wel'u:;e repose to hath sides. I
At the heidpErters of the Fedcrii
Army OF the Potomac. now encamped !
along the Rapidan. General Meade had
gorgeous Solferino silken flag with Il !
golden eagle in n silver wreath embia
zoned on it flying over his tent One
d,iy in March Il silent. bearded stranger
paused in passing to gaze lilon this
splendifernls emblem as he exclaimed
involuntaIiy:
~ WHAT'S this? Is imreriu,ts Caesar
anywhere about here:"
Tie bearded stranger was Lieutenant
General Ulysses = t;rant. newly cont
miSsulrpd IN command Of a!f the armies
Of the United States. The Washington
authorities. had finally come to- the lie
cision that their Immense plans OF cam
paicn should he put under ole head for
execution Such head must neeessa.-
rily lie hard and stubborn one II
rested. In the opinion Of Mr.. LINCOLN
aud uf others high in the Federalcoun
oils OF war. upon the sturdy shoulders
Of the rpnqteror qf Vicksbnrg Gen
eral Grant WIS moi addicted to high.
military strategy. but for direct tactics
and plain lighting he WIS undoubtedly
a match for General Lee
The first important vacancy now to
he dll4d In the Army OF the Potomac
was that 0f commander VI the cavalry
ccrps.
g. zen Grant asked for a chief OF
cavalry HaIieck suggested General
Philip Sheridan. who had served with
distinction under. his own command In
the west aud under Grant at Chat
tahooga The suggestion therefore was
one after Grants own heart. and he
promptly adopted It. The general be-
lief indeed was that Grant himself
had selected Sheridan. Though such did
not happen TO he tile ease.
{ Personally Sheridan was not IN INA
posing figure. Short and slight xNe
looked even younger than his age.
which was just past thirty. He was
reticent In speech and manner and to
casual observer seemed lacking ~
the essential qualities OF If. car;HTy
leader which had distinguished *ssi,h
officers in the Federal service as sum
ner. Sedgwick. Mcclellan. Thomas,
StOneinun and others.
"Does She idnn SAY II he has free
hand he can la.nt the enemy's cavatrSy
asked General Grant Of General Meade
Il few days after crossing the Rapidal
into the Wilderness. sixty miles from
Richmond. to fight his way to thu
james ..''fhen let him go ahead :nf
do It,"
That settled the dispute betweeI
Meade and thesnew cavalry command
er. and thereafter the three divisions
Of the reorganized Federal MOUNTED
force under Generals Torbert. Gregl
and Wilson had comparatively ioos
rein. The cavalry gave-a fairly goo'
account Of itself. but II found little
no opportunity for concentrated actio
IN Il region where even Grants infa'
try hordes got 10 each others wa.
even as Hooker's had III that same WI
.lerness around ChanceIlorsvile
The sanguinary horrors OF the ye'
before were renewed at Spottsyivan
and the "hl,s'dy angle" but they cou
not stop Grant. He could keep up 0
'hammering'' process all summer
necessary. because the resources OF q
Federal reservoir of human supp
we're no much greater than those OF 4
.Snfederatss that he could afford
"a to Lees one and stfll
ut him. At Cold Hnrbt
cClellan battle-ground. {
,es came near to wiping 0
~ trral mnrgin. -