Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-16
SHERIDAN's RIDE
How the General Dashed From 4
chester to Victory "
BY HENRY LANES p,,,.

s,s -.r JAMES BUXTON
A srALWARr in uniform of t-n,.. ;,
\ with merry Irish azure eve, III
the midst Of joyous repast =,
eggs In a little tavern in wincbes,.' \ =.
an aid, hurrying into the room ~ "'~|
In voice tense with excitemen,.
General. I hear sounds Of ar,n.-
distance, and I am afraid our ,ro.s- III
been surprised by the enemy" ~
Without borrowing any Of tbo
tion OF his subordinate officer csr,.-,
Sheridan, crack cavalry commana..
Union army strode to the porch and v',' -
into his saddle. The black cha,..N
sponded instantly TO a gentle pr,ct !, N
spurs and sped down the roadr.r 81
swinging gallop.
General Sheridan bent forward ana
the satiny neck ot his steed mu,r..,
with the tenderness Of a woman.
dc your best. little beauty for
twenty good miles tc go and it's . o..
life and death" SF n
The face Of Sheridan was grim -,
as his horse carried him forward NV, ~
swftness Of the wind. He applied N.
again ever so gently as the sound !, W W
lery became more distinct. Now ~ s
hear the crackle Of rifle fire ana -.
smoke Of battle hanging over the ,rs,..
His eyes flashed and his hand tIRhtsn.s a
the bride
only little wRv more" Sheridsr
INJURED encouragingly to his faithful ~
The noble beast was strainlng every 49,
to obey its master ''''A
AS the intrepid cavalry commands, -.
swiftly around bend in the road h. ~
upon a horde of fugitives, men fror' "
command, who were running from ths !.
my, their faces blanched with terror
Sheridan brought his horse TO sucA !.
abrupt standstill that the animal rearsa \
It's launches, paving the air with Its A..
| hoofs.
The General swung his hat into IN. !.
| and yelled to the fleeing men:
Face the other way boysi Faes \.
other way! We are going to whip NJ
to pieces !"
The fugitives shouted with 10Y AZ M
| recognized their fearless commander
"Phil Sheridan's back! :" they cr,,s
Right about face and give It to em,T
A little further along the road sherds
| came upon the main portion Of his brokr
| army They were in full retreat but n
| appearance of their commander filled th,'
with new courage. Little Phil" jumu,
into the thick of the battle; his Irish al
| ing blood was up
with words of encouragement hs form,
his men into compact battle array
Don't waste a shot" he shouted. W,
| until the enemy gets within twenty yard,
On came the Confederates, confident IA,
they would quickly complete the row
| Sheridan's command The Confederate bi
tle-yell rang through the woods as 4
enemy charged with glittering bayonets
STEADY, my men," admonished sherda
Remember, twenty yards Don't waste
shot"
Closer advanced the Confederates, hnr
as they charged; but there was not
| turn shot from the Federals until the enen
was within the prescribed twenty yards
Then a sheet of flame flared along 4
| Federal line as the Union soldiers q
charged their muskets at the advancing d
1t was a terrific fire, delivered at Cd
range. and r. part of the Confederats n
melted like snow before an April sun
"Now's the time, boys! Chargel On
them the steel |" cried Little Phil.
The Confederates had fought with aul
born American spirit, but that onslaught
cold steel was too much for them and III
fed In wild disorder.
It is the spirit of Phil Sheridan which
spires the boys who are today Joining
United States forces for war with the I
tons. And within the next few months
spirit of Little Phil" will be felt aroU
the world.
(copyrisht)