El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-31
Gen Sheridan Said Fort Bliss Should Be Big Army Post
Declared San Antonio Too Far From The Mexican Border

seTsERE should be = big fort on The
Mexican border and FL Paso is
the logical point for that fort" de-
clared Gen Phillip H Sheridan. com
mander Of the United States army. to
Chss. r. 1Iorehead, on the occasion
Of visit here just prior 10 the cree
ton OF the present Fort Bliss.
san Antonio is too far away from
the border and hasn't enough rail-
roads Gen Sheridan continued. The
railroads all pass through this pass
here. 10 all points, and this makes FL
Easo the logical location for a big
military post on the Mexican border.
This place is the back gate to
hieLlco and you can 80 down the
backbone Of Mexico from here into
Mexico"
AIr. Morehead became the acquafn-
lance and friend Of Gen Sheridan at
LeavenWorth, kans., during his resi-
dence there from 1883 10 1874. as Gen.
Sheridan often visited there. Gen.
=. 5 Grant also visited there often
and M Morehead also became his
friend and received q standing invita-
ion from Gen Grant 10 visit him in
Washington at any time he should be
in the national capital
Gen Shsridan's Visit Here.
IT, .
Rasos Il was his privilege 10 greet Gen.
sheridan when the latter, as head OF
The american army. came here TO In
vesugate the posi- ilities for a new
post for FL PasO- 1t is local history
that 1ir- Morehead's acquaintance with
and friendship for Gen Sheridan had
much 70 do with securing the pres
enr Fort Bliss When Gen Sheridan
came here, Fort Bliss was located
8nere the Globe Mills now are. Gen
Sheridan at that time made the state
ment At the opening Of this article,
10 Mr.. Morehead.
Later, Gen Sheridan sent Cen David
Stanley here 70 select the site for the
post Gen Stanley was shown several
sites Up the river but insisted that
the fort must be located on the mesa. !
where Gen. Sheridan and 1Ir. More
head had agreed was the best site
for It.
Didn't Want it Up valley.
Gen Stanley said" declared 3Ir.
Aorenead. when some one asked him
% recommend the post up the valley
No, sir; I want IL where we can shoot
INTO Mexico II we have TO. I'm not
gong 70 buy & up the valley"
1T was the intention OF Gen.
sheridan said Dir. Moreheads
4-that Fort Bliss should be a reEf-
mental post He never intended
that IL should remain n small most.
when IL was built. He insisted
upon having n large piece OF
ground for future enlarEements,
and II was then that he said there
should be a big fort somewhere
along the Mexican border and thar
Fl Paso WAS the logical place
Tor it,
lIr. Morehead at Leavenvrorth.
With due mOdestys Mr. Norehead, IN I
his "reminiscences Of the early west. I
omitted all reference 10 his successes
as a resident Of LeaTenWorth Kans. 4
The installment Of his "reminiscences I
in the weekend Herald brought him ]
back 70 LeavenWOrth from his second 4
trip into the far western Indian coun- I
Try. and. merely stating that he en- 4
tered business there, he passed over I
his political and business successes I
az that place
knowing. however. that he was
mayor Of LeaVenWOrth at one time I
and prominent IN the affairs Of the
city and section. The Herald pressed /
him for some details OF his residence I
there.
8lr. 8lorehead. however. would only
state that he was mayor during 1865 I
and 1853 and that during thai time he .
had the privilege OF making the Z
acquaintance Of a number Of the ma
tons distinguished men, as Fort
Lezvenworth and the city OF Leaven-
worth were important points during
the period OF his residence there He
was in the wholesale grocery bust .
ness there from 1883 70 1874 and was
elected mayor in 1868.
EufertuinH Grant and Sheridan.
Among the most distinguished Wis
itors he had the privilege Of enter i
laining during his term OF office as
mayor OF LeavenWorth were Gen
Grant and Gen. Sheridan. Their visit
was made TO LesvenWorth on July II, I
1858. just after Gen Grant had been /
nominated for the presidency. 70 /
which he was elected that fail At 4
thar time Ar 4Iorehead formed a I
friendship with Cen Sheridan and /
Gen. Grant both that was lasting. I