The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-27

one Of those popular legends so dear
TO the heart Of Americans so
filed with inaccuracies as to histori-
cal fact! That legend tells how Sher-
idan at Winchester, hearing heavy
firing in the direction of Cedar Greek,
where his army was stationed, sus-
pected something was wrong, sprang
TO the back Of his coal black charger,
Winchester" and made mad dash
Of 20 miles to find his army being
routed by Early's surprise attack.
Then, according TO the school book
histories, swinging his hat, he dashed
along the line of battle, shouting
Never mind. boys, Wen whip them
yet The boys responded by throw
ing up their caps and hurrahing with
the widest joy. Before night set in
they drove Early out of the Valley"
A reference to Sheridan's Personal
Memoirs and other standard authori-
ties, however, will show that the leg
end can stand considerable correction.
In the first place Sheridan did not
ride any 20 miles, as the poet has him
doing. 1t is only Is miles from Win
chester to Cedar Greek and he had his
first view Of his disorganized army at
Mill Creek, less than mile from Win
chester. From there to the actual
front" il was not much more than
nine or ten miles. Nor was his ride
made alone nor covered at top speed
all the way, as the poet would have
US believe. He was accompanied by
two Of his aides-de-camp, Maj. George
A. Forsythe and Capt. Joseph O'Keefe
and at various places along the route
of his progress toward the enemy he
paused long enough to give orders to
various officers about rallying the re-
treating Union troops. As for the
Turn, boys, turni We're going
back!" type of exclamation so often
attributed TO Sheridan. these words
from his Memoirs" speak for them
selves: II said nothing except to re-
mark as l rode among those on the
road: IF / had been with you this
morning this disaster would not have
happened. We must face the other
way; we will go back and recover our
camp"
Sheridan's achievement at Cedar
Greek that day of stopping a routed
army and leading it TO victory was
great enough in itself without having
any heroics tackled on to make ii men,
orable. Perhaps poetic license" may be
sufficient excuse for Reads poem, but
better expression of the incident is
found in Borglum's stirring bronze
statue of Sheridan in the National
Capital, a replica Of which stands be-
side the famous street in Chicago
which bears Little Pills name-Sher-
idan road.
Although Sheridan is known to more
Americans because of this incident
than any other in his career, that ca
reer continued long after the Civil
war. 1t included service on the Next
can border in the days when the Max
milan incident was threat to our
peaceful relations with European
countries. during the Indian wars on
the plains when he was In command
of the operations which finally brought
about the subjugation Of the warlike
tribes, as guest observer on the staff
Of King William during the Franco
Prussian war and as commander in
chief of the United States army after
the retirement of Sherman. Sheridan
died in 1888 at the age of ffty-seven
years with the rank Of full general. a
grade which had been restored by con-
gress that year in his favor.
"Sheridan's characteristic as a SOL
der was his impetus attack" writes
the historian, Albert Bushnell Hart.
He never waited TO be perfectly
ready, but struck before he was ex-
pected. He was bold and dashing.
would lead into any kind of danger.
and yet took no unreasonable chances.
He was never defeated In an indie
pendent command. He was very care
full to keep his men well fed and SIM
piled and was master in the organi-
cation and use Of cavalry" Those
words sum UP the qualifications of the
ideal cavalry leader. And that was
what Little Phil" wasl
&c by Western NswspApss v,a~n..