PHIL SHERIDAN.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7170, 4 October 1888, Page 3

PHIL SHERIDAN.

Pall Mdil Gazette. The most brilliant Irishman tha& America has ever known, the gallant Phil Sheridan, is now numbered amongst the dead. He was " the hero of the war," and he lived in the affections of the American people until the last hour of his* life. There has always existed some confusion, for which the General was in large degree responsible, as to Sheridan's birthplace, but there is little doubt that he waa bora in the States in 1831, shortly after the arrival of his father and mother from Ireland. His parents were- poor, industrious people, driven out of Ireland, like many thousands before and since, by the curse of " landlordism," and they wenfe over in the same sailing ship as the parents of President Arthur. His people, of course, were not able to do much for him in the way of education, and at a very early age he was earning his own living in Zanesville in Ohio by driving a water-cart. Attracting the attention of a local Congressman with whom his elder brother had some influence, however, he was, in, 1848, appointed to a "West Point cadetship, after hard night-study to fit him for the examination, and ho became a dashiuß soldier. Early In the Civil War he was placed itt charge of a cavalry brigade, and by a bold manoeuvre which broke the charm which had hitherto hung around the Southern cavalry he riveted all eyes upon him. We caunofc retail the many daring and desperate adventures which the great cavalry captain afterwards undertook: the fame of " Sheridan's boys'* ran through the entire land ; " both sides listened to their tramp with breathlessness, for they knew that Sheridan's soldiers would either hew their way or be hewn themselves every time the trumpeb sounded the march." Here is an account of the battle of Missionary Ridge : " The men of Sheridan had been kept in suspense at the hill sides for thirty-six consecutive hours, waiting the signal. At length Grant's cannon boomed. How quickly Sheridan's troops spring forward. They wait not for second flash, but dash up the steep mountain Bides. Sheridan Is leading 1 The cross lire of the Confederates pours down like a tide of fire from the ramparts above; but still the men of Sheridan press up, up,up, towards the lofty summits of the ridge. He Is at their head, waving his sword and calling on every man to follow. There is no resisting his burning words. Twenty batteries belch their fiery torrents, down upon them ; bub up they stride over the frowning cliffs, with charge after charge, carrying everything before them. Oh 1 God, what a grand and terrible sight! The leader falls ! A groan, a cheer; he's up once more —his horse is dead. The highest peak is neared, and Sheridan, eword io hand, continues the fight on foot. The first to mount the conquered parapets, as he mounts them he swings his sword Iα triumph, and his own cheers mingle with those of the heroic men." General Rosseau was once ordered up in support of Sheridan in one of the desperate contests fought by Sheridan under the title of the Battle of Stone River : " I knew it was hell there," said Roeseau afterwards, " before I got in, but I was convinced of ib when I saw Phil Sheridan, with hat Iα one hand and sword in the other, fighting as if he were the devil incarnate, or had a fresh indulgence from Father Tracy every five minutes." ..,...' In April, 1881, Hheridan was placed Iα command of all the cavalry in the Grand Army of the Potomac, in which capacity he did very telling work In Tennessee and Kentucky. His greatest achievements, however, were yet to be wrought; they came to him as the heavy fighter in the ast days of the war. Grant had now picked him out as his chief lieutenant; and they set to themselves the hard task of " nailing" Lee, who was defiantly defending Richmond and threatening Washington. '* Moving down with Grant throuqtr the Wilderness, Sheridan's bold horsemen seemed omnipresent. They swepS; Iα circles around and beyond the Confederate lines, capturing supplies, cutting away communications, inflicting severe blows,' and defying all attempts made to capture or oppose them." Beating the ablest cavalry leader on the other Bide, he drove In thai outer defences of Richmond, but nobstrong enough to assail the second line*! rejoined the army of the Potomac—a feafej accepted as "one of the quickest anct) brightest in military, history.". Nexth| followed the celebrated clearance of Shenandoah Valley of Early's force senfcv by Lee to attack Washington, and thesubuq sequent laying waste of the valley by flrad by Sheridian's order. ' A couple of months later occurred thai most dramatic episode of the war—th« incident recorded in Bead's well-known, poem, " Sheridan's Ride." Early had surprised Sheridan's force at Cedar Creek, while he was absent at Washington, and it was retreating upon Winchester in a very demoralised condition, when Sheridan unexpectedly appeared upon tne scene. Sheridan had reached Winchester, twenty miles, off, on his return, when the attack was. begun at Cedar Creek, and being awakened by the distant sounds of battle rolling up from the south, he dashed forward ac f&ati as his horse would carry him to the front* " And there, through the flush of the inoroJne "■ ■ light, ' ■'" .■•'•• . , .•;■■■-■ A ateedaa black as the steeds of night . ' Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight, Aβ If he knew the terrible need." At last he reached the retreating troops s "What was done! What to«s»f A gteaceltakg him both; Then striking hie spurn, with c terrible tktb. Ho dashed down the line, 'mid a etorm of. huzzas, And the wave of retreat checked itaeoaraff there because The sight ot the master compelled it to pause. With foam and with duet the black charges waagrwrs By the flash of his eye and the red BeetrH's play, Hβ seemed to the whole great army toaay: " I have brought you Sheridan All she way From Winchester down, to save the day 1" The effect was electrical; toe day was saved; a glorious victory was plucked from a terrible disaster, , and Grant had a salute of one hundred guns fired by each ot the two arms thereabout in Sheridan's; honour. . . ; -/, The closing scenes of the war are Inseparably connected -with Sheridan's name. It was he who gained the battle of 51 ye Porks which ensured the abandon, ment of Richmond, and he led in the pursuit of Lee, cutting off all retreat. The flag of truce that announced the close ot, the war was brought from Lee's headquarters to hia hands at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865, and he stood side by side with Grant at the formal: capitulation. Sheridan was no more than sft 6in In height: he dwelt in the affections of hi* soldiers as " Little Phil." Sheridan was a Catholic and a Republican and one of his most famous utterances runs thus:—" An I 4mertoaubybhth,llovellberty; aniriflh* man bj descent, I hate oppression; if * were in Ireland, I would be iod shewn to yoa»"