GENERAL SHERIDAN'S LAST MOMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S LAST MOMENTS.

Whilst the famous General Sheridan lay restlessly tossing on his sick bed, heroically holding his own in what everyone believes will be his last fight, his friends beneath tho glistening dome of the Capitol, only two miles away, were struggling to secure for the gallant soldier tho last honour and promotion that human hands could bestow. The Bill conferring on him the title of full general had already passed the Senate, but it was necessary that the unanimous consent of the House of Representatives should be secured before the President could sign tho commission elevating the dying man to the highest military grade ever conferred on an American soldier. At first, when General Spinola, himself bowed with years and illness, attempted to bring up the Bill, Mr. Kilgore, a Southern representative, objected, upon which Mr. Mills, tho Democratic leader, rose from his chair, walked down the aisle, and, waving tho Bill in the air, cried, in a voice trembling with emotion, Mr. Speaker, in the name of Confederate soldiers, living or dead, I call for the passage of this Bill." Even then Mr. Kilgore would not withdraw his opposition, but, after a short, delay, the Bill was passed by a vim voce, vote, the roof fairly ringing with the storm of "\eas," which almost drowned the two weak cries of "Nay." The Hill was then immediately taken off to the White House by Senator Hawley, and the President, who was at lunch, signed it and tho commission, which had been prepared in the meantime, as ho sat at the lunch table. Tho next minute Senator Hawley was out again, and up in his buggy, and his spirited horses were galloping Six-teenth-street before the spectators realised what was being done ; then, turning down Rhode Island Avenue, ho soon pulled up before the General's residence, and handed the commission to his brother, Colonel Sheridan, who at once took it up to the sick room. "General," said the Colonel, "1 bring you your commission" (for the General had heard what was being done for him). The dying man's eyes brightened, and, half " raising himself on his elbows, he sank back on the pillow, with tears in his eyes. " Let me take it," he said ; and, wnen he had read it through slowly, he rolled it up, and, grasping it tightly, dropped off into tho most refreshing sleep ho had enjoyed that day, Upon awakening, he signed a note of thanks to the President in an admirably bold, steady hand, and his signature, "P. H. Sheridan, General," will be always kept in the national archives.