General Sheridan on Courage in Battle.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3060, 21 November 1888, Page 2

General Sheridan on Courage in Battle.

Mf Charles A, Dana, the editor of tho New York Sun, narrates in his paper this reminiscence of General Sheridan, At the timo mentioned Mr Dana was Assistant Secretary of WarAs everybody else is narrating his reminiscences of General Sheridan, I will also contribute mine! After the battlo of Cedar Creek, President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton agreed that Sheridan should receive some special recognition for that great exploit, They promoted him to be a Major-General in the regular army, and when the commission was: mado out : the President decided that it should bo sont to the General, who still lay near. Codar Creek, by an unusual messenger, I was selected for this agreeable duty, Tlio next morning the general took me on foot through his camp, and as we went through the regiments and brigades and greeted old. acquaintances on every hand, I was everywhere struck, with the manifestations of personal attachment to Sheridan, I had not seen anything liko, it in either of our great armies, Grant, Sherman, Thomas, all movod among their troops with every sign of respect and confidence on the part of the men; but in Sheridan's camp it was quite different.' They, seemed, to regard him more as .1 boy regards the father ho believes in, relies on, and loves, than as soldiers arc wont to regard their commander. : Finally, as we were completing our morning's tour, *ind had got nearly back to headquarters, I said to him, "General how is this 1 These men seem to have a special affection for you, more than I have over seen displayed towards any other officer. 'What is the reason? " Well," said he, " I think I can toll you. I always fight in the front rank tnyself, .1 was. long ago convinced that it would not do for a commanding general to stay in the rear of the troops and carry on a battlo with paper orders, as thgy do in the army of the Potomac, These men all know that where it is hottost tbero I am, and they liko it, and that is the reason they like ine," " 0110 thing moro, general," I said. "Aro you afraid, or don't you care? What is the real truth about'{tl" "The man who says ho'isn't afraid under lire," he answered, "is a liar. I am—afraid, and if I followed my own impulse I should turn and get out. It is all a question of tlio power of the mind oVer the body,"