Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/457

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Two Cavalry Chieftains. 461

At Appomattox every respect was shown the Louisiana soldiers. At the surrender they marched with heads as erect as ever. When they impinged on the line of the conquering army, the victors shouldered arms with grave faces on which was neither smile of cyni- cism nor suggestion of the defeat of their adversaries.

Colonel Waggaman returned to New Orleans with the remnant of the Louisiana troops. His fortune was shattered, and he has since shown as much fortitude of body and character in supporting his large family as he did while leading his regiment on the Virginia fields. Several times since his State has called upon him for his ser- vices, and every time he has responded faithfully and well.

Two Cavalry Chieftains. [New Orleans Picayune, August i2th, 1888.]

The other day, when the great soldier who commanded the United States army had closed his mortal career and had passed over the dark river to the silent encampment whither so many of his late. com- panions in arms and so many of those against whom he had fought had preceded him, old soldiers all over the country, without regard to the flag under which they had served, eulogized the distinguished general and recalled incidents of his splendid career, of which they happened to have knowledge. Among these was a recital by Senator Plumb, of Kansas, himself a gallant soldier, who related an account of an interview he had once had with General Sheridan in regard to his celebrated cavalry raid on Richmond on the nth of May, 1864. Colonel Plumb's story has been printed before, but it is worth repeat- ing :

"I always think of Sheridan in connection with a conversation I had with him. ' General,' I said, ' you were in the West before you came East. What was your opinion of the Army of the Potomac ' You remember it was characterized about that time as not doing its share of the work.

" ' Oh, the Army of the Potomac was all right,' said Sheridan, ' the trouble was the commanders never went out to lick anybody, but always thought first of keeping from getting licked.'

"Sheridan," continued the Senator, "came East when the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was not in good condition, and Grant