Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 3

[496] only fault from beginning to end was the deliberation of Warren in forming his lines and the obliquing of Crawford to avoid the fire under which Ayres also quailed. But both divisions afterwards did as well as men could do, and earned a full share of the laurels of the day.

It was a sad episode of this important victory that a prominent and patriotic national officer should have been relieved on the field. But it seemed inevitable. The eager energy of Sheridan could neither understand nor tolerate the deliberate cautiousness of Warren. The one commander was useless to the other. But to achieve success, generals must have subordinates whom they can inspire. Sheridan was, above everything, a man of genius; of fiery enthusiasm; of magnetic influences; exciting and receiving impulses; with a concentrated force that nothing could withstand. In this battle, he rode about with a terrible manner; black in the face with rage; sparing neither reproaches nor threats to incite those who seemed to him dilatory; shaking his sword and his fist by turns; driving men who had been wounded into the front rank; seizing the colors from the bearer's hands, and plunging mounted into the thickest fire —the very incarnation of battle. Such a man could not endure the careful elaboration with which Warren sought to provide against defeat before he attempted to secure success. Sheridan's way to provide against defeat was to capture victory. If his troops found a fire too hot, they were not to oblique away from it, but to rush up and stop it by seizing the enemy's guns. And, if he was harsh to a man before or in the midst of battle, it was with the same intolerant and irresistible passion with which