Sheridan's memoirs have gotten very interesting. He's pictured here at Appomattox in the center, the first fellow in a blue suit. He was part of the calvary envelopment which trapped Lee in central Virginia, capturing his expected supplies, his army starving. Meade came up from Petersburg and that was it. General Grant is at the desk and he looks better than he's been reputed to be in written reports. Lee turned out in fresh bespoke uniform, Grant said to be wearing GI that spoke of his humility.
I'm aware of Sheridan's postbellum career as an 'Indian fighter' but between then and the surrender he was much involved in Reconstruction where the U.S. Army was effectively the only law enforcement agency with regard to the pertinent acts of Congress and the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution which unreconstructed rebels were loathe to comply with. He commanded the Texas and Louisiana District of the southern states departmentalized for that purpose. Former belligerents were compelled to take an oath upholding the Constitution and all the former Confederate states were directed to write new state constitutions reflecting the new status quo; until they effected their reconstructed local governments, their office holders, if not previously at arms, were provisional - the Army imposed until 1876.
Sheridan's effort's much motivated with concern and support for newly Freedman and he removed many a recalcitrant trouble-maker. Another story of how these people, like Bedford Forrest, became Night Riders engendering Ku Klux Klan, the 'Lost Cause' narrative subsequent that these terrorists saved the South from African-American participation in governance. Blacks were a majority in many jurisdictions, Louisiana being one of them.
And how long that irascible trouble went on! I''ve vivid memories of reading the newspapers upon the disappearance of the Freedom Riders; NY press really played up what was later portrayed in "Mississippi Burning". I even remember their names: Cheney, Goodman and Schwerner. Perfect recall too of escorting African-American students into University of Alabama. 1963. It was broadcast live... the Standoff at the Schoolhouse Door.
Plate: History.com
I'm aware of Sheridan's postbellum career as an 'Indian fighter' but between then and the surrender he was much involved in Reconstruction where the U.S. Army was effectively the only law enforcement agency with regard to the pertinent acts of Congress and the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution which unreconstructed rebels were loathe to comply with. He commanded the Texas and Louisiana District of the southern states departmentalized for that purpose. Former belligerents were compelled to take an oath upholding the Constitution and all the former Confederate states were directed to write new state constitutions reflecting the new status quo; until they effected their reconstructed local governments, their office holders, if not previously at arms, were provisional - the Army imposed until 1876.
Sheridan's effort's much motivated with concern and support for newly Freedman and he removed many a recalcitrant trouble-maker. Another story of how these people, like Bedford Forrest, became Night Riders engendering Ku Klux Klan, the 'Lost Cause' narrative subsequent that these terrorists saved the South from African-American participation in governance. Blacks were a majority in many jurisdictions, Louisiana being one of them.
And how long that irascible trouble went on! I''ve vivid memories of reading the newspapers upon the disappearance of the Freedom Riders; NY press really played up what was later portrayed in "Mississippi Burning". I even remember their names: Cheney, Goodman and Schwerner. Perfect recall too of escorting African-American students into University of Alabama. 1963. It was broadcast live... the Standoff at the Schoolhouse Door.
Plate: History.com
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