The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-20
AnecAote 81 Gen. Sherman.

N AnecAoee Of Gen. Sherman.
The salient point-the most striking fea-
ture-of Gen. Sherman's character is q Pc
culiar nervous energy that knows no
cessation, and which is resistless and in
spring: 4 t gives energy to Others: He Y
amount Of detail. Matters great and small
receive his attention, and his decisions are
given with the utmost promptitude, and
seldom or never reversed. When Sherman
was in command at Memphis, little over
two years ago, q Mr.. Duncan, OF Louis
vile, and his partner, he having permit
70 purchase cotton, called on Gen. Sher-
for cotton with the citizens beyond the
limits of the city, but within our lines
Sherman replied very promptly, NO
Arguments were tried in vain, when Dun
cans partner thought he would try the
''old acquaintance dodge on the General,
and began by recalling recOllections of the
time when Sherman Was banker In Cali
fornia. II knew you, General" he said,
CO." ayes" said: sherman, there's where
learned to say no. Its good school," s
A hard, earnest worker, Sherman de-
votes but little time to sleep. When Sher-
man assumed command at Louisville in
1861, the writer was engaged in the Assoc
ciated Press Office in that city. At the
time the Government was using the cy-
piers Of the Associated Press, and its
in Transporting and translating dispatches,
and hence Sherman spent q goodly part Of
this time in the Press Office. He would
often be in the Office from eight o'clock p.
N. to three o'clock q. m. and then retire TO
his room at the Gait House only because
the office was closed. During these hours
he would pace up and down the floor of
the room. smoking cigar after cigar, aPpa-
rently in deep thought and needless Of the
conversation going on around him.
This popularity of absence Of mind,
found an excellent illustration in circum.
stance which occurred at Lebanon juno
ton, Kentucky. Sherman, with two regi-
ments under Colonel III. Rousseau, NOW
Major General,) and detachment under
Lieutenant Colonel r. w. johnson, who is
now Brigadier, and who ought long ago
to have been made Major General, occu-
pied Lebanon Junction on September II,
1881. While walking up and down the
platform, at that place, awaiting the re-
pair Of the telegraph wire, Sherman's cigar
gave out. He Immediately took another
from his pocket and asked the orderly
sergeant Of the Marine Zouaves for light.
The home-guard sergeant had only mo-
ment before lighted his cigar, and, with q
bow, handed It TO the General-probably
the first Brigadier he had seen during the
war. Sherman lighted his cigar carefully,
took puff or two to assure himself, and
abstractedly threw the sergeants cigar
away. a short time since, General Rous-
seau. who saw this scene, mentioned the
matter to General Sherman. He could
Of something else. It won't do to let to-
morrow take care of itself. Your good
merchant don't think Of the ships that are
in, but the ships that are to come in. The
evil of the day is irreparable. Look ahead
to avoid breakers. You can't when your
ship il on them. All you can then do il to
retrieve disaster. Twas thinking OF some
cigar away" And then he added, laugh
ing, ibid do that, reallyf"
A short time ago, while regiment was
moving by Sherman's headquarters-a
tent-f1y and fence corner near Kenesaw
Mountainous of the soldiers observed q
Major General lying asleep by the roadside
when be spoke very loudly to his comrade
ded-efacered by Major Generals who get
drunk and lie in fence-corners." Sherman
heard him and sprang to his feet, "Not
drunk, boys" he said quietly, "but have
been up all night and am very tired and
sleepy" He got on his horse, and followed
by his stan, rode away. am fOrclbly re-
minded by this instant of seeing General
Thomas lying in . fence-corner near John
Ross house, at Rossville, on the night our
forces retired from Chickamauga to Ross
vile, his features handsome in their re-
pose, but looking old from the WEAKNESS
Of two days sleepless fighting, aglow with
the light Of q great fire, which blazed
near by. General, lie down on my blan-
kets." Major H. F, Cross had said to him !;
SSxyr>s hA apx,O =
the old man, lying down and falling asleep
in few moments. For two days and three
nights he had not slept, but during that
sleepless labor he had saved q great army
and won undying renown as the hero of
Chickamauga, and he had doubly earned
his right to sleep.-C0r. N. Y. Herald.
A BIT OF RoNANcR.-Just before the ar