The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-05-24
Selected S}listrllaup,
GEORGE SHELDON.
A Hero of the War of 1919.


During our recent interpecne struggle
so many deeds of personal daring and prov.
ess have been enacted and published, as
almost to eclipse the like performances aud
actors in the brieier and less imposing con
llIcl of 1912. But insignificant as the lat
ter seems in the developments Of our ma
tons military strength, there were not
wanting exhibitions OH smaller scale of The
same holdness, sue, essful hardihood and
contempt of danger and death, as have lat
terly elevated many a farmers boy, me
chanic's apprentice and delicate student in,
to "a first-class hero. 1t is an "ower true
tale" of one named George Sheldon, a
son of respectable ply ysican OF VII
liamstown, whose career was as bright and
dazzling, and as brief too as were those OF
| Winthrop or Shaw, although directed by
circumstances iuto q more erratic orbit.
Young Sheldon was careless rOyster.
ing, harumscaruin lad not particularly
bright as scholar, aud distinguished for
muscular rather than mental activity; but
good d-natured withal, and without parti-
Gle of malice in all the mischief for which
he was responsible On entering Williams
| College, he became leader in all fam and
rOgnory connected with collegiate life, and
the sur, living members of the classes of
| 1910 to 1914 will doubtless recall him in
this connection rather than for hard study.
| At len. til, for Joke, too intensely pr? cti-
cal put upon an unpopular tutor, he was
frustrated Tor six months, and sent to pur
sue his studies during that time with my
father, in retired little town in the vail, y
of the Connecticut River. While there his
conduct was uneXceptinnable, and he al
length returned TO his class, then juniors
with an honorable certificate of delneanor
and application.
In the autumn Of 1912, a recruiting officer
from the American army, then IN rendez
vnns at Greenbush, opposite Albany, Wis
| tied WiIliamstown. lie became acquainted
with young Sheldon, aud perceiving in him
the qualities OF iirst.rate soldier, prom
ised hlm an ensigncy, equivalent to sec
ond lieutenants commission under the pres
eut Amy regualions) if he would enlist
The attractions of a military life chimed IN
with our hero's natural disposition too
strongly to be resisted, and taking dis
mission from college he joined the army.
He soon became popular with officers and
men, aud the life they led while in their
cali tonments awaiting the opening of their
spring campaign, was an idle and merry
one. During the winter Albany was very
gay from the multitude of young officers
who thronged its parlors, saloons ard
places of amusement. An incident that oc-
Cured at cotllon party one evening,
gave occasion to write the first chapter OF
notable events in Shedon's career Among
tile military men present was fiery blood
ed young lieutenant named Bloomfield, who
had solicited The hand of a certain belle for
his partner in the dance, and had been re.
fused Shortly after, Sheldon, unaware of
the Circumstance seeag the lady sitting
unengag ed, asked her to take a place in n
new figure with him. and was accepted.
At this conclusion, Bloomfield in "A towering
passion accosted Sheldon, demanding why
he dared request lady's hand which bad
been denied to himself Explanations were
both needless and vain to a man jealous,
quarrelsome and unreasonable. lie grew
furious high words followed, succeeded
by mutual insults and ending in q chal-
euge from Bloomfield, which was promptly
accepted by sheldon.
Tho denouement OF this affair came off
next morning in a duel, in which Sheldon
was unhurt, while his antagonist fell NOR
tally wounded. In consequences, by the ad
vice of some OF his brother officers Sheldon
went to the fragmental army on the north
ern frontier, and in due time procured a
regular transfer to another regiment in that
quarter. One of the incidents OF the follow
ing campaign was the siege of Fort Erie
and the celebrated sortie OF the garrison,
whereby the British were driven of with
great less in killed. wounded aud prisoners,
among the latter of whom was their gen.
eral in command. No small portion OF the
honor OF this exploit was due to Sheldon.
At their first egress oDr troops were re-
pulsed and fed within The fortress in con.
fusion. Sheldon, with his innate reckless
ness, avowed his determination to give the
euemy one more gun, and while the foe
was forming bis storming column, seeing a
twelve .pounder unnamed in position out
side the sally.port, he loaded it with the
last cartridge in its caisson, following II
with whatever was at hand of which he
could make missile ramming in email
stones, bayonets from dead mems muskets