Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-04-27
General sherman In, Camp.

The following extract from the Sanctuary,
by Major Ward Nickols, formerly of the
staff of Lieutenant General Sherman, gives
q good picture of the General, as many of
his followers have often seen him when
called upon to visit headquarters at late
hour in the night. s .al aals goo
The canvas cover, toward which the ewes
of both were now eagerly directed. like ibe
Others on the line, which we're the homes of
the Generals military family, was open
from the front, so that the slightest move
ment of its inmate could be observed from
the ootsidc. They could now see that the
General had risen from his cot. Thrustinp
his bare feetinto pair of slippers, he un-
rolled from scrap of newspaper a cigar,
and then stepped out from such protection
as the tent offered from the falling due into
the open grounds. He looked up into the
sky and then into the darkness in an alb
SENT half-abstractod way
The nigh air was chilly and the camp
fire had burned low. Gathering the ends
OF the charred rails together, lie heaped
them upon the still sm ouldering ashes, then,
taking camp stool from the tent. he sat
down before the fire which had now kin
died into a blaze I; he lighted his cigar, and, /,
with his elbows resting upon his knees,
gazed earnestly into the bed of Goals and
flame. The bright light shone full into that
iron face, marked with strong lines of
thought aud care. 10 f'Hc h1.' '.s
That bol6 forehead seemed to project it's
self higher aud broader among the short
scruo growth of cross. grained hair. The
light caught upon the unbuttoned wrist
band, taking a warmer glow from the red
shirt hardly covering his bare neck. '' A
A strange, grand figure was this sitting
there, whose subtle brain at that moment
was working out one of the great events in
the fate of the nation. = r'.i' .f.'
The flames of the FIRE gathered new
strength; tlaring up into the night, reveal
ing the interior of the tent in clear outline.
1t was not gorgeous pavilion, carpeted
with velvet and gold, hung with tapestry of
silk and wool, furnished with luxurious
couch and .case-inviting lounge, with liver
led servants to anticipate its owners wish,
surrounded by triple sentinels to guard him
from every harm. T..-sFa-. -.-' ~at
There was singular simplicity, almost a
proverty, which marked the headquarters
of the great captain. .-..-
The tent was single piece of cotton cloth
stretched from ridge pole, where it was
held firm to the ground on either side by
wooden pegs. A cross legged camp cot, a
small camp chest, which is half covered by
the uniform thrown upon it, makes up the
scanty furniture. Besides single candle,
burned to its socket, there lies volume of
Waverlv A letter book answers for wri
ting-table; a valise is the Generals only
travelling baggage.
number OF maps, some opened, and oil
well worn, lie upon the blanket, which an
swers for a floor to'the tent. There was
very little pretension about this menage of
the commander, who had millions at his
disposal. There wus no Roman Consul nor
modern Emperor travelling in grand state,
with pompous mein and brilliant retinue,
but citizen general of the Republic, not
borrowing dignity from adventitious sur
roundings, bnt, in the simplicity of an un-
selfish devotion to his country, doing the
work which lay before him.
There was weird grandeur, supcrnatur-
ally picturesque, 10 this intense stiffness,
this silent, motionless figure, of the chief
of thousands of strong men, who slept
while he sat watching the central figure in
the grand picture. In the spectral fire.
light 1t seemed almost alone, for the line of
tents receded in the darkness on either
side The moon now and then burst through
the masses of heavy clouds, reveliug the
groups of tents on the distant hill side +;
horses and mules were crouched upon the
ground while behind them rose forest of
pines filed with the mysterious shadows
and graceful tree tops melting into the vail
Of blue. ......