New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-21

Everybody knows or has heard of Gen
eral Jim Steedman, of Toledo, Ohio. II
they haven't, it is their loss, for he ought to
be known throughout the length and
breadth of the land. During the recent
''unpleasantness," in which he rose from
the rank of colonel to that of Major General
(of course, of "vOlunteers,'l while march
ing with his command through Tennessee,
he found his troops impeded and the roads
blocked up by q suffers wagon, loaded
with the usual cargo Of articles salable
and coveted BY soldiers. The sutler himself
was decidedly drunk and correspOndingly
stubborn; he wouldn't bulge an inch, nor
move his traps out of the way. This Gre
ated q row, and, high words ensuing, the
attention Of the General was attracted to
the scene.
man, in the soAerous tone common to him,
and which could be heard mile or two
off.
Matter" replied one of the soldiers,
"why, General, here's q COMPOUNDED sutler
who won't move out of the way, and defes
the whole army"
"Well, then,h said the General, "thrOw
his trap, horses and all, over the blufF-an
order no sooner given than it was executed
to the letter.
The sutler, full of the Dutch courage in
oident to commissary whisky, rushed up to
Steedmsn, and challenged him to combat,
accompanied by the usual explosives.
"Jim" very accommodatingly dismOunted
from his claybank steed, and then and
there proceeded to administer most
wholesome and merited chastisement upon
the sutler, who, after having been kicked,
Cuffed, and used as a mop to wipe up the
dust Of the road subsidized into that cOndi-
ton described by Truthful James," when
the subsequent proceedings interested
him no more,'
Time passed, and some two years after,
when Steednan entered the saloon of the
st. Cloud Hotel at Nashville, to obtain the
solace of lemonade" he was approached
by respectfully clad, but determined look
ing fellow, who inquired rather sententious-
ly If "this was General Steedman."
"That's my name," replied the General.
"Well, sir,n said he, "dOn't you remem-
Der giving a drunken sutler terrible
thrashing year or Two agoP 80
"Certainly / do" said the General. II
gave him the best had on hand; served
him like Dick Swiveller did his country
customers and Quilo, with neatness and
dispatch"
well, sir, Pm the man" retOrted the
@The devil you arel" exclaimed the Cen
eral, fully expecting renewal OF hostili-
/ ties.
1Yes, General, I'm the man and I've
thought very often about that transaction
/ and / must confess that although you pun
ished me badly, you did exactly rightlp
'Well, thought 30 at the time, rej9ined
| Steedman, his broad face beaming with
/ good nature, "And since you are courageous
/ enough to own up, / beg You Thousand
pardons for having been obliged to walloI
/ You 90 badly. allow no man to exceed
me in magnanimity and generosity, and 81
what will you drink on this auspicious COCA
siOn3"
"You must drink with me, General; an
the injured party, but you cured me OF get
ting drunk. i haven't Seen tight since then
but now that the matter is compromised,
have q right TO vary the rule|
So champagne was ordered ct his expense
and bystanders and friends united in toast
ing the honor Of repentance, confession AM
reconciliation. But Jim Steedman private
" confessed that the affair terminated 3
his entire satisfaction; for, said he, 9TH
sutler was stout fellow, duly sober, an
looked YOU straight In the faoe, and hal
serious misgiving5 whether could come o.
frst best in fight with him under tae OH
eumstanCe Of being absent from my troops.
There Il too much Law and too many Law
L - l., Akta wnrld