Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-09-18
Sfeddnan's Fight.

Every body knows or has heard OF Gen.
Jim Steadman. OF Toledo, Ohio. Ii they
haven't it id their loss, for he ought to DO
known throughout the length md
breadth of the land. Daring the recent
"unpleasantness, in which he rose from
the rank of Colonel to that OF Msjor-
General, Cot course, OF volunteers. }
while matching with his command
through Tennessee, he found his troops
impeded and the road blocked up by
suffers wagon. loaded with the usual
cargo of articles saleable and coveted by
soldiers. The su,ler himself was decid-
edly drunk and correspondingly stuc-
born; he wouldn't budge an inch, nor
move his traps out OF the way.
This created row, and high words
ensuing, the attention oil the General
was attracted TO The scene.
"What is the matter hereP" inquired
S:eaJman. in the sonorous tone common
to him, and which could be heard mile
or two oil.
"Matter," replied one oil The soldiers
"why, General, here's coniounded su,-
Ter who won't move out OF the way, and
defes the whole army"
"Well, then, said the General. throw
his trap. horses and all, over the blum "
an order no sooner given than it was
executed to the letter
The sutler, iull of the Dutch courage
incident to commssary whisky. rushed
up to Steadman, and challenged him to
combat, accompanied by the usual ex-
pletives, Jim" very accommodatingly
dismounted from his clapbank steed. and
then and there proceeded to administer
most wholesome and merited chastise-
ment upon the sutler, who, alter having
been kicked, cuffed, aud used as mop to
wipe up the dust OF the road, subsidized
into that condition described by Truth
ful James," when the subsequent pro-
ceedngs ictel ested him no more"
Time passed, and some two years aitef'
when Steadman entered the saloon OF the
St. Cloud Hotel at Nashville, to obtain
the solace of lemonade" he was ap-
preached by a respectably-clad but deter
mined looking fellow. who inquired
rather J, utentiously if "this was General
Steadman."
That is my name. sir" replied The
General.
"Well, sir" said he. don't you re-
member giving drunken sutler a terrible
beating year or two ago."
Certainly do, said the General. 81
gave him the best had on hand; served
him like Dick Swiveler did his country
customers, and Quilp, with neatness and
dispatch"
"Well. sir, I'm the man," retorted the
querist.
"Thc deuce you are!" exclaimed The
General. fully expecting q renewal oi
hostilities.
"Yes, General. am the man, and 1
have citen thought about that transaction.
and | must confess that although you
punished me- badly, you did exactly
right"
"Well, | thought so at the time, re-
Joined Steadman, his broad face beaming
with good nature, land since you are
courageous enough to own up, l beg you
thousand pardons for having been
obliged to wallop you SO badly. | allow
no man to exceed me in magnanimity
and generosity, and SO what will you
drink on this suspicious occasion ?"
"You must drink with me. General.
am the injured party, but you cured me
OF getting drunk. l haven't been tight
since then; hut now that the matter is
compromised i have right TO vary the
rule ~ ..-..
So champagne was ordered at his ex-
pense, and by-standers and friends united
In toasting in honor oil repentance, con-
lession and reconciliation. ...8 .
But Jim Steadman privately confessed
that the affair terminated to his entire
satisfaction "for, said he, 1.-THE sutler
was stout fellow. duly sober, and looked
you straight in the face, and l had seri-
Gus misgivings whether / could come of
first best in fight with him under the
circumstance of being absent from my
troops" ss.a