The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-11-24
A Present From Gen. Sherman.

Gov. Murray tells laugllable story
Of his experiences in the Georgia
march to the sea, which is worth re-
peating.
Speaking of the famous march
through Georgia" said the governor.
Il nevei shall forget the amount OF
money it cost to keep an old woman
from crying herself to DEATH OF
course we were obliged to subsist off
the country as we went along, and we
naturally took about the best in sight.
One dav we took possession of chick
en- ranch kept by an old lady. who
stood at the front gate with broom
and Threatened to lick all of Sherman's
forces if they did not move on Now.
chickens were considered as officers
meat, and. RS we were internally hum
CRY, we went for these old hens pretty
lively. When she saw that her favor
lite fowls We're being caught and killed
she keeled right over and began to cry.
Presently she began to scream. and fin
ally you could hear that woman's yells
clear to Atlanta. [ sent the surgeons
in to quiet her, but they failed, and
then all the officers took turns. but the
more attention paid to her the more she
howled. l then got pretty nervous
over the Internal noise, because the
whole army would hear it, and they
might suppose somebody was torturing
the woman. Finally Sherman rode up
and asked what was it all about, and
when we told him he said: Give her a
bushel of confederate bonds for her
and see if that won't stop her. Acting
on this hint, proceeded to business.
We had captured a confederate train
the day before with 1000. 600 of con-
federate money, and l hunted up the
train at once. The money was worth
about two cents on the dollar. Well,
I stuffed about half a million dollars in
a carpet-sack and marched into the
house.
Madam said /. opening the sack,
'pu give you $50. 900 to quit this noise.
1t was as still as death in a minute, and
then her face expanded in broad
smile. l laid the packages of money
on the table and I never saw such de-
lighted woman. The effect pleased
me, and / continued: Gen Sherman
presents his compliments and 800, ,OO0.'
never in my life saw such a pleased
old woman, and wound up by dump
ing the contents of the sack right down
it came to contributions to distressed
AOA1OlOS L SOuAAA 4AOU oO OAtNAOAO " III
man living.
..She invited the officers to supper
and she cooked every chicken on the
ranch, and set out cider as free as
water. We were having pretty good
time when a long. lank old coon came
in, and she said it was her husband.
Pretty soon his eye fell on the money.
Sarah said he, where in blazes did
you get all this darned truck?"
"A present from Gen. Sherman
said she.
.s.'Taint worth continental cent;
they're kindlin' fires with it down at
New Orleans
..The old woman rose up. her face as
white as your shirt front, and her eye
wasn't pleasant to meet.
so you are the blk that gave me
this, are you?" she called out, reaching
for the old broom.
''The entire mess rose and started
from that house. We never heard any
more of her, and there isn't n man of
the crowd who would meet that old
woman for all that confederate money,
if it would bring one hundred cents Oh
the dollar at the treasury department.,
Washington" Salt Lake Tribune