The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-02
A Present From Gen. Sherman,

Gov. Murray tells langhable Story
of his experiences in the Georgia
marcia to The sea, which is worth re-
peating.
Speaking If the famous mare.
through Georgia said the governor.
Il never shall forge. the amount Of
money it cost to keep an old woman
from cryin. herself 10 death. Of
coarse we were obliged TO subsiSt oft
tie country as we went along, and we
naturally took about the best in sight.
One day we took possession of chick
en- ranch kept by an old lady. who
stood nj the front gate with broom
and threatened 10 lick a.l Of Sherman :
forces if they did not move on. Now.
chickens were considered US officers
meat. and, as We were internally hum
cry, we went for these old hens pretty
lively. When she saw that her favor
ite fowls were being caught and killed
she keeled right over and began to cry.
Presently she began tn 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 ali the officers took turns, but the
more attention paid to her the more she
howled. then got pretty nervous
over the Internal noise. because the
whole army would hear il, 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 u
bushel of confederate bonds for her
l,ok ,.,ar-t etD har Antinn
on this hint. proceeded to business.
We had captured confederate train
the day before with 1000, 900 Of con-
federate money, and l hunted up the
train at once. The money was worth
about two cents on the dollar. Well,
stuffed about half million dollars in
carpet-sack and marched into the
house.
Madam said I, opening the sack,
I'll give you $50, 900 to quit this noise.
It was as still as death in Q minute, and
then her face expanded in broad
smile. ! laid the packages Of money
on the table and never saw such q do.
| lighted woman. The effect pleased
me, and l continues: Gen Sherman
presents his compliments and $1O0, 900.
| / never in my life saw such a pleased
old woman. and wound up by dump.
, ing the contents Of the sack right down
on the floor, and telling her that when
! it came 10 contributions to distresse
females ! could not be outdone by any
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 o pretty good
time when 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.
"''Taint worth a continental cent
they're kindlin' fires with it down n
New Orleans
1.-The old woman rose mp. her face al
white as your shirt front, and her eye
wasn't pleasant to meet.
$50 you are the blk that gave me
this, are you?" she called out, reaching
! for the old broom.
1.-The entire mess rose and started
from that house. We never heard any
more of her. and there isn't man o.
the crowd who would meet that ole
woman for all that confederate money,
il it would bring one hundred cents Oh
! the dollar at the treasury department,
Washington Salt Lake Tribune.