The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-17
CBAT WITH SHERIDAN
That Railroad Yarn---His Famous
Ride---Lee'S Last Ditch.
IWriaen for Tas National Trssans.l

going the rounds OF the newspapers, TO the
effect that when he and Sec. Lincoln were
going TO Sandusky on their fishing excursion
last May they boarded the limited express
on the Pennsylvania Railroad; that the con-
ductor refused TO recognize their passes;
that they refused TO pay; that he threatened
to put them of. and that they finally paid aud
reported the matter to the President of the
Road, who wrote them an apology and refunded
the money.
The General laughed and said it was very
interesting story, but was not exactly true in
some of the essential points.
We did go 20 Sandusky," he said" that
much is true-and we did have passes but we
didn't board tho limited express or any other
train on the Pennsy ylvania Road for that line
does not go to Sandusky. We went by the Balti-
more & Ohio; the conductor didn't refuse to
recognize our passes, but accepted them and
treated us with the greatest courtesy. He
didn't threaten to put us of, and we didn't pay
him any money. didn't write to the Presi-
dent of the Road, and didn't receive an apology
from him. Otherwise the story is true"
NO BUNcoMBE FOR HIM.
Getting back TO army "reminiscences, I asked
the General if it was true that he never issued
an encouraging order to his soldiers before an
engagement. or q congratulatory one after.
Only once did do such thing" he re-
piled, and that was when I was green. 1t
was after the battle of Missionary Ridge, and
then | congratulated the boys on the good
work they did. But there was too much of
that sort of foolishness in the war, and didn't
care about sharing it. My soldiers didn't need
that sort of thing, you know, and l don't be-
Heve in buncombe in or out of the army.
q knew that the men realized es well IS
the importance of their duty, and they knew
that / believed in them; so, you see, it wasn't
necessary. They shared with me the joy of a
victory, and wouldn't have felt better about it
if ] had issued thousand orders. Then again,
you know, the largest number of buncombe
orders were issued by unsuccessful command
ers to cover their failures and divert attention
from defeat"
1t may be said of Sheridan that while few
Generals were so much talked about during
the war, he never blew his own horn. He was
never what is 30 often called paper Gen.
eral;" never announced what he was going to
do, and never boasted after he did it. After
his last campaign, which crushed the lettering
rebellion, he would have been pardoned for at
least one triumphant pean of victory, but he
did not even take part in the grand review at
Washington. He modestly unsaddled his horse
and took the cara for Texas without so much
as a word Of farewell or congratnlation to the
country or to the army he had SO successfully
commanded.
"REMINISCENCES OF LEES SURRENDER.
The General tells q very interesting story
about that last campaign against Lee, and the
incidents of the surrender.
1t will be remembered that he headed off Lee
at Appomattox Courthouse, and captured IL
trains of supplies which were waiting for him
there. When Lee found out that he had no
stores or ammunition for his army, and that
his retreat was cut off, he sent q flag of truce,
which Custer received and conducted to Sheri-
dan. The two armies laid on their arms wait
ing for Grant, who was on his way to the front.
In the meantime Sheridan and some of his
staff started to ride over toward Appomattox
Court house, when they were fired upon by q
regiment of rebels half-concealea among some
underbrush. The General and his party waved
their hats toward the place where the shots
came from, and made all sorts of demonstra-
tons 20 silence the unexpected and mysterious
attack; but TO NO purpose. Finally the Con-
federate officer who brought the flag and Major
Allen. of Sheridans staff rode over to see what
the matter was.
They found a South Carolina regiment,
whose Colonel, in grandiloquent tone. in
formed them that the war wasn't over. and
that he aud his regiment did not recognize the
authority of General Les to make terms for
peace. Be Gawd, sir" exclaimed this gallant
Johnny, South Carolinians never surrender /"
THE LAST GASP OF LEES ARMY.
The two officers rode back TO Gen Sheridan,
who, with his party, had retired under cover,
and reported TO him the situation. The Cen
eral called Custer aud told him there was one
regiment over In the brush which hadn't got
enough of it. and it would be well for him to
go over there and "snuff it out"
Custer ordered his bugler to sound " for
ward" and at the head of regiment dashed
across the interval which lay between the two
armies, which were drawn up in long lines and
stood at rest. 1t was beautiful Sunday morn
ing-a perfect Spring day-and the sight OF
that regiment, with Clusters long tawny hair
as their banner. dashing at full gallop across
the fields, evoked cheer from both armies.
Meantime, Sheridan had reached the Court
house, where he met Gen. Gordon. recently
Senator from Georgia, and Gen. Wilcox, who
had been his elassmate at West Point, but whom
he had not seen for many years. Wilcox has
since been door-keeper OF tho United States
Senate.
While this party were sitting on tho steps OF
the Courthouse, chatting fauiliarly over ths
situation, heavy masketry was heard in the
distance. Gordon looked up in anxiety and
alarm, and asked one of his aids to ride over
in that direction and find ont what it meant.
Never you mind General said Sheridan
It's all right. ! know what it means. Gus
tor is over there having some fun with Seutf
Caroliniaa who never surreGders."
Gordon insisted upon sending the officer Il
STOP The ugHt, DuL before ne g0t There Ehs
doughty Colonel had presented Custer with
very-much battered sword. 1t was the las
gasp of the Army of Northern Virginia.
HE SPEAKS "INJUN."
[ showed the General another newspaper
story, which represented that he was familiar
with several Indian languages and that wber
he went among the red men he never required
the services of an interpreter.
| wish it was true" he responded; " but it,
only one of the many fetion5 that hays beec
printed abont nae In TIE papers. / don't know
why people get up these yarns" he said and
it's very provoking TO be compelled to confess
that one lacks accomplishments that are uni
yersaIly attributed to him The only Indiar
language know is the Chinook, dialect thai
is used by all the tribes on the Northern Pacific
slope,-a sort of court language which is used il
great councils. All the tribes understand it
and converse together in that exclusively wher
they meet in great pow-wows. / learned i
| when was serving as Lieutenant up in Ore
gon before the war, and have forgotten most O
the words but those dialects are easily pickei
| up when one has once learned them"
THE TRUE STORY OF THAT FAMoUs RIDE
| Referring TO the poem of Sheridan's Ride,
asked the General if he had ever met tbs
author.
YES" he replied; know him we'll
| first met him before the battle of Stone River
BE was guest at the headquarters Of Gen
| Rosecrans, and staid with Us q good WHILE"
Do you know how he happened to writ'
| it?n
ayes. have heard him tell shout ID grea
! many times. There are a number Of stories
<1o.A l-4 ~.