The National tribune., 1884-09-04
"REMINISCENCES
by an Iliinoisan OF Gems. Sheridan and Logan.
Why He Is Fond Of Them Both.

10 TIE Il WAS II years Oh aye Ou
the 26th of June, 1852, and enlisted on the 2lst
of August, 1862, and after i had my suit of
blue" on, my canteen full of water, haversack
with three days rations, knapsack with
change of clothes in it, stepped on the scales
and my fighting weight" was SO pounds
| Next Who was the that came nearest
killing Gen. Phil. Sheridan, to the best of his
knowledge, excepting the shot that smashed
his rubber cup in front of Bragg at Missionary
Ridge? Ii was ]; or at least / never heard of
another nearer can. 1t happened thus: In the
! Fall of 1862, while we were in camp near
| Nashville, Tenn, the I'd Mo. II think it was)
was sent out on foraging expedition, and the
enemy got after them, and little Phil called
cut the other three regiments OF the brigade
to go out and las he expressed it, see what in
- is up" Sheridan went with us-the 18th
| Mo-, 44th and 73d Ill. Wewent about two miles,
and Gen. Sheridan was sitting on his Black
Bess " THAT was killed at Stone River with
| his side TO US, in front Of the line of battle,
looking through his field-glass when by some
awkward move l stumbled and fell, and my
gun came in contact with something that
caused it TO go off. Gen. Sheridan
NEVER TOOK THE GLASS FROM HIS EYES
! till be got through his look" When some of
his staff called his attention to something about
the horn of his saddle, the General turned TO
| Capt. Wallace, of my company, and said Who
fired that shot2" :" He did" said the Captain,
pointing to poor me, who was just in the act of
ramming home another ball in place of the one
that had came so near robbing JEFF Davis and
the Southern Confederacy of one of the worst
enemies they had and our army of one of the
best men that ever pulled on boot.
Come here, my boy" said the General to
me. Oh, -Godi who can express my feelings?
j was sure of death, but between the two horri-
bic feelings of fear and sorrow, for bad already
| learned TO love him brother; but up TO him
! went like lamb TO the slaughter" Look
at that, said Little Phil, pointing to the horn
Of his saddle which my ball had barked.'
" Do you see that?"
"Yes, sir" answered but did not 60 to
do it, General; please excuse me-
will but don't do it again" was his kind
reply.
He did not snap me of in harsh and brutal
manner. but it WAS spoken in a kind manner.
! would after that almost have laid down my
life to save his.
The last time ! saw him was cold, frosty
morning in the Winter of 1863 4, up in East
Tennessee, when ne and his staff and escort
charged a much larger force of Confederates
and took more prisoners than there was of his
staff and escort, besides some killed and
wounded. He established his headquarters at
London, Tenn. where the woman asked him
for tobacco. / would like to see him.
AT THE BATTLE OF cHIcKAMAUGA,
after our brigade was routed and on the retreat
i met Sheridan all alone, dashing down the
line, yelling at the top of his voice, Rally,
\ boys, rallyi"
where viii we rally, General? ?" said some
one near me.
Down in that ravine. Form under the sth
Kan. cOlors, and give the enemy the very devil
as they come over the raise of the hill.'
! would like if some of the comrades that
formed in that line can call TO mind how some of
Us got inside of the enemy s lines that night and
i ,r,. ,Ansa tr-et
viii also say a few words about
GEN. JOHN A. LOGAN,
one of the best friends the soldiers have in
Congress, showing that he was our friend at
the front as well rs In Congress, and that he is
a double-hearted man. II was on the Atlanta
campaign this incident happened. We were
moving somewhere in the neighborhood of
Buck Head Station, and was attacked with the
collie and had to fall out. ] was suffering great
pain, and had almost made up my mind to
"strike my colors." / was about 200 yards
from the main road, lying under a tree near a
COW w-p3th leading west from the main road. No
one near me, and not able to call for help, /
was aroused by hearing horsemen coming up
this cow-path, and the first thought entered
my mind was that il was scouting party of
} Confederates; but soon / saw il was Federas,
and thought / wonld ask them for help. As
} they came nearer i saw il was some General
and slaB, and, OF course, that put the notion
! out OF nay head OF speaking 10 any of them. As
the leader got opposite TO me / saw it was a
Major-GeneTal, and on closer observation / saw
it was Black Jack Logan. His ear caught
the sound Of my groans, for was making con-
siderable noise. He stopped his horse and
looked at me, and seeing something was wrong,
he asked me what was the matter. / tried TO
tell him. He dismounted and raised me up
just then cne of his staff IAN upstart of Lieu
tenant remarked TO Logan: :" he does not be-
long TO your corps General. See, he has the
Fourth Corps badge on" "Dismount and lend
5 a helping hand to suffering comrade If he
; does not belong TO my corps he belongs to the
Union army, and that is enough. His life is as
dear TO him as if he was a Major General. He
might save yours or some one elses life" The
General ordered one of bis escort to get that
, flask Of brandy, while private soldier put the
flask 70 the mouth of private held in the
arms of Msjor-General. have often thought
Of this, and thought what beautiful tableau
, this would make in some of the G. "A z. plays
The General left one OF his escort with me- with
instructions to " take good care of him." In a
short time l got relief, and went to my regi-
. ment.
+ think I owe my life TO Gen. Logan, and q
! years after this incident / can bear testimony
that he was the friend of the private soldier on
the field and march, and has so proved in the
halls of Congress; and now ask of the soldiers
throughout the land TO prove themselves the
q H1end OF the General Stand by him, boys, as hi
! has stood by you. Think of his opponent, thai
4 did all he could against us, and gave ali the
s encouragement he could to the boys on the
|, other side.
e "A FRIEND IN NEED rs A FRIEND INDEED
d Logan was, has been, and / firmly believe
! will continue TO be true friend to the boys O
q the Union army, the same as he was to me il
e 1864. This goes TO prove that Logan is no two
e faced man, but a wo-hearted man,-one hear
full Of the lion nature full of fight. full of dar
D ing and bravery for the Stars and Stripes; th,
b other full of kindness, friendship, and NOR,
Y like the heart Of merciful woman than tha
4 of 4" q wild Indian" as some of his enemies are
c pleased TO cali him, because he "hewed hi
!, way TO the Gulf with his sword under the
h Stars and Stripes, instead of fighting under th,
+ Confederate rag, as they wanted him TO- and ar.
e mad az him up to this day because he did not
u draw his sword against the mudsills of tn,
d hated North. IL Logan had worn the gray tn,
c day be found me under that tree my bone
Q might be under the same tree to-day / thinl
Z he saved my life, as well as helped to save tn,
j life Of the Nation spelled with big N AL
Is honor TO John A. Logan and the likes of him
q Long may he live and prosper.-A FRIEND TX
It LOGAN, Co. j, I'D ILL.,, LIST Brig, ID Div, 4tl
- Corps
The 9Th Ill. at somervilie, Tennessee.
To THE EDITOR: Your paper of July o