The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-08
SHILOH UHURCH.
General shermaa's Narrow Escape.

General Shermau's Narrow Escape.
The following special. from Fremont, o.,
to the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette relates
an incident by Mr. II F. Backland, son of
General T. p auckland, of Fremont in the
lite of General Sherman, that is vouched for
By one Of our own well-known citizens, Mr.
r. w. Medkirk. who was a member OF the
Seventy-secord Ohio Veteran Volunteer In
fentry, and who was On picket guard at the
time and place spoken of in the dispatch.
al d it WAS recalled to- his mind after the
lapse of more than twenty years BY the dis.
psicb:
While the Seveniy-second Regiment. o. V. l.,
was stationed at Shiloh Church. on Sunday. March
81. 1852, a week before that memorials Sunday
fight attachments OF pickets was sent out on
the fuTdy road. In the detachment were Jerry
Heath and jacob +. Hutchinson, of Com PAW &,
who were placed at the same picket post. The
post at which they were stationed was ont some
two miles from tie camp, and consisted OF large
oak iree sitneted about three quarters OF a mile
INSIDE OF thick OAK forest. which contained con-
siderable uDderbrush Upon the underbruso
dry leaves. which creaked aud cracked
whenever disturbed. The road leading 10 this
joined again some distance beyond. The pickets
hso orders TO shoot any person seen In front of
Them. but not 10 FIRE under any other crcum.
stances. Jerry and JAKE. as they Were Familiarity
called. were Keeping close watch OF things WITH
noting TO vary the still quiet of the day for 1t
a clear, BRIGHT sunny day without the least wind
astir when about O'Clock I'm the afternoon some
fifteen or twenty shoats came out OF the woods In
the Ioac some distance beyond them. GA how
dsliciously appet'zng they looked 10 the boys who
had not tasted any fresh meat for long time. Ii
quite natural that they should seek some de
snoSe ~ nm and says Lake how car we msnsre
20 get one OF those into CAMP" Says Jake:
Row many hard tack have YOU Zen or
Twelve answers Jerry. "Give me some." says
Jake. 'and will coax them up into bayoneting
distance, when you bsyopet one Jerry having
furnished the hard tack Jake broke them up into
M
toward them. II took good deal of maneuvering
10 get the hogs anywhere near them, but haally
one little tanner th.n the others crawled up 10
the desired place. and Jerry, true TO his duty made
a lunge striking IL be tween the eyes. The bayouet
deep enough Only to set his porkship squeaiing.
which he aid with vengeance. and set the whole
drove TO grunting. This brought the boys TO re-
ment they had forgotten. Jake jumped back be-
hind the tree and resumed pickets position. to
IL ws iUn u s To- set his oee om
the pig. Seeing his predicament Jake yelled:
stomp it out" which Jerry proceeded to do. aud
claiming as he did so; This will bring the gor.
rillas
Both stood with ready guns In n few moments
they heard noise OF sabers and horses among the
trees and leaves, about thirty rods on the left In
front of them. Immediately man on horseback
frsm them, Both raised their guns, took steady
sim and pulled their triggers, but owing to their
felt the hammer OF his gun move, aud as ne did,
exclaimed, Hold on, that's General Sherman"
mo. IL amt it's them recel gorrillas dressed in
our uniform" answers Jerry. No its General
Shermans horse." quickly responded Jake. and
as he sp0se the man on horseback wheeled and
faced them, exclaiming: "Don't shoot. I'm GEN
eral sherman: I've made misculculations on the
post" Advance and give the countersign -
came from the pickets The man dismounted at a
propsr distance, advanced and save the counter
sipn. and behold IL was none other than General
sherman.
A leg Was procured for him to SIT upon: upon
sitting he seid Boys. this is the nearest call
ever had
His stat officers came out OF the woods and ad-
vanced to the posi-
The General, with bis staff, had been out in
specting the picket line and had got beyond 1t py
mistake. AID wnsn the General turned from the
pickets he was looking IN that direction for the
post But for the fact that the triggers pulled
hard. General sherman would certainly have been
killed, as both had dead bead on him, aud they
were striving 10 obey orders. Their Intention was
TO shoot him as the first RAN and retreat 10 Inc
next post to give them warning. and contiaui ug
with the others TIL they got into camp. III PENS
necessary 10 do SO to secure the camp from oeing
surprised
1t is scarcely necessary TO add that the Genera
did the sodierly substantial thing by the boys
although against orders, but he said he could trus
them.
The hog was left to his fate. Company did moi
! gttaDy OF r..
Mr.. hutchinson had the pleasure OF recalling
the incident OF his escape 10 6eae-al sherman
| when last in Fremont The General remembered
It. and hsd good laugh AZ the hog part OF tho
story.