The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-06

The idea Current but Erroneous-What He
Said Winchester.

The Idea Current but Err0neous-What He
Said at Winchester.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press.
An impression has always prevailed among
those who do not know General Sheridan that
ne is a very profane man. This idea was en-
couraged by the writer's of army anecdotes and
personal sketches during the war, who repre-
scented him as being full of lusty swagger and
strange oaths; as type of the ancient dragon,
brandishing a thirsty blade, and calling for
blood by the bucketful, like the old buccaneers
and roysterers of Shakespeares time.
In that remarkable poem, with which we are
all familiar, Buchanan Read describes Sheridan
as riding down the lines with "a terrible oath, I"
which was soul-stirring as to bring the de-
moralized and scattered soldiers to realizing
sense of the responsibility of the occasion and
to turn them from sheep to men. The General
does not recollect exactly what he did say then
but has no doubt that he used language appro-
pirate to the circumstances, and meant precisely
what he said. On some other occasions during
the war he found the ordinary vocabulary of
conversation inadequate to his thoughts. and
made use Of language that could not be misun-
derstood; but the yarns about his profanity.
which were so widely quoted at the time. have
caused him much annoyance.
The impression that his tongue mint
that was constantly coming imprecations Of
unique and awful pattern was quite general
and it grieved the hearts of a great many good
people that a man they had learned to admire
and love should tarnish his otherwise brilliant
reputation by the use of blasphemy. Many of
them wrote him to express their regret. The
letters came from clergymen and mothers Of
boys, who gently demonstrated and begged him
to abandon the vicious habit not only for the
sake Of his own soul, but for the benefit Of
their sons, who admired him 80 much and were
inclined TO initiate even the vices of great sol
der.
1t Is due to General Sheridan that this false
impression should be corrected, for he Is not
habitually profane, and never swears except
upon rare occasions of extraordinary provoca-
ton. Then he does not use the vulgar bias
phemy OF the bar-room, but coins phrases of
picturesque and striking originality, which pro-
duce an instantaneous effect and lasting impress
sion. His words fall like a pile driver.
On some supreme occasions, at a great crisis
or an emergency, when the souls of his men
were to be aroused the ordinary adjectives
would strike the soldier with nc more force than
falling leaf, and the phrases of the drawing
room would not even reach their ears. So much
Is true of Sheridan that at such times his tongue
would frame sermon in single sentence that
never failed to arrest panic and inspire with
courage men who would have been deaf to the
ordinary tone and manner Of remonstrance or
command.
The retreat at Winchester was one OF these
occasions A member of his staff, Gen. George
A Forsythe, or Sandy" as he was better
known, who rode the famous twenty miles by
Sheridan's side, but did not get into the immor-
tai poem may be considered pretty good author
ity. He told me that when the General met the
first group OF stragglers in full retreat, and was
informed by them that the enemy had captured
his camp during his absence, he turned white
with rage and modification, and exclaimed in O
tone that was not to be misunderstood.
Boys, those Of you who not towards. fol-
low me; for I'll sleep In that camp tonight or
I'll sleep in hell!"
That was tho s.terrible oath" the author Of
"Sheridan's Ride referred to- and 1t had the eff
feet chat was intended. The soldiers knew that
Little Phil" was frightfuiy In earness, and
there wasn't man in all the shattered army
who wouldn't share his bed.