Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-07-06
STORIES FROM TEXAS.


Pompoas General.
General II. commanded the Depart
mant of Texas for some time during tho
war. He was n pompous character.
His chief pleasure seemed TO lie in the
| directioS of special car for himself
and family, TO the exclusion Of even his
staff officers. He generally took n
weekly trip from Houston, his head
quarters, to Galveston, and on such oc-
casions he invariably monopolized n
special. In the limits of all the Con-
fedcracy, coaches were then scarce
commodity.
| On one occasion, when every freight car
on the road was called into requisition
for the purpose of conveying troops to
Galveston, and every car being crowded
within, as well as on top, with troops,
the inevitable special coa6h was at
tached to the rear of the train. The
troops appropriated the top of the spe-
cial to their use, it being u more COM
Portable place for them than on the top
of the box cars. In the special sat tho
General and his family; u cosy circle,
indeed.
1t was raw day, and, as usual, there
were objurgations, deep and loud,
among the troops as to the uncomfort-
ablcness of the situation.
just before the train started Wild
harum-scarum Texan, William Ochil-
tree, brother of the famous Colonel
Thos. =. Ochiltree, espied the family
sitting around the stove, and raising
his stentorian voice-he could, and can
till this day, holler louder than any
man in Texas, and, on account of his
melodious voice, is auctioneer for the
largest auction house in the State
yelled out: Lord, boys, come here!
I'll be dad snatched if hero amt the
old he bear, the old she bear, and all
the little cub bears" To say that, in a
moments time, the top of that special
was II crowded mass of humanity,
doesn't begin to express it. The great
wonder was that the top didn't cave in
and let the boys down in struggling
heap upon the General and his family.
1t was too much for the General and he
ordered his car detached, and Bill
Ochiltree was placed upon II diet OF
bread and water for II considerable
period. The General had one good
thing, any way; for he caused Billy to
grub stumps and earn his rations by
the sweat of his brow. Bill has tanned
down since those days and is one of
Ilouston's very respected citizens, but
chickens roasted high during the war
if Bill Ochiltree was in the neighbor-
hood.
OF all the good and prominent citi-
zens of whom Houston ever boasted not
one was ever more noted than DIR. Ash
bel Smith, who represented the Re-
public of Texas ut the Court of st.
James in the early forties. He was u
most learned man and truly great one
one of whom the State was proud and
upon whom Houston dotted. A few
years since General L. Kirby Smith,
who, during the war, had command of
the Trans Mississippi Department,
comprising Arkansas, Louisiana, New
Mexico and Texas, had occasion to visit
Houston and Colonel Ashbel Smith,
WHO uuu VI Ilt CtlcDIhlcu
Second Texas Regiment, was deputized
by the admirers OF the General to enter
tain him while in the city. OF course,
when Sunday came, the proper thing
was attendance at church. The Colonel
and the General repaired to Christ's
Episcopal Church and as the famous
individuals swept up the isle they were
the central attraction. The choir was
composed of men and boys, among
whom We're three young men by the
name of Smith.
As the services progressed each one
of the Smiths, in his turn, sang solo,
and upon each occasion the General
turned to his near neighbor and asked
who that was, and each time was in
formed that it was IL Mr.. Smith. He
asked the minister's name. Being told
that it was Rev. Mr.. Smith, from La
grange, his face assumed carnation
hue and he exclaimed: "Great SCOTS,
General, this church is composed en-
tirely of Smithsr'-PhU Fdll, in Detroit
Free Press.