The Portland daily press., 1888-11-24
SHERIDAN FRIGHTENED.
He Tells His Experiences Of A Walk
Across A High TrestIe.

of the Army of the Cumberland. The night
was stormy. After good dinner they were
enjoying post-prandial cigar. Just then
Sheridan said: Now, in answer to your
questions, Was / afraid? Was 1 ever
scared?' In ans wer to the first / am cent?
dent no man in his right mind goes into a
battle without feeling of dread-a some
thing that cannot be desert bed, only expert
enced. This feel ing will vary according to
the peculiar nervous organizations Of the in
diyidual. In it are involved all the questions
OF moral responsibility and its effect on the
individual, the future, etc. l know that it
has its effect on me, but there comes duty
which is above every thing. In doing your
duty outsiders lose sight OF this and in that
way some men get the credit of being with
out fear.
Now. as to the question of scare.
Show me the man who has not been scared
and he will be phenomenon. After the
Tulahoma campaign, with its flights OF
Hoover's and Liberty Gaps, with Bragg
forced beyond the Tennessee river, we went
into camp. My division consisted of three
brigades. Two were stationed at Deckard,
on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad.
The third brigade was at the terminus of a
branch railroad which ran to some coal
mines some 10 or 10 miles away. This road
ran through some rich valleys called coves
in that part Of the country, in which some
splendid plantations were situated.
Zone day, just before we began the move
that eliminated ia the battle Of Chicka-
manga, went up to the end Of the road to
inspect my brigade stationed at that point.
l took a staff officer with me. We drove
up the mountain in an ambulance and left
orders for hand car with detail of men
to be at the terminus at o'clock D. m. to
take look at the junction and main camp
at Deckard. inspected my brigade and
waited until 2, but no car came. then took
my staff officer and started down the track,
expecting every moment to meet the car.
We walked until twilight and no car came.
Seeing light at short distance from the
road, but still near enough to hear the car IL
1t came, we went up ond requested supper.
The proprietor of the plantation was a
courtly old gentleman, who l thought re-
ceived us rather coldly and seemed i'll at ease.
he gave us nice supper, but noticed every
thing was hurried / also noticed commo-
tion among the negroes.
After supper the old man approached me
and said: Il see by your uniform you are a
major general in the Union army, and must
enter my solemn protest against you being
here in the position you are without proper
guard or escort. You well know those
mountains are full OF ignorant, fanatical
men, ignorant OF the laws Of war,-in fact,
but little better than Indians. They would
deem 1t patriotic act to murder you. l say
murder, for 1t would be murder. Since you
arrived have put every safeguard around
you. have sent my negroes in every direc-
tion to watch and to give warning at the first
intimation Of danger. As / said. these men
are Ignorant, and, am sorry to say beyond
my control. | could not protect you for one
instant, and beg of you for Gods sake, 90,
and pray you may safely reach camp. And
permit me the privilege Of an old man and
let me beg OF you never expose yourself to
such risks again. You will know the terri
BILE punishment that fell on tie community
when Gen. MeCOok was murdered in his
ambulance. The innocent and guilty alike
suffered. | shall pray for your safe return
help this community. Ycu do not realize
what your safety is to us. don't want to
appear inh0spitable, but for Gods sake 90.
want you to come and dine with me, but
with proper escort. Then L will feel free
from all responsibility and will be happy to
see you.
II hurried away, approaching the old
mans fears. although frankly admit had
never thought of 1t before or OF my personal
any accident to myself In walked daS awa "
must say grew anxious. The force Of the
old mans fears and words grew on me. Not
that feared for myself, but IL any accident
should happen to me. could, in my magma
tiOn, see my division taking a terrible re-
yenge So hurried on hoping to meet the
hand car before we came to the big trestle
work. some 70 feet high and over $50 feet
Tonga spiderly affair, with nothing but ties
to walk on. dreaded this more than any
thing else, for always get dizzy trying to
walk at any great hight After walking for
about an hour (the darkness being intense) l
heard the rattle Of the car, and stopped for
1t to come up. The sergeant said a mistake
had been made, and that they had been
sent down the main line to the tun-
mel. Not finding me- they came back TO the
junction, and had hurried on hoping to find
me.
Il got on the car and remarked: Thank
God you met me anyway before came to
not have crossed. The big trestle' said the
sergeant, why you walked that over mile
back The car soon brought us to camp.
Thinking Of the risk of the walk over the
trestle-w0rk 20 feet or more hight-walked
by stepping from tie to tie In the Oakland
That without knowing it, the effect was such
that when got to my tent was the worst
scared man in the Army Of the Cumberland.
The retrospect weakened me. Never again
during the war did expose myself where
AIRY evil Detailing me could entail punish
ment on innocent people.
1.-The next day the old man visited the
camp, congratulated me on my safe return
and gave me a formal invitation to dine with
him, STIMULATING for a strong escort. / ac-
cepted the invitation and had a royal good
time. This time found my host charming
lin fact my beau ideal Of an entertainer.
You see, conditions make all the difference
in the world in the actions Of a man. He
and afterwards became good friends, and
have many pleasant remembrances Of him
and his family. Soon afterwards we moved.
The battle of Chickamauga followed,
then the famine of Chattanooga and
Lookout mountain. After this came my
transfer East. l have never seen or heard
Of the old man since"