The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-07

WsAkea Across High Trest1e n
NigAs Bftssut KneuIng IL
Chscaxe Time<
One night Just before the Chicago
nre Cen Sheridan was entertaining q
icpmrade Of the Army OF the Cumber-
land The night Was stormy. After
| good dinner they were ensoying a
Posi-prandfal cigar Just then Sheri-
! dan said. Now. in aNswer to your
questions, Was ever afraid? Was I
ever scare8z' In answer TO the first
! am confident no mAn in bis right
mind goes into battle without feel
ing OF dread-a something that cannot
be described. only experienced. This
feeling viii vary according 10 the pc
cuisar nervous organization OF the In
dividual In it are involved ali the
questions OF moral responsibility and
is effect on the Individual, the future.
etc. ] know that il has lis effects on
me, but there comes duty, which Il
above everything. In doing your duty
outsiders lose sight OF this, and In that
way some men get the credit Of being
without fear.
Now, as 10 the question OF a scare.
SHOW me the man who has not been
scared and he viii be a phenomenon.
After the Talahoma campaign, with
is fights OF Hooser's and Liberty
Gaps. with Bragg forced beyond the
Tennessee river. we went into camp.
NY divisions consisted of three brig
ades. Two were stationed at Deckard
ON the Nashville & Chattanooga
railroad. The third brigade was at
the terminus OF a branch railroad
which ran to some coal mines some
ten OF fifteen miles away. This road
ran through some rich valleys fcalled
coves in that part of the country, m
which some splendid Plantations we're
situated.
Zone day. just before we hegan the
move that eliminated In the battle of
Chickamauga, went up to the end OF
the road 70 inspect my brigade sta
toned at that point. took stan Of
ficer with me. We drove up the
mountain in an ambulance and left
orders for hand-ear with detail of
men to he NJ the terminus at q O'Clock
p. m. TO take a look at the junction and
main camp at Deckard. 1 inspected
my brigade and waited until o'clock.
but no car came then took my
staff officer and started down the
track, expecting every moment 10
meet the car. We walked until twi-
light and no car came. Seeing a light
short distance from the road, but
still near enough to hear the car if il
came, we went up and requested sup
per. The proprietor OF The plantation
was q courtly old gentleman, whom |
thought received us rather coldly and
seemed ill at ease. He gave US a nice
supper, but noticed everything was
hurried. | also noticed q commotion
among the negroes.
After supper the old man APP
preached me and said: see by your
uniform you are major general in the
Union army, and | must enter my
solemn protest against you being here
In the position you are without pro-
per guard or escort. You well know
these mountains are full OF ignorant,
fanatical tnen-ignorant of the laws of
war-in fact, but little better than In
dams. They would deem it patriotic
act to murder you. | say murder for
II would be murder. Since you arrived
have put every safeguard around you.
have sent my negroes in every direc-
ton 10 watch and to give warning at
the FIRST intimation OF danger. As |
said these men are ignorant, and, lam
sorry to say. beyond my control. |
could not protect you for one instant,
and beg OF you for Gods sake 20,
and pray you may safely reach camp.
And permit me the privilege of an old
man and let me beg of you never to
expose Yourself 10 such risks again.
You well know the terrible punish
ment that fell on the community when
Gen. McCook was murdered In his an-
buganee. The innocent and guilty
alike suffered. | shall pray for your
safe return TO camp. for should any
thing befall you God help this commn-
nifty. You do not realize what your
safety is to us. | do not want TO APP
pear inhospitable, but for Gods sake
20. ! want YOU to come and dine with
me, but with proper escort. Then
will feel free from all responsibility
and will be happy to see you
Il hurried away, appreciating the
old mans fears, although | frankly
admit had never thought of 1t before
or OF my personal danger or Its effects
on any one in case OF any accident to
myself. As walked away | must
say ! grew anxious. The fierce of the
old mans fears and words grew on
me. Not that feared for myself, but
ii any accident should happen to me,
| could. in my imagination, see my
divisions taking terrible revenge. SO
hurried on, hoping TO meet the hand
car before we came to the big trestle-
work, some 20 feet high and over $50
feet Tonga spidery affair, with moth
ing but ties TO walk on. ] dreaded
this more than anything else, for
always get dizzy irving to walk at any
great height. After walking for about
an hour 1.-THE darkness being intense) |
heard the welcome rattle of the car,
and stopped for it TO come up. The
sergeant said n mistake had been
made, and that they had been sent
down the main line to the tunnel. Not
finding me, they came back 20 the
junction. and had hurried on, hoping
to find me.
Il got on the car and remarked:
Thank God you met me anyway be-
fore I came to the big trestie over the
ravine. That could not have crossed. >
The big tfestle,' said the sergeant,
why. yeu walked that over mile
back. The ear soon brought us to
camp. Thinking OF the risk OF the
walk over trestle-work 20 feet or
more in Walking by stepping
from tic 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 any evil hefall-
ing me would entail punishment on
innocent people.
The next day the old man visited
the camp, congratulated me on my
safe return and gave me formal invi-
tation TO dine with him. stipulating for
strong escort. | accepted the invita-
ton and bad royal good time. This
time | found my host charming-in
fact. my beau ideal OF an enter amer
You see, conditions make all the dii-
ference in the world in the actions of a
man. He and | afterwards became
good friends. and have many pleas
ant remembrance of him and his fam
ily. Soon afterwards we moved. The
bat lie of Chickamauga followed. then
he famine Of Chattanooga aud Look
out Mountain. After this came nav
transfer East. | have never seen or
heard OF the old man since"
TOO COMBINING A LIFE.
a New Jersey Man Tires OF Matri-