Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-01-13
TWO WAR STORIES.
a Couple of Yarns spun by Ex-Govcrno,
Palmer, of Illinois.

a Couple of Yarns spun by Ex-Govcrnol
a. Palmer, of Illinois.
Some time ago, among party of us on
an excursion, were Ex-Governor Pa mer,
Governor Oglesuy and Judge Jesse j
Phillips, of Illinois. They have all been
Generals in the army, and of course spent
the most of their time in talking over old
army experiences. Among other reminis-
censes General Palmer gave the follow.
ing: .-.s. ...r ...
l had command Of corps before Atlanta
on the 10th of July, 1864. Wewere at that
lime about five miles from the city, on
Peach Tree Creek; Davis division had
passed over the creek. About five o'clock
in the afternoon our boys brought in cit
izen they had captured on that side of the
creek. He was brought before me, ana /
questioned him closely. He did not appear
to know much but said he had read in an
Atlanta paper that General johnson had
been relieved of the command of the op.
posing army, and had been succeeded by
General j. b. Hood. Colonel Mckay, on
our sid, soon happened along, and asked
me If there was any thingnew tod him
of the change of commanders on the part
of the enemy, that John nson had been suc-
ceeded by Hood. He appeared greatly
alarmed, and exclaimed: "My God, Gen
era, that means trouble; tell you Hoods
a lighter" l wns somewhat alarmed my
self, and asked Mckay what he knew about
Hoods fighting qualities
Mckay said; We'll, sir, General, was
in San Antonio, Tex, once before the war,
and saw that man Hood bet S2,O0l on n
hand in g me of poker, and he didn't
have even n pair of jacks"
Well, l didn't say much in response but
a t.l H.. a..
bet 5000 on hand in n friendly game OF
poker, when he didn't even have one pair
to back him, would be bad man to meet
on field of battle when he was backed by
several thousand able-bodied Confederate
soldiers, and the sequel proved that Nc
Kay was not wrong in his estimate.
1t was then about dark. got my men
together and told them / expected we
would have to fight tomorrow. l throw
my lines across the creek and commenced
that night to build fortfcations, and the
next morning our forces were all across
the creek, and we had plenty of earth
works for any emergency. i ordered din
ner to be served to the men by eleven
o'clock. About that time General Thomas
came along, sa'uted me, and asked,
"What is the nlatter!p saying at the same
time, 1--WE must be ready to move forward
as soon as HoolSer's men have had their
dinner and expressing the opinion we
would now march into Atlanta without
opposition.
said: General, think you are mis-.
taken; i think we are going to have
fight" / had scarcely ceased speaking
when we heard IL terrible firing to our left.
l Immediately dispatched n messenger in
that direction, who soon returned with the
10. Ion, hat lf,I
bic charge on our left aud had already
broken through two lines Of Davis divi.
sion and was now charging in our direc.
tion, and, sure enough, he was soon down
upon us. But, with my preparations al.
ready descr bed, wo We're ready TO meet
him, and you bet we gave him warm re.
ception and we defeated him after hard
fighting, and soon thereafter marched
victorious into Atlanta, Had IL not been
for McKay's story of the $1,000 bet he
would have made IL very uncomfortable
for us. AS it was VIC We're ready for
him.
Another story comes 10 my mind at
this time that am sure has never been
In print, and refers TO the late Senator
Logan: ~
Colonel and Mrs Distin, OF Quincy, ILL.,,
were always intimate friends of Senator
Logan, and Of course when tho General
went to Quincy he stopped at Colonel Dis
tins. When the Soldiers Home was dedi.
Gated at that place, the General spent
about week with his old friend Distin.
The Colonel's latch-strins isnways out,
and his friends are generally In, SO that
they usually had pretty full tables, aver.
aging about eighteen persons. But IL hap.
pened that one day for dinner there was
just tho unfortunate number Of thirteen.
Mrs. d. asked the General II he objected
TO eating with thirteen at the table. The
General said he would rather not sit down
thirteen at tablc--nnd suggested that
he would eat at "A side tablo that stood lie
the room Tho matter was finally arrang
ed by one Of the family eating at tho sid,
table, and the dinner proceeded. The su
perstitiors may say This was an eyll omen
Who can say that II was noti-SprinlReia
(IH) State Register.
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