The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-06-02

looking Little Phil" over from head to foot
while his face plainly showed surprise and
disappointment When he spoke his frank
ness was refreshing.
"Why-why, general, thought you were
taller. I'd heard you were not big man,
but, declare, thought you were taller"
Good heavensl Do you want a man to be
seven feet highr asked Sheridan brusquely,
as he squared about and faced his visitors.
Nothing less than seven feet will satisfy you
fellows. You want a man to be a giant,
believe"
The congressman and his constituent
laughed, but they did not prolong their call,
and soon after went away, presumably, to
"leg it to the Capitol"
This story was first printed in Tho New
York Tribune. Here is another about the
generals lack of length, which first appeared
in The Boston Herald:
Brevty of stature in Gen. Phil Sheridan is
caused by his legs alone, for he is about as
big as Gen. Sherman from his hips up. l
saw them sitting side by side on hotel
veranda at Manhattan Beach, and their heads
were on level The gallant Phil is not SEN
sitive on the subject A girl came for his
and Shermans autographs in her album, and
the generals wrote their names. She was
not content for she had set her heart on
verse of "Sheridan's Ride" in his handwriting.
This he declined to grant. Then she began
to question him about that famous piece OF
equestrianism. His answers were polite, but
not revelatory. "Now, Gen. Sherman" she
at length asked, turning in pretty despera-
ton to him, what do you imagine Gen.
Sheridan said on mounting his steedr "Well,
don't really know" was the response, with
a quizzical glance down at the legs of his fell
low officer who had just got out of a chair,
but maybe he said to his orderly, Shorten
these stirrup straps"
And here is one contributed two years ago
to The New York Sun. 1t is still told in
Washington on Gen. Meigs:
Gen. Meigs is very proud Of the pension
building. 1t is modelled after the Farnese
palace. Gen. Bragg who was then chairman
and had occasion now and then to call on
Commissioner Black, has dubbed it the
Pension brewery" sit is cross" says the
general, 'between a country brewery and a
car stable" Gen. Meigs took Gen. Sheridan
through the building recently and showed
him all its beauties and utilities. After they
came out and stood looking up at the big
barns piled one on top of the other, Meigs
said
General what do you think of it9"
II have one fault to find with it," said little
Phil.
whats thatm
"It's fireproof."
Among the pictures in his office are two
small ones on an easel, one above the other.
They represent the Charge at Winchester"
and 'Sheridans Ride" The first, he says, is
good In the ride he is dashing along wav.
ing the flag, and followed by his entire staff
''Now the truth is was almost alone at
that time, one or two of my staff only follow
ing in the distance. | had no flag at all, but
was swinging my hat and riding like the very
devil to the front so my men could see me-"
''Oh, well. general, the artist thought it
would be more effective to have you with the
flag" remarked visitor who was looking at
the picture some little time ago
"But it isn't true; he will have to take out
the flag and put it in my hat And he will
have to take out dozen of those fellows close
behind me. They were not there. The other
picture is all right Do you see that big
horse running away, and the officer over
there firing at himi Well, shat was fact.
The horse did run away, and the officer firing
at him thought he'd kill the horse and pre-.
vent the rider from being carried into the
enemy's lines. But the shot didn't hit him,
and both the horse and man were captured
by the enemy, and a few days after recap
tured by u.s."