Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-27
ARNOLD and SHERMAN.

ARNOLD AND SHERMAN.
What the F~nny Old General Told the
Noted English Editor.
From letter by Sir Edwin in the
London Telegraph: 1t was my good
fortune to make at New York the close
acquaintance of another and hardly less
renowned soldier of the republic, Gen.
Sherman, nor could any conversations
have been more interesting than those
IN which he did me the honor to de-
scribe and discuss, among many other
matters, that wonderful and memorable
march led by him, which pierced the
Confederate States like the thrust of a
rapler and helped largely to bring
about the collapse OF secession" The
General was evidently and justly dis
contented with certain criticisms which
have appeared in England, from a
high military source, upon the conduct
OF the campaign. I'VE had," he said,
to create iarmies before we could use
them in t!le established and scientific
way, and il is unfair and illogical to
Judge the first two years of our war as
If we had been commanding trained and
seasoned troops In the third year we
had regiments to lead as good and
skilled as commanding officers could
ask for, and to the movements then
made the rules of military science may
be properly applied" Gen. Sherman
spoke of the quality of courage in
soldiers and men generally, distinguish
ing it impatiently from british and ir-
rational recklessness. "True courage"
he said, lis founded on presence of
mind. The man who in the face of i'm
minent peril can hold up his hand and
count the fingers on it quite calmly is
the brave, self-possessed, reliable indi-
vidual. Moreover, true courage goes
with unselfshness. I have seen an
officer fight on unAinchingly in my
presence bleeding from many wounds,
of which he was disdainfully needless,
and in later life have witnessed the
gentleman turn deadly white while he
held the hand of his child that sur
geon might operate for some trifing alb
scess."
Many were the thrilling episodes and
adventures of the great war which fell
in fascinating recital from the lips Of
Gen. Sherman, but they are either re-
corded in the pagss of his autobiography
or are too long and discursive to set
down here. One little flash of humor
is perhaps worth preserving from all the
war talk which we enjoyed. Seen.
Thomas" said he, "junior to me in
rank, but senior in service, was stern
disciplinarian. He had received many
complaints about the pilfering and
plundering committed by one of his
brigades, and, being resolved to put
this offense down, he issued some very
strict orders, menacing with death any
who should transgress. The brigade
in question wore for its badge On acorn,
in silver or gold, and the men were in
ordinately proud of this distinctive sign.
Several cases of disobedience had been
reported to the General, but the evidence
was never strong enough for decisive
action, until one day, riding with an
orderly down a by-lane outside the
posts, Thomas came full upon an Irish
man who, having laid aside his rifle,
with which he had killed hog, was
busily engaged in skinning the animal
with his sword-bayonet SO as to make
easy work with the bristles, etc., before
cooking some porkchops. 'Ah,' cried
the General. you rascal! at last I have
caught one of you in the act. There is
no mistake about it this time and will
make an example of you, sir!'
eBedad! General, honey! said the
Irishman, Strengthening himself up and
coming to the salute, its not shooting
me that you ought to be at, but reward
in me-
What do you mean, STRIP exclaimed
Gen. Thomas.
"tWhy, your HONOR the soldier re-
piled, this bad haste here had just been
disicratin' the rigimental badge and so I
was forced to dispatch him. It's ATTN
the acorns that I found him att Even
Gen. Thomas was obliged to laugh at
this and the soldier saved his life by his
wit"
A FORTUNE FIFTH HIS WIFE.
All the Athenians know Dan Talia-
ferro, the colored barber, who did bust
ness in this city and afterward moved to
Jacksonville, Fla, and married. Dan
WAS q polite and resnectful man. and