Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-04
STORIES or WAR HEROES.

STORIES OF WAR HEROES.
Lincoln j Kind I'LL artcdness Grants Cool-s
ness and Determination How Sheridan
suited His Action to His yYoid.
Few men who have occupied as promi-
nent place as thai which ex- Gov.
James III. Ashley, of Montana, filed
during the sonl-stirring times OF the
civil war, have retired from public life.
carrying with them SO completely the
respect and good feeling Of those with
whom they were allied or to whom they
were opposed as he. IL Is seldom that
Mr.. Ashley can be induced to refer tc
| the old days when he played such 8
prominent part III the National Legis
| lature, and was chosen to be the mover
of one OF the most radical propositions
ever made before this country, and one
which at the time demanded no small
amount of personal courage. Fear
lessly he performed the duty of moving
the amendment to the Constitution
abolisking slavery in this country, at
the close of the war.
| A reporter met the Ex-Governor a
few evenings ago in Delmonico's After
having business chat Mr.. Ashley en-
| tertained the reporter for over an hour
with anecdotes of the war times, about
many of the prominent men who were
! his contemporaries in public life
| Starting out in political life when only
| 90 years of age. he was intimately &C.
/ auainted with nearly all the men whose
names have become historical in con-
/ nection with those turbulent times be.
fore and during the war.
! Concerning all these men, Mr.. Ash.
ley has an inexhaustible fund of anec.
dotes. and although in his sixty-sixth
year his memory is as clear and his eve
as bright as it was thirty years ago.
/ He told the reporter some interesting
stories of President Lincoln's kind
heartedness. II consider President
Lincoln" he said, zone of the most re-
markable men who ever lived, as his
kindness of heart was shown to all men
at all times. I remember once when
Carl Schurz, who was with the army,
had sent letter to the President with
out consulting his commanding officer.
Of course, this was breach of disci-
pine not to be countenanced, and he
subsequently wrote letter of apology
to Mr. Lincoln. The President replied
by letter, Never mind; come and see
me- Of course, when Schurz went he
began to apologize profusely, but the
President, seeing how i'll at ease he
was, smiled and said in kindly tone,
Never mind, Schurz. I guess before
we get through talking you won't think
am SO bad man as some people say
I am That kindness broke Schurz
all up.
j Another time saw him give a par
don for soldier sentenced to be shot,
ON the supplication of the poor fellows
wife and daughters. OF course. there
was q most pathetic scene, and many Of
the bvstanders. cried. After signing
the pardon the President said, We'll, ]
have made one family happy, but ]
don't know about the discipline of the
army"
Mr.. Ashley also told some good
stories about Gen. Grant, of whom lac
was loyal and ardent admirer. Among
some he related was one Of a circum
stance on the evening of the first days
battle of Shiloh. which had been de
feat.
cat that time" he said, when any
man might have felt disturbed, the
Quartermaster came to Gen. Grant and
told him that if he was again defeated
on the next day he could not transport
the troops (about sixty-tive thousand ii
numberl, if it was necessary to cross
the river.
"Grant asked him: How many mer
can You handle?
Ten thousand, replied the Quarter
master.
"'Well, said Gen. Grant, quietly, Il
we are defeated, you will be able tc
carry all that are left
$50, you see, said Mr.. Ashley, "wha
determination Grant had. He simply
determined to win or be annihilated
Another story about Grants coolnes:
was as follows: Sheridan, when ht
came East, was assigned by Grant tc
Gen. Meade's command. Gen. Meade
ordered him to go ont with his cavalry
and reconnoiter, but to be careful abon
} Stuart, who was troubling Meade's bri
gade. Sheridan, whose blood was up
used some rather strong language, anG
said that he would knock hell out OF
Stuart ii he could get at him. Gen
!, Meade, who was a quiet man, when III
again met Grant, said: Well, Gen
eral, that man Sheridan you sent me il
rather insubordinate.'
How is that? What has he beer
doing?' asked Grant
"Gen. Meade repeated Sheridan's re
! marks, and Grant replied: Did Sheri
dan say that?'
"'Yes, sir; he did, replied Meade
emphatically.
well, said Grant, quietly, 'wh,
! didn't you tell him to go and do it?'"
Gen. Meade went back. took til,
hint, gave the order to Sheridan ant
! Stuart never troubled the comman,
again. Nelu York Tribune.
Haunted Rooms IN Rotc,s.
"Yes. a man who commits suicide il