The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-04-11
THE LATE GEN. scHENcK.
Anecdotes Which show His Renl Char

Anecd otcs Which Show His Rea1 Char.
"a ncter. sssS
Like all men Of strong convictions ag-
gressiye personality and extreme capacity for.
making warm friends or bitter foes Gen.
Robert G. Schcnck, WHO died recently at
Washington, was the object during his life
time of much exaggerated praise and an
equal amount Of undue criticism. Perhaps
the greatest storm Of abuse that ever poured
upon his head fell just after President Lin
coin had commissioned him brigadier general
of volunteers at the outbreak of the late civil
war. Schcnck was civilian, a lawyer, sue
cessful politician, an ex-diplomate but Of
military affairs he knew nothing, and those
opposed to him said so in plain terms. His
appointment was denounced in one leading
newspaper as an outrage on the soldiers, and
it was suggested that he be turned over to
some orderly sergeant Of the regular army
and 'tmade to drill like sixty for month";"
1t was only a little after his entering on
active military service that Schenck's critics
found new occasion for reiterating their
original viewB. The general was engaged in
securing possession Of the Loudon and Hamp-
shire railroad. At Vienna the train convey
ing his forces was fred upon, the engineer un-
coupled the locomotive and ran away, and
6chenck's handful Of men had to face band
Of very eager and active opponents. The
truth Of the matter, as afterward established,
was that the combatants on both sides dis
played creditable courage and came out Of
the contest with honor, but Schenck's en-
ernies declared that he had been ignominious-
~ routed, and sareastically dubbed him the
,''hero Of Vienna
The probable reasons why President Lin
coin gave Schenck his commission were two
in number. For one he knew the man to be
able, aggressive and brave. And again he
considered himself under great personal obli-
CATION. It may not be generally known, but
it is nn actual fact that Mr.. Lincoln gave
Schenck the credit Of first naming him for
the presidency. In September, 1859, the for
mer addressed meeting at Dayton, o., on
the politinl issues of that period. Allusion
being made TO the subject Of the next presi-
dency, Mr.. Schenck suggested "that il IN
honest, sensible man was wanted, it would be
well to nominate the distinguished gentleman
from Illinois who had just addressed them
However, if the beginning of Schenck's
military career was not glorious, either
through lack Of experience or want of oppor-
tunity, he showed conspicuous gallantry and
ability later on. AT the second battle Of Bull
Rum while in the thckest of the fight and
urging his men forward, ball struck his
right wrist and his sword dropped from his
hand. Says of the historians of the war:
tooluleiS BILL eLJosS tellllp bL Luo beIleTdlS
rage and fearful imprecutions at the loss of
his sword" FIe refused to leave the field
until he had recovered it. The wound per-
manently injured his right arm, and for the
remainder of his life Gen. Schenck wrote
with his left hand. @
When minister to England Gen. Schenck
became the target of good deal of adverse
comment because he Has reported to have
published book en- poker playing for the
use Of the English aristocracy. "Poker
Bob, as he was afterwards called by his op-
ponents, never took tho trouble to deny the
charge, but his friends claimed that he sim
ply wrote out the rules Of the game in com
pliance with the request OF q lady. She had
the manuscript put il. typo and issued a few
copies of the pamphlet for private circula-
ton.
Gen. Schenclz spent tile last years Of lis
lfs III absolute retirement. He gathered
about him u few old friends, but cared to
make no new ones AS one of his biographers
says: His enemies spoke Of him selfish
his friends called him whole souled generous,
big hearted hospitable.n