New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06
STORIES or VAR HEROES.
LINCoLN's KINDHEARTEDNEss-G COOL.
NESS AND DECENTRALIZATION SHERIDAN
SUITED lis ACTION TO HIS WORD.


SUITED lis ACTION TO HIS WORD.
Few who have occupied prominent place
| as that which Ex-Governor James VI. Ashley, OF
Montana filed during the soul stirring times of the
Civil War, have retired from public lfe carrying with
them so completely the respect and good feeling OF
| those with whom they were allied to whom they
were opposed he 1t Is seldom that Mr. Ashley can
be induced to refer to the old days when he played
such prominent par, In the Rational Legislature, and
chosen be the Of Of the most radical
propositions ever made before this country. and one
| which at the time demanded small amount of
personal courage Fearcssly he performed the duty of
moving the Amendment to the Constitution abol-
shng slavery i'll this country. at tile close of the
| war.
a reporter met the Ex-Governor a few evenings
| ago in DclmOnlco's. After having business chaa
Mr. Ashley entertained the reporter for hour
with anecdotes of the war times, about many of tho
| prominent men who were his contemporaries IN pub
| lie life. Starting out IN political life when only
twenty years of age, he intimately acquainted with
| nearly all the whose names have become his
orca In connection with those turbulent times before
\ and during the war
Concerning all these men, Mr.. Ashley has an mex
haustibe fund Of anecdotes. and although now In his
sixtysixth year his memory is clear and his ~
| bright as it thirty years ago. lie told the "
porter interesting stories Of President Lincolns
kind heareduc,s Il consider President Lincoln" he
said onc of the most remarkable who ever lived,
his kindness 81 heart was shown 10 all men at all
| times. | remember once when Carl Schurz. who was
| with the Army. had sent letter 10 the President
without consulting his commanding officer OF course
this breach Of discipline not 70 be countcnanccd
and he subsequently wrote "a letter Of apology to Mr..
| Lincoln The President replied by letter, Never
| mind and me- OF course Wien scnlrL
went he began To apologize profuscy. but the PN>l
dent seeing III he was. smiled and SAID III
q kindly tone. Never mind. schurz. | guess before
We get through talking you won't think am 20 bad
| a man a, some people say am. That kindness broke
| schurz all up.
Another time ! saw him give IA pardon for a sol
der sentenced ~ bc shot, the supplcation n The
| poor fellows wife and daughters of course. there
wa~ pathetic and many Of the bystander'
cried After signing the pardon the President said.
| Well | have made one family happy. but dOh
know about the discipline Of the Army
| Mr. Ashley also told some good stories about Gen
cral Grant, Of whom he loyal and ardent admircr
Among some he related Was one Of circumstance on
the evening Of the first days battle Of SHILOH which
| had been a defeat.
AT that time he said. when any man might
have felt disturbed the quatcrmastcr came TO General
Grant and tod him that II he was again defeated Oh
the next day he could transport the troops abou'
$4,000 in nurnberl If It necessary 10 cross The
| river. ,-, .
| Ten thousand.' replied the quartcrma,tcr.
| well said General Grant. quietly, II We are do
fcacd YOU VIII be able 10 carry all that aIN left
| 80 you soc, sad Mr. Ashley, what dct rmnatlor
| Grant had. lie simply determined 10 VIII or be All
| initiated -,
| Another story about Grants coolncsS was as FOL
lows Sheridan. when he came Fast was assigned o.
ORDERS, him 10 go with his cavalry and reconnotre
| but be careful about stuart, VINO was trouhhns
| Mcadcs brigade. Sheridan. whose blood wa
mp. used some rather strong language anG
| said that H. wOuld knock hell out of otuNf
| II he could get al him General Meade
| who was a quiet man. when he again met Grant. said
| Wen. General that man sheridan you sent Inc i
| rather in>ubOrdnatc.'
| How Is thatl What has he been dolngl' asked
| Grant.
| General Meade repeated ShcrldanS remarks and
| Grant replied Did sheridan that , >
| YES Sir hc did, replied Meade emphatically
| Well said Grant quietly why didn't you tel
| him to 60 and do II -
General Meade went back. took the hint. gave the
order sheridan and stuart never troubled the com
| mand again.
could tell Won stories all night" said Mr.. Ashley
but the war days over. and While am a stanch
| a Republican A. ] In nv life. devote my
| time 10 nv railroad interests and seldom think Of
rcsuming active political lifc.'