The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-29
STORIES OF WAR HEROES
Llncoln's Kindness Of Heart Shown to
All Men at ali Times.
Grants Goodness and Determine
tion-How Sheridan Suited His
Action to His Word-Told
by q Montanian.

Few men who have occupied as promi-
nent a place rs that which Ex-Governor
James NJ. Ashley, of Montana, filed dur.
ing the soul-stirring times of b civil
war, have retired rom public life. carry
ing with them so completely the respect
and good feeling OF those with whom they
were allied or to whom they were OPP
posed as he, says the New York Tribune.
II Is seldom that Mr.. Ashley can be in
duced TO refer 10 the old days when he
played such a prominent part in IA Ma
tional legislature, and was chosen to he
the mover Of one Of the most radical prop
ositions ever made before this country,
and one which at the time demanded no
small amount of personal "a. Fear
lessly he performed the duty of amending
h constitution a%bolishing slavery In this
country, at the close Of the war.
A reporter met the ex-governor a few
evenings ago i'm ~Delmonico's. After hav-
ing a business chat Mr.. Ashley enter
tanned the reporter for over an hour with
anecdotes of the war times, about
many of the prominent men who
were his contemporaries in pub
lie life. Starting out i'm political life when
only twenty years of age, he was init
mately acquainted with nearly all the
men whose names have become historical
i'm connection with those turbulent times
before and during the war.
Concerning all these men. Mr.. Ashley
has m i~nexhaustible fund of anecdotes,
and although now In his sixty-sixth year
his memory is as clear and his eye as
bright as it was thirty years ago. He told
the reporter some interesting stories of
President Lincoln's ind-heartedness. 81
consider Presiden, Lincoln" he said,
lone OF the most remarkable men who
ever lived, as his kindness of heart was
shown to all men at all times. l remem-
Der once when Carl Schurz, who was with
the Army, had sent a letter TO the Presi-
dent without consulting his commanding
officer. OF course, this was q breach Of
discipline not to be c~ountenanced, and he
subsequently wrote a 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 profuscly, but
the president, seeing how i'll at ease he
was, smiled and said in "a kindly tone,
Never mind, Schurz. ! guess before we
get through talking you won't think ] am
so bad a man as some people say l am
That kindness broke Schurz all up.
Another time l saw him give a pardon
Z ,r n soldier sentenced To he shot, on the
duplication Of the poor fellows wife and
daughters. OF course, there was a most
pathetic scene, and many of the by
ISLANDERS cried. After signing the pardon
the president said: Well. / have made
one family happy, but l don't know
about the discipline Of the army"
Mr.. Ashley also told some good stories
about General Grant, Of whom he was a
loyal and ardent admirer. Among some
he related was one of a circumstance on
the evening of the first days battle oil
Shiloh, which had been n defeat.
AT hat time" he said, "when any mar
might have felt disturbed, the quartermas.
ter came to General GRAM and told him
that IL he was again defeated oil the next
day he could not transport the troops
(about 65.0OO in number, il il was neces.
sary To cross the river.
Grant asked him: How many can you
handler
"'Ten thousand replied the quarter,
master.
".Well,' said General Grant, quietly. II
all that are left
$50, you sce." said Mr.. Ashley, .what
determination Grant had. He simply de
termined to win or be annihilated."
Another story about Grants coolnes,
was as follows:
"Sheridan. when he came east, was as
signed by Grant to General Mcade's com
mand. General Meade ordered him TO W
out with his cavalry and reconnoitre, bu
to be careful about Stuart, who wa,
troubling Meade's brigade. Sheri
dan, whose blood was up. USED
some rather strong language, AND
said that lie would knock hell out of
Stuart IL he could get Mt him. Genera
Meade, who was "A quiet man. when d,
again met Grant, said: swell, General
that man Sheridan you sent me is rathe
in~subordinate.'
"'How is that? What has he been do
ing? p asked Grant.
"General Meade repeated Sheridan
remarks, and Grant replied: Did Sheri
dan say that"
"'Yes, sir; he did, replied Meade EN-
p~hatically.
"'Well,' said Grant quietly, why didn'
you tell him 10 go I'M do IL"
General Meade went back, took th
hint, gave the order to Sheridan an
Stuart eve troubled the comman,
again.
II could tell you stories all night,'' sal
Mr.. Ashley, but the war days are over
n while / am as staunch a republicaI
as I ever was in my life. I devote my tim
To my railroad interests and seldom thin
OF resuming active political life"