The record-union., 1891-02-23

We all know of the deplorable jeal-
ousies that existed during the first years
ofthe confiict-the want of faith among
commanders, the intrigues of politicians,
and the consequent decentralization of the
army. And this continued until the inn
mortal Commander-in-Ch gave the
command of all the armies to the great
trlunvirate, Grant, Sheridan and Sher-
man.
Then came faith. True and honest to
each other, true and honest to their
country, moved by one impulse. They
were mvincible. And now the last one
has gone, following with his brother
commanders their illuStrious chief into
the great unknown.
The last time 1 saw Sherman was at
keneSaw Mountain. | was sent from
there, with many others, to Hospital No.
l at Chattanooga, whore all of the sick
and wounded of Sherman's army were
sent. The boys were fond of telling anec-
doteS OF Sherman. Ono man told how,
one day, Sherman was walking along
when the men were throwing up trenches
before Atlanta. The men We're tired but
were working with will and despera-
ton. Sherman, walking too near, was
hit by one of the shovelers, who, without
locking up, shouted: "Get out of the way.
there!' One of the men said to the shov-
eler: do you know who you are talking
to?" Without looking up, he replied
that he didn't care if it was julius Cesar
he would get hit il he didn't get out of
the way.
That's right my man. Never mind
me. Throw up the dirt, and if 1 get in
the way it's my fault"
At another time, after weary march
in the rain and the mud all
day and until late in the evening,
and the army had halted, Sherman
n ltTI ic,fn
standing around one of the campfires
when private came up wet, muddy, tired
and utterly demoralized. He had become
separated from his regiment since dark,
and was trying to find it, and was cursing
everything, high and low, as is the wont
of a demoralized soldier, and wound up
by cursing Sherman. Here you, do YOU
know who are talking to?'' said one Of
the officers The man looked up and
saw Sherman standing there, and one of
the officers ordered the demoralized man
under arrest. 'sOh," said Sherman, ''let
the boy talk; he's tired and wet and cold
Here. give him a cup of coffee, and let
him go on to his company" These Incl
dents show the character of the man.
Educated at West Point under the strict
est discipline. yet he was "a man
among men, he knew that his army
his private soldiers-were men, not there
for Sl3 per month, but there for the same
purpose he waS-manv of them educated,
refined men-and while maintaining dis
cipline, he treated his soldiers as men,
For once the world has seen the General
and the private soldier comrades that is
why we loved him.
1t is related that one evening Napoleon
entered the tent of q young officer a
moment after the signal for lights OUT
had been sounded. The officer was Just
closing a letter to his young wife and had
IL al nr11yr 10 III
light that he might direct it. Napoleon
said to him, add as a postscript to your
letter these words: Il shall be shot at
daylight tomorrow morning for disobey-
ing orders-' And he was shot to death at
daylight. Can any Of you imagine that Il
Sherman could be SO wanton, so devilish
cruel? No. Such crimes come from
ambitious tyrants, not from patriots.
And now comrades, L do not know how
it may seem to you, but to me it seems
as if the flag that Sherman carried on his
march to the sea and planted on the shores
where 1t was first torn down, waves
across the wide sea to the thither shores
a warning and an invitation. 1t says to
the Nihilist, to the Anarchist the Com
munist, whatever color of reason Siberia
and the knout may have given for your
existence i'll Russia, or the crueltieS and
expressions of kings or aristocrats in any
country, when you come under this flag
you must drop those things at once-for
| there is no color of reason for your con-
tinued existence as such under this flag,
for here are found all the conditions
that patriots in all ages, in all countries
have sought for, fought for and died
for, the freedom and manhood of man.
But you may come as a man and be one
Of US; to you shall be opened every
avenue and every privilege enjoyed by
another you may have. What you hon
estly earn for the support of yourself or
family, that you may keep and enjoy,
and no man or number of men shall for
bid you at any time to do honest work
when opportunity affords for the support
of yourself and family; that you may
make your own bargains as a free man
ought, and that no one shall be permitted
to rob you OF your honest earnings, your
time or your fair opportunities. But the
freedom and privileges accorded to you
you must accord to every other man.
Anything more than this-anything less
than this-anything different from this
is tyranny, and tyranny comes not
always from Kings. The methods that
have grown up in countries where men
are not free have no excuse for existence
| here. This is what the flag that COW
cred our comrade yesterday said to me.
Was 1t alone because Sherman was a
great General that strong men shed tears
at his funeral? Was it for this that the
oltt NOlOiSh iliotil Will UllC AI1ilY
badge ON his breast knelt down by the
roadside and with tears rolling down his
cheeks prayed for Sheman. as the casson
with the poor frame that could no longer
hold his great soul passed by? No. 1t
was because he helped to lift up the
weary and oppressed, to break the
shackleS, to make broad the measure OF
freedom. Comrades, if it is not well with
him in the hereafter, what hope have we?
1t is your duty and mine to help preserve
all that this man won for the freedom of
man.