Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-02
SHERIDAN AND HIS srEED.
Some Good Stories Told by the General's
Driver About "Old Dock"

Some Good Stories Told by the Generals
Driver About "Old Dock"
Harry L. Goodman was Gen. Sheridan's
driver for years after the war, and he tells
many a good story about Old Dock, whose real
name was John Ashley and who was with the
general all during the war, says the Chicago
He''cdd His home was in Pennsylvania where
he left his wife some years before the war be-
gan and followed the fortunes of the army
de was then in the primo of life. As the star
OF Sheridans fortunes rose Old Dock was still
retained No one could so promptly and at
the same time so well serve the needs of the
impetuous trooper. He was profane as the
worst OF Our Army in Flanders" but he was
kind to the animals and faithful to duty.
DOCK was an early riser and he had been up
some hours poking about the stables at head
quarters there at Winchester the October
morning when the rebels routed the army of
the Shenandoah He was the first one to see
that Jadod steed and breathless officer come
galloping up the pike from the south and he
followed what was evidently the bearer of mo-
mentous news right to the door of the general
ROOM Somehow the awful message few from
mouth to mouth even before tie report WAS
delivered: The army is surprised and in re-
treat The rebels are chasing them" Then
came the corrobora.ing roar OF cannon to the
southward-the picture which T Buchanan
Reed has painted in the first lines of his famous
poem:
Up from the south az break OF day.
Bring ns to W Winchester mel este. fresh disIpay.
The terrible rumble and gruInbIe and roar
Instantly the silence of dawn was tossed into
confusion by the fierce moving of the man
whose day had come. Gen. Sheridan was furi-
GUS He knew what to do, and had prenoni-
tion-nn lssuranco-of its success. lie roared
commands to this one and that, berating his
orderlies roundly, raving at the clumsiness and
slowness OF their movements
CHOSE ''DILL" By ACCIDENT.
'Fetch me q horse" he shouted to ''Old
Dock" and the farrier tore away to the stable
The first horse he came to was a three year-old
bay, presented to the general by admiring
friends in Indiana some months before. The
colt had been in one or two battles before and
bore honorable wounds. He had no fault or
blemish and was full of strength and spirit.
In u twinkling the saddle was upon Bill. and by
tho time General Sheridan rushed from the
house, booted and spurred, Dock was ready for
him with Bill.
The farrier followed down that terrible ride,
racing beside the aids and trying to overtake
the general When Bill was wounded by q
cannon ball. close to the end Of the battle, and
threw the general, plunging wildly in every
direction in the agony of pain, Dock provided
wounded horse back to the rear. But he never
lost sight OF him. He was not O surgeon, but
he knew something OF wounds and he applied
ointments Of his own make till the wound was
healed. But it TOOK months to accomplish that
result and Bill was never again the horse he had
been. The run, the fierce battle, the tearing
wound had made him ugly, and ut times he
would fight viciopsly.
One time, long after the war, Dock was To-
Gated at the stables in Gen. Sheridan's Michigan
avenue home. Goodman. then a reckless
young fellow, was driver, and in the summer
he put the old horse out at pasture on the
Sutherlin place-better known by the road
house, the '.Ten-mile House" which Sutherlin
also kept. Old Dock was q curious fellow in his
Old days and enjoyed special privileges from
having followed Gen. Sheridan so long and SO
faithfully. He groomcd the horses and helped
the stablemen. Often he was the only one who
could approach BILL" the horse that saved
the day
DOCK TOOK INFORMAL FURLoUGHs.
But Dock would take informal furloughs
every year, wandering off without the slightest
warning. At these times he always had plenty
OF money. He would fill a satchel with medi-
cines OF his own manufacture and begin his
pilgrimage. No one then knew where his
wanderings led him, but he always turned Up
at the end of three or four months, worn.
ragged and hungry. penniless and hopeless, but
soldier still.
Well after Bill had been on pasture long
enough Goodman, the driver went down after
him: but Bill wasn't ready to come home He
Kicked ana fought and bit. Sutherlin came to
help the driver, but Bill was war horse and
wouldn I surrender. So they left him, Suther-
lin promising strategy. When Bill came into
the stable some time he would capture him and
Goodman could get him next Sunday
Along about 10 o'clock at night Old Dock
came to the 1en-mile House, returning from
his weary tramp. lie was terribly dilapidated.
Mrs. Sutherlin prepared him q supper and
Sutherlin told him OF the failure to capture
Bill.
Il can catch him." growled Old Dock. and
when be had eaten supper he and Sutherlin
went down in the pasture. Away across the
dark field they saw the horses dimly outlined.
Dock called out. "Coap,. Bill. Coap, Bill :" and
the horse that would PERM: no common hand
TO touch him remembered the farlier who sad
died him for his one famous ride and came
promptly across the meadow. Next morning
Old Dock came up to the Michigan avenue
barn riding the horse that Sheridan rode.
The only time Gen. Sheridan was careful abou:
driving was when women or children were pos
sibly endangele ed. At such times he would eau
ton Goodman to go slow and take care" At
the races, which he always attended, he would
drive like Jehu. the son of NImski but when
they got in the grounds and nong the shifting
crowds he was always apprehensive of causing
injury.
But the day OF the generals marriage was the
end Of his reckless driving. After that the
ambulapce gave way to a carriage and the
mules TO span Of horses. Not even the four
inland was often called for. He was thence
forth as timorous as he had been reckless be.
fore lie never was a horseback rider after
the war. One time he complained of indiges.
tlon and ordered BILL the war horse, Dre.
pared tor morning canters. But he changed
MS mind before the first ride, and it is no,
Likely ne ever mounted the famous steed after
that bitter, glorious day in October when to.
gether they won immortal glory.