Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-17
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A WAR STORY.
Ex-Presideat Hayes aud an Exec federa'e
swap "Reminiscences.

| inaugurated II was known tnat ne ldV
ored policy of great liberality toward
the south 1t was known that he ever
contemplated making Gen Joseph f.
Johnston secretary of war, or appoint
ing Gen. James Longstreet postmaster
general But Johnston was a demo
crat, uncompromising. Longstreets
declared preference for Blaine in 1876
and his loyalty to Blaine afterward,
taken in connection with the probable
ity of the Maine man being a candidate
for the nomination in 1850. finally de.
cided the appointment against him.
The result was that Col ID. NJ. Key,
an ex-confederate from Tennessee. was
made postmaster general; the sending
of Longstreet as minister to Turkey;
Col. John Mosby was made consul To
Hong Kong, and appointments of more
or less Importance were given to ex-
confederates. 1t became, for this rea-
son particularly, no unusual thing TO
see prominent southerners at the white
house consulting with President Hayes.
About this time Gen. William Phillips,
of Marietta, Ga, was there to urge the
appointment of Gen. Edward Thomas,
an ''old line whig," as United States
marshal of Georgia. Thomas, like all
the old wings who were consistent, was
really a republican, and represented an
element that Hayes was endeavoring to
enlist in the republican party.
''Gen. Phillips" said the president in
the course of one interview, your name
has reminded me of an incident that
occurred at Hawks Nest, at the juno
ton of the New and Gauley rivers, in
West Virginia, in 1861. 1t was in the
month of August Who was it that
commanded the Georgia troops in front
of the Kentucky and Ohio brigades ON
New river? We understood that they
were called Phillips legion; was that
kinsman of yours"
"Why, that was this Gen Phillips,
smiled the Georgian. 1T was my le-
gion."
Indeed, said the president, with con-
siderable interest. well, one rainy
day there ] sighted and fired cannon
across the river at your command. Did
it do any harm?n
After some explanation of detail
Gen. Phillips remembered the circum-
stance.
I'VE were huddled together" said
Phillips, under some rocks to get out
of the rain, not dreaming of a shot from
so far off. 1t was good shot, but we
were more or less protected by the
rocks. | remember, though, that we
'skedaddled' for more secure posi-
ton. guessed, because our range had
been calculated so accurately at the
first shot, that some West Pointer di-
rected it.
After a pause Gen. Phillips continued,
laughing at the recollection.
About month aftsrward we were
again facing some Kentucky and Ohio
troops. An officer rode from their
front down to the stream. The rocks
there shelved out some distance into the
water, and this officer rode on slowly
some distance into the Gauley river,
watching us through field glass. 1t
was an opportunity not TO be neglected
in those days. | selected the longest
range rife could get, adjusted the sight
carefully, got bead on him, and fired |
The bullet threw up the water just be-
hind him, almost exactly in line with |
his head. Before l could get a second
shot -"
Il remember, ! remember" inter
rupted the president, Il got out of there
in a great hurry. That was Gen. Hayes /
you came within an ace of killing that
day in the river
81 am happy beyond expression" re-
piled the Georgian, that it was no bet
ter shot"
As the story was told over infinitely |
Gen. Phillips acknowledged to some
profanity at the time over the result of
the shot He had been famous as a
crack rifle shot in the mountains of
western North Carolina and north
Georgia, and was considerably provoked
at this proof of the old adage that "a
miss is as good as mile.
The shot had passed within an inch
or two of Gen. Hayes face. That after
noon Gen. Phillips dined with the presi-
dent and Mrs Hayes. The first lady of
the land had new interest in her hus-
bands campaign in West Virginia. Gen.
Phillips is now an assistant in the office
of the United States district attorney in
A tlanfa "a N v Adxrortioa,