Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-11-18

he had plenary absolution from Father
Tracy (Sheridan's chaplain) for every
five minutes in the day knew there
was just hell in there"
AT Cedar Creek, to which Reed refers
in his poem, Sheridan did make use of
a terrible oath, but there are very few
who knew what that oath really was.
AS he dashed down the pike road
from Winchester and met his defeated
and demoralized troops he swung his
hat in his energetic way and said:
''Face the other way, men! Boys, this
would not have happened had been
here! Fall in right where you are!
Never mind your regimental organiza-
tion--well get the tightest twist on
them you ever saw-we're going back
to our camp. I'll sleep in my camp to-
night or I'll sleep in hades!'
This was truly a terrible oath, and it
was terribly redeemed.
At Missionary Ridge he was ordered
to take the first line of confederate in
trenchments at the foot of the ridge,
but he not only took the intrenchments
but the ridge also. On the summit of
the ridge he poured inCo tin cup the
last drop of whisky in his flask, and,
holding it up in the direction of
Bragg's headquarters, shouted (para-
phrasing Scott's instructions to Bragg
during the Mexican war): "a little
more grape, Capt. Bragg" Just then
a mimic ball struck the cup from his
hand. well, now," exclaimed Sheri-
dan, Il consider that darned ungenef-
ous," and, squirting forward, he led his
troops to victory.
intimately associated with Gen. Sheri-
dan in Chicago in a clerical capacity
for several years, and in all that time,
save twice, failed to hear an oath from
his lips beyond the Hibernicism, "be-
gad."
The first occasion was when a civil
ian, stranger TO the general, but who
came with letters of introduction,
asked for his Endorsement for some
civil appointment Sheridan informed
him that he had made it a rule to in
dorse no one for civil position; that
he would not ind )rse his own brother
for one But the man would not be
denied, and called the following day.
His request was again politely refused,
but when on the third day the man
again called Sheridan commenced to
whistle-an indication we'll understood
by all at headquarters that the 'old
man" was mad
"Damnation, sir, have l not told you
/ would not indorse you! Leave my
Office" That man made an insolen,
rejoinder, and before the writer or any
| of his staff could interfere Sheridan
| had knocked him down, kicked him uI
| again and out of the Office, where he
fell into the arms of Fred Grant, who
hastened his exit by pitching him
downstairs.
| The only other occasion was during
the Ute outbreak and the massacre o
the Meelser family. A dispatch sem
by him to Gen. Sherman detailing tns
movement of the troops from the
White River agency to the Uncom
pahgre agency was badly garbled il
transmission, and the agent of th'
Western Union Telegraph company will
| probably remember to this day the pc
| culiar blueness of the atmosphere abou
that time.
But while Little Phirs large blacl
eyes would occasionally blaze, and
deep "damnation" burst from his lips
his wrath was soon appeased, and as
rule his language was clean and pur
as he himself was genial and kind
hearted. Angeles (Cal.) Times