Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-12-14

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 Creel-, to which Reed refers
in his poeIa, 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 l been
here! Fall in right where you are!
Never mind your regimental organiza-
tion-we'n 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 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 into a 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, II consider that darned ungener-
GUS" and, squirting forward. he led his
troops to victory.
The writer had the honor of being
intimately associated with Gen. Sheri-
dan in Chicago in clerical capacity
for several years, and in all that time,
save twice, failed to hear an oath from
his lips beyond the Hibernicism, be
CAD"
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 IL rule to in
dorse no one for a civil position; that
he would not ind0rse 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 well understood
by all at headquarters that the ''old
man" was mad
Domination, sir, have not told you
l would not indorse you! Leave my
office" That man made an insolent
rejoinder, and before the writer or any
of his staff could interfere Sheridan
had knocked him down, kicked him up
again and out of the office, where he
fell into the arms of Fred Grant, who
FASTENED his exit by pitching him
downstairs.
The only other occasion was during
the Ute outbreak and the massacre of
this Meeker family A dispatch sent
by him to Gen. Sherman detailing the
movement of the troops from 'the
White River agency to the Uncom-
pahgre agency was badly garbled in
transmission, and the agent of the
Western Union Telegraph company will
probably remember to this day the PEE
culiar blueness of the atmosphere about
that time.
But while Little Pills large black
eyes would occasionally blaze, and a
deep elimination" burst from his lips,
his wrath was soon appeased, and as
rule his language was clean and pure
as he himself was genial and kind
hearted. Los Angeles (Cal.) Times.