The Portland daily press., 1894-11-24

| pIofane man. If, as human ex perience
| shows, there are occasions when rough
words are exeusabie. this certainly was
! one of them. do not believe they en-
tered to Beckwith discredit in the books
of the recording angel.
He called an orderly, who piloted me by
| a way through the rear of the buildings to
Shernan's headquarters on the opposite
| side of the block, and was seated in the
| Generals office before the arrival OF the
committee. Sherman was busy man, put,
like Stanton, the great War Secretary, ne
! was accessible to everybody. The men IN
| uniform, however faded, had the first 1lght
| of way to him. They had acquired his preVl-
| ty of speech and it was marvellous TO near
| them condense an important report into SO
few words. When they were disposed OF
civilians took their turn. Many of them
never got half through their well-studied
| Introduction The moment it was apparent
| that their errands concerned trade their
| visit came to an abrupt end. If they remon-
| stra ted or argued. they were sat upon MEL
cilessly. Once or twice l saw Spectator
| in cotton who persisted. At motion OF the
Generals hand, "malliter manus imposuit"
was illustrated by two orderlies. and the
visitors was civilly impelled though the ex-
it, There was another class with whom he
was very gentle. They were the wives and
mothers who sought passes TIL ough the
lines to their sick and wounded husbands
| and sons. He listened to them patiently.
| and when. as almost always. he refused
| their requests. it was with a tender voice
| and quivering lip.
st is dreadfully cruel" said lady with
white hair and venerable aspect. ''that
cannot see my only son, who is wounded
and dying"
''Yes. dear lady, he replied. sit is dread
fully cruel. know; but all wars are dread
fully cruel, and we can only hope that this
one will speedily come to an end. Until it
does. the innocent must suffer with the
guilty. for can no more change the laws of
war than | can change tho laws of Ma
ture.''
The General was addressing a few words
of Kindness to this disappointed lady when,
without inquiring whether he could receive
them, the committee abruptly entered the
room. The chairman seemed greatly pulled
up in his aeshly mind by his late interview
with Beckwith. He began most forid in
PRODUCTION to his business. of which the
high position of the committee and their
RESPEhCT FOR GENERAL SHERMAN.
were the burden.
"Yes, yes" said the General Omit all
that. You want something. What is it.f' r
''We have come to you, General, to com
plain of one of your subordinates. We have
been insulted, sir, grossly insulted by on e
of your subordirates. We wish to have him
punished, sir. Our seIt-respect demands
it. Such an officer is unfit
'Hold!'' said the General. You are vast
ing my time. Who is the oficerf What has
he done? Come to the pointp'
1.-THE officer, General. is General Beck
with, and the indignity l will explain. We
went to him with request for detail of
some of his men tc discharge the cargo of
the steamship which brought the fresh
provisions from New York City, and some
wagons to take them to thu store-house.
He refused our request with insult and pro-
family. He said we were sLiftless set of
beggars, too lazy to open our eyes in the
morning without assistance. And then he
swore at US frightfully- Was confounded-
/ never was treated SO before"
The General smiled. u think you must
be mistaken" he said "Beckwith is one