The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-05
a Story of Alfred Pleasanton.

When the death Of Gen. Albert Pleasan-
ton was announced, a great many persons
thought it was his brother, Gen. Alfred Pleas
anton, whom the Compile de Paris once char
acterized as being a greater soldier than the
Black Prince, who was gone " said an old
newspaper man at the Riggs house to
Washington star writer The event. how
ever. has had the effect OF bringing Gen. Al
fred PleaSautOn into a prominence that ne
has for long time desired to be free from.
Up to four OF nve years ago Alfred Pleas
anton was one Of the most prominent persons
IN Washington. / don [ suppose any one ever
saw him on the street before o'clock in the
afternoon during the many years he lived
mere and before he became the reclUSe he
now Is, but IL was always easy to run
across him in the wee small hours in
some one Of the resorts which kept
open very late, or all night This was par
tlcularly the case 10 regard TO Charlie God
frey's old place. Gen. PIeasanton could Oe
found Their there or at Chamberlln almost
Invariably at midnight or thereahouts. A
hne old gentleman ne was, TOO, ana II was
worth staying up several times over to meet
him with pleasant Coterie, telling. stories
ana eXchang ng "reminiscences. l knew MIN
well in his LEST days. and more genial. Iowa
ole and Just man l never met. he struggle
IN which he took such q prominent part left
no rancor and bitterness with HIM, and I re-
member thrilling incident that illustrates
his fairness that occurred early one morning
at John Cham uerlins place, when il y7as stu
ated IN the former home Of the old Washing
ton Club, where the Young Mems Christian
Association now is Gen. Pleasanton was one
OF party IN which were dear and dead Rams
dell, .ex-Gov- Tom Young Of Ohio and
Gen. A. c. Jones, who had Just been ap-
pointed consul to -Nagasaki ahd was going
to leave for his post next day. There were
TWO or three others, including myself At an
oLner table were three strangers one Of
whom was re 7iling the attitude of the south
during the war. His conversation was evil
dentIy as annoying to his friends as it was TO
US and became particularly obnoxious when
ne attacked the courage Of southern soldiers.
l never heard such a bloody shirt harangue
even on the stump. While the fellow was
talking | noticed that Pleasanton was
wrapped in a deep study and evidently much
perpIeXed. suddenly he Frightened up. and
rising from his seat. with his slight figure
trembling with anger, and his eyes flashing
dangerously, he walked over TO the other
shoulder
DO you know me:' he demanded sharply.
Inc man looked up and started slightly, but
replied that he did not.
Wen, know you" Kissed Pleasanton. Il
mad you drummed out of my camp lust before
Antietam for AFFECT cowardiee and m id
sorry now that didn't have you hanged. Do
you know me now: I'm Alfred Pleasantou. "
Inc man turned white and red under the old
general 5 whitening glance
Get out of this place, continued Pleasan-
ton, meaningly. You are neither fit asso-
clate tor gentlemen nor a proper person to re-
main under the same roof with them, so get
out OF here at once. -
The fellow saw that he was in danger, espe-
Clally rom his two companions. who were
liVld with rage, and preferring the door to
the window ne skunk out like a whipped cur
II knew the scoundrel'S voice the moment
heard it. said Pleasanton. when his won
oerIul memory was commented on, and he
was a0out to tell the story OF the fellow S
cowardlce in the army, when something inter
rupted and we never heard it,"