New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-28
HHJy THE EEBELS WERE GOOD FOR

A cuNFEDERATEs RETORr TO GENERAL SgER
MAN
Even good story IA improved by being wen
told. and General Heth. OF Confederate iama
not only Possesses a fLGd OF interesting incl.
dents but can ate them. between cigarette
puff ir q way thai MAKES him the most entcriain-
ing of companions.
He represents the United states Government
the An.ietam Board and when the Commissioners
from any state are ready 20 go to The battlefield
to locate the positions OF the regiments from their
State. n - his duty 70 accompany them.
"One night after the war said he. as he tilted
his chair lack against the wall. IN The httle hotel
ar shar.g5urg. after day spent in walNiHg
the battlefield 4 attended Q I,tle party o, those
had known at West Point. Burnside there
with whom ! had roomed at school and
Sherman. next whom sat during the evening
Sherman and fought battles again but
point something said made him break out
with But YOU damned rebels did and so.
Damned rebels" said /. II there any tive
persons Gods earth who ought get doSn
their knees three times every day. and thank
the Lord that there any damned rebels
you nd Grant the ones. II it hadn't been for
us damned rebels you would still be teaching
school. and Grant would be tanning leather"
And what dld sherman say 20 that" was
asked
He Slapped me on the back. and said. with .
hearty laugh. That j. Sc.
The General lighted fresh cigarette. and
tinued
Il met Grant a few days after that ard In the
course o. our talking. he said 10 me-. DO You re-
member the time. years ago when | came very
near breaking your neck? | replied. II suppose
you refer the time you took riding
In .. to show your fast hors, and acct
dent threw us both out, and you fell on your head
and shoulders
a u a | hl ~ A nF
a :.Yo him"
that you had broken your neck
that accident" added General neth; Illus
siderably hurt but he insisted completing the
tmo or a' three Classmates we lad Known at Vest
Point In referring this in ls5s Grant added:
fellows didn't offer anything to drink
The conversation finally drfted on to the sub
4 suppose" said General Heth. that was re.
sponsibe for that battle being fought at nat
learned that there were lot OF shoes at Getiys-
burg. | directed one OF my co.ones TO take his
reeiment and go there and get them He wen.
he had heard drums beating near the village ana
My division needed the shoes. so l took my com.
mand and started there TO get them. but
met your cavalry on the way and our lighting
led to reinforcements being brought UP on both
sides and hnay Of the bas 6ens fought
Lee: then was not ready or anxious for the
Tight"
Lee never needed urging asking He was
always more ready than his officers. even JACK
son. II he thought there half a chance. no
did not have TO be urged 10 have us go in. .
Although General Heth not present AZ the
time OF the battle OF Antietam, he has been close
student OF that engagement and has become very
familiar with every portion OF the field by re-
peated visits. lie is marking three positions tos
each brigade The one occupied on the morning OF
September II. 1862. the point OF furthest advance
during the day. and the bivouac on the night o.
the 18th. He estimates that the LOO acres "hicn
The Government will have TO acquire. Will coN
about 100000 and he expects to ask the next Coh-
gress for $4,000 with which TO begin the perms-
ment work