The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-06
GICKLES

three of the greater commanders of the
Federal army at Gettysburg into neighbor-
ly relations more than so years after the
last shot was fired upon that field.
Sickles, Slocum and Howard were the
three division commanders. Had General
Meade been killed in the battle one CT these
men would have succeeded him in chief
command. The general in command and
nearly all of the brigade and corps COM
manders who fought upon either side in
that great battle are now dead. Longstreet
Is the only conspicuous Confederate general
Of that day who is now living, but these
three division commanders whose COM
hands made up almost the entire army of
General Meade are now living, two of them
n New York city and one in Brooklyn.
General Howard has most interesting
literary style and has occupied much of
ais leisure time since he was placed in COM
mand of that division of the army which
has headquarters in New York in writing
for the magazines and press. He is not an
orator, but General Sickles and General
Slocum have both won considerable honors
upon the political stump. All three are
enthusiastic when Gettysburg is named,
and their recollections and anecdotes asso-
ciated with that field are among the most
fascinating stories of the war that are told
in places where men and women meet in
social pleasures.
Sickles and Slocum are lawyers. Slocum
is West Point graduate, but gave up the
sword while still very young man to read
law, and he was already in the possession
of D fair practice when President Lincoln's
call for troops was made. He was one of
the first to respond, and his military edu-
cation of course gave him early important
rank.
After the war Slocum returned to his
lAwbooks. Had he not done so he would
have been some years ago the senior major
general of the army. He had some dispo-
sition for politics and was sent to congress,
and but for . quarrel between two factions
OF his party, and as his friends have always
claimed a trick, he would have been nom
mated for governor of New York in 1882 in
stead Of Grover Cleveland and would of
course have received that phenomenal ma
jority which made Mr.. Cleveland conspicu-
Gus before the country. General Slocum's
friends are fond of saying that but for this
chance of politics be might have been presi-
dent instead of Cleveland.
But il he did not gain the presidency Slo-
cum seemed to have got possession of Mi
which he was associated made money, and
almost before he knew it he found himself
q very wealthy man. Yet no one would
suspect it from his appearance. His hair is
very silyery now, and so is his mustache,
and he goes about with light cane. But
the clothing that he wears seems never to
have had fashionable tailor's cut, but to
have come from the ready made counters,
and in all his habits be is the most unos-
tentatious of men.
General Sickles lives in handsome apart
ments on lower Fifth avenue, New York.
His rooms are filled with artistic decora-
lions and treasures, many of them collected
when he was minister to Spain. In the
morning when his friends call, they fnu
the old general dressed in a loose gown
which has seen many years of service, in
faded trousers and well worn slippers.
Sometimes he has scarf about his neck,
but no collar He is cordial. and his man
ner is of that sort which we are accustomed
to associate with old school gentlemen.
But when he talks of the war his eyes snap
fire, and he ragged like tiger one morning
in his rooms when he was told that it was
proposed to cut up the Gettysburg battle
field with an electric railway.
Nearly 40 years ago Sickles entered con-
gress, one Of the most conspicuous Demo
Gratis of New York as well as one of the
youngest men in that body. He was famous
because of his aggressive stump oratory
and an imperious yet kindly way which
made him the idol of a great body of his
party mem bers in New York city. He had
already wide repute as an orator OF the
stump when he furnished the country one
of the most exciting and dramatic Of sensa-
tions through the staying OF District At
torney Kew directly in front of the White
House, an act for which he was afterward
acquitted by jury, being defended by one
of the most brilliant advocates ever at the
American bar, the late James 7. Brady.
Sickles' achievements in the war which
broke out two years later caused that trag-
edy to be forgotten. He is a forceful writer.
not graceful, like General Howard, and is
ar his best with the pen when he is prepsT-
ing an Grafton like that one recently deliv
cred in the house His recollections feet
tysburg ought TO be preserved, and he
would be quite willing TO contrlbute his
share TO the work that is proposed.
General Howard has always been sol
der, but be is soon to be retired on account
of age and will probably make New York
his home. He was distinguished during
the war not only for brilliant ability. but,
like General Stonewall jackson, for his
piety, and be has shown how easy it is for
one of true Christian faith to be consist
ent, brave and honorable warrior, and in the
time of peace TO influence by his example
those with whom he comes in contact.
General Howard IS now most charming
companion, and his anecdotes of Gettysburg
are quite as thrilling and even more
qusintly told than those with which So
kles and Slocun entertain their friends.
Z. J. EpwARDs.