The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-16
SHERMAN RECOLLECTIO MS.
He Shared all the Hardships and Priya-
tions of the Common Soldier.


tions of the Common Soldier.
McC1ures Mogazinel
On the march and in the camp Sherman s
life was simplicity itself He had few bril-
liantly uniformed and useless Aids abont
him. The simple tent fly was his usual
headquarters, and under it all his military
family ate together. His dispatches he wrote
mostly with his own hand. He had little
use for clerks. But Dayton his AdJutant-
General, was better than regiment OF
clerks. When we halted somewhere IN the
woods fer the night the General was the
busiest man in the army. While others
slept his little campfire was burning, and
often in the long vigiis of the night l have
seen tall form walking up and down by
that fire. Sherman slept but little.
He did not seem to need sleep, and | have
known him to stay but two hours IN bed
many night. In later years slight asthma
made much sleep impossible for him. After
the war, when / was at his home IN st.
Louis, he seldom retired till II or O'Clock
1t was sipgularly impressive sight to see
this solitary figure walking there by the
Pickering campfire while the urmy slept.
Ii gun went off somewhere in the distance,
or if an unusual noise were heard, he would
instantly cali out one of US 20 go and see
what it meant He paid small attention TO
appearances; to dress almost none.
There is going TO be a battle to-day,
sure" said Col Audenried, of the staff, one
morning before daylight.
4" How do you know 2" asked comrade
why, don't you see? The Generals up
there by the fire putting on clean collar
The signs dead sure"
A battle did take place that day, and
Cheraw, with 40 cannon fell into our hands.
1t was more run than battle.
He shared all the privatons and hard
shirs of the common soldier. He slept In
his uniform every night OF the whole cam
paign. Sometimes we did not get into
camp till midnight. ] think every man in
the army knew the Generals face, and thou
sands spoke with him personally. The ia
miliariiy of the troops at times was anus
ing.
Don't ride too fast, General" they would
cry out, seeing his horse plunging along IN
the mire at the roadside, as he tried 10 pass
some division. Pretty slippery going,
Uncle Billy, pretty slippery going" Or,
Say, General, kin you tell us, Is this the
road to Richmond?"
Every soldier in his army had taken on
the enthusiasm of the General himself
They would go anywhere that he might
point 10. Often as he approached some
regiment wild huzza would be given and
taken up and repeated by the troops a mile
ahead Instinct seemed tell the boys when
there was any l0ud shouting anywhere
whatever that Uncle Billy was coming, and
they Joined in the cheers till the woods rang.
1t was common thing for the General to
stop his horse and speak words of encourage
ment or praise TO some subordinate officer or
private soldier struggling at the roadside.
He had his humorous side with them, TOO.
When the army reached Goldsboro half the
men were in rags. One day division was
ordered to march past him in review. The
men were bare-legged and ragged, some OF
them almost hatless.
"Only look at the poor fellows with their
bare legs" said an officer at the Generals
side, sympathizingy.
Splendid legs" cried the General, with a
twinkle in his eye, splendid legs" Would
give two of mine for any one OF them.