Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-11-08
WHAT THEY WERE GOOD FOR.
A Confederate's Humorous Report t.
Gen, sherman.

A Confederate's Humorous Report to
Gen. sherman.
Even a good story is improved by be-
ing well told. and Gen. Heth of Confed-
crate fame not only possesses Il fund of
interesting incidents, but can relate them.
between cigarette puffs, in way that
makes nm the most entertaining of com
panionS.
He represents the United States gov
eminent on the Antietam board, and
when the commissioners from any state
are ready to go to the battlefield to locate
the positions of the regiments from their
state. it is his duty to accompany them.
One night after the war. said he, as
he tilted his chair back against the wall,
in little hotel at Sharpsburg, after a
day spent in walking over the battlefield.
| Il attended little party of those | had
known at West Point. Burnside was
there, with whom had roomed Mt school,
and so was Sherman, next whom | sat
during the evening. Sherman and l
fought our battles over again, but at one
point something | said made him break
out with But you damned rebels did so
and So Damned rebels! said |. If
there are any two persons on Gods earth
who ought to get down on their knees
three times every day, and thank the
Lord that there We're any damned reb-
els, you and Grant are the ones. If it
hadn't been for us damned rebels you
would be tanning leather
And what did Sherman say to that ?"
was asked
He slapped me on the back, and said,
with a hearty laugh, That is So
The general lighted Il fresh cigarette
and continued:
Il met Grant Il few days after that
and, in the course of our talking he said
to me: DO yon remember the time,
years ago, when | came very near break
ing your neck" | replied i suppose
you refer to the time you took ne out
riding III %, to show me your fast horse,
and an accident threw us both out. and
you fell on your head and shoulders
That was the time. said Grant.
"'Do YOU know what | have thought
| of it since| | asked him.
"'No
"'Well. l have wished hundred times
| since that you had broken your neck
That accident added Gen. Heth, eli
| Illustrated Gen. Grants character. He
was considerably hurt, but he insisted on
| completing the trip, and we went out II
| few miles and visited two or three class
| mates we had known at West Point.
| In referring to this in 1868 Grant add
| ed: DO you remember when we got out
there. those fellows didn't offer us any
| thing to drink
The conversation finally drifted on to
the subject of Gettysburg.
Il suppose" said Gen. Hcth. that |
| was responsible for that battle being
| fought at that point. ! was at East
town with my division. when | learned
| that there were Il lot of shoes at Gettys-
burg. | directed one of my colonels to
take his regiment and go there and get
| them. He went part way, and then
came back and reported that he had
heard drums beating near the village.
! and was sure that some of the Yankees
| were there. My division needed the
| shoes, so l took my command and started
| over there to get them, but met your cav
airy on the way. and our fighting led
| to rcinforcements being brought up ON
both sides. and finally Of the battle being
| fought there, where it had not been an
| ticipated."
Lee, then, was not ready or anxious
for the tight?'
Lee never needed urging or asking.
! He was always more ready than his Off
ccrs, even jackson. If he thought there
was half Il chance he did not have to be
urged to have us go in.
Although Gen. Heth was not present
at the time of the battle of Antietam, he
has been close student of that engage
ment, and has become very familiar
| with every portion of the field by re
peatcd visits. He is marking three posi-
| tons for each brigade. The one occupied
! on the morning of September II, lS6-,
| the point of furthest advance during the
| day, and the bivouac on the night of
! the 18th. He estimates that the 100
| acres which the government Will nave
! to acquire will cost about 100000. and
| he expects to ask the next Congress for
| SOC. 900 with which to begin the perma-