Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-01-12
REPORTED HIM TO SHERMAN.
" Was Rather Late, but the cEiou Gen.
erai Was Pleased.

- Was Rather Late. but the cEiou Gen
erai Was Pleased.
When the National Convention OF
Lawyers met in the West some years
ago,.Mr. Du Bignon was sent to repre-
sent Georgia, his native state. Being
one Of the rising young mcn of his re.
gion, he was also invited to respond to
the toast, "The Young Manhood of the
South at the large banquet 10 be
given.
The young lawyer prepared his reply
with care, feeling he had done his best,
which was all the bar could expect of
him. His toast was the tenth in line. and
the toastmaster had pronounced in dis
tiuct tones the title of the toast, and
added that Mr.. Fleming Du Bignou OF
Georgia would reply.
The lawyer rose slowly TO his feet,
glancing a. he did So down the long
Ioub,e line Of eXpcctant, polite, up
turned faces smiling at him, encourag-
ing him 10 proceed.
His piece was all clearly in his
mind; he remembered every planned
gesture, every turn and point" he pro-
posed to make.
Gentlemen of the bar" be began, Fl
-
Gen. Sherman" deiightedly broke in
the postmaster, and "Siierman,7 "Sher.
man. was echoed all down the table,
which saw dozcns Of newsstand TO their
feet to greet the great soldier-lawyer IS
be entered the room.
Gen. Sherman had promised to attend
the Convention, but had been detained
by other engagements until this late
hour, and his advent was hailed with a
burst of welcome a. he advanced down
70 bis vacant chair. Every one was
shaking hands with him, creating quite
q hubbub.
When il finally subsidized the toast
master turned again TO the young
Georgian and said:
viii Mr.. Du Bignon now proceed
with he toast The Young Manhood Of
the South?'"
The Georgian sat for an instant dazed.
He vas younc. and the excitement
breaking into his speech had "loored'
him.
What wa ne going to do? What
was he going 10 say? Every line OF his
prepared speech had left him, every bit
of his plan VI thought had deserted him.
To stand there a confirmed dullard: TO
he unable 10 respond 10 the toast that
involved all his patriotism, when that
speech was intended to snow the North
erners just what the Southerners could
do aud be. 1t was humiliating: il was
agonizing.
All, this, however, did not occupy the
space Of time it takes 70 tell it. 1t
flashed through lis brain like lightning,
and even during the latter part of these
thoughts be was rising mechanically TO
TO his feet.
He stood still a second and saw Gen.
Sherman's face looking at him with IN
terest. The silence was appalling. He
felt that every one was thinking. Poor
fellow, he doesn't know what to say"
In a quiet tone, in which. however,
be felt "A culver, he commenced:
Gentlemen, | am confounded. The
advent OF SO noted a warrior IS Gen.
Sherman has made me forget every
word Of my speech"-the mer all look
ed anxious and interested-"b | think
you can scarcely wonder nj my cons
fusion. Georgians are so used TO the
fact Of Gen. Sherman following them
that it is enough 10 simply paralyzc any
one OF them to be asked to follow the
General" There was a pause for an in,
slant over the young fellows audacity.
and then the room rang with appre-
ciative applause OF his excellent wit.
Men leaned over their plates and inn
mediately fixed themselves into attitudes
OF interest. They at once perceived
that at least an original young chap
was going to speak.
Mr.. Du Bignon felt the personal mag
netism be had excited reflect on him
self, and continued with more assur-
ance.
He said that he would tell a story
about the young manhood of the South.
the very young manhood, including his
first impression Vi Gen. Sherman.
The time was the civil war, the place
Milledgeville, Ga. Il was only a little
shaver" he started, staying al home,
taking care OF my mother and younger
brother. The men had gone 10 the war.
The cry started early in the morning,
Sherman is comingr 1t increased
nun u WulSpeI 10 Il lIlgIHcucu sHONl.
The old negroes who were at home left
the fed and plough and gathered in
their cabins, exactly as if Il had been
said. The Judgement day is coming!'
People stood irresolute In the street, not
knowing what to do, or whether it was.
best TO anywhere.
And later On he came. Soldiers and
horses, they began to ill the town and
the peoples houses, and fear was the
prevailing element.
Il insisted that my Shetland pony
and my brothers pet rooster must be
saved. My mother equally insisted
that | was to stay in the house, sor il
not the soldiers would carry me away.
| was made a prisoner. but owned a
window, and when | saw one Of the SOL
diers 90 under our house and catch the
rooster and wiring its neck l was cer-
tain that my pony would go next. So,
jumping out OF the window. l ran to the
soldier, aud, deuu.!ng up my fist. cried:
Dog gone you, you old Yankee, il you
take that pony I'll report you to Gen.
Sherman" He stopped for an instant,
and then continued c~ourteously: Gen
eral. he did take my pony, and this is
my first opportunity TO report to YOU"
Mr.. Du Bignon Of Georgia won the
day. Men cheered him rs he took his
seat for his e~leverness, and Gen. Sher.
man jumped up and said: will sons