Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-19
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SHERMAN I'm AEANNAH.
How He Befriended n Distressed
Family.


From the Chicago rincs- Herald.
Frank l.. Stanton, the popular Georgia
poet. always speaks up for Gen. Sherman
when he hears any severe criticism of that
famous comma nder's methods.
The story told by Stanton has never found
it's way into print, but it deserves a place
among the minor incidents and reminis-
cences of the war period.
When Savannah fell" said Stanton, Il
vas little chap about eight years old.
The confusion and tumult in the streets
frightened me- and was afraid to go very
far from the house.
Young as 1 was, understood that some
thing very serious had occurred. Instead
of seeing confederate. soldiers parading the
streets with few federal prisoners. saw
thousands Of federals swarming through
The town, and they had a great many con-
federates under guard.
1.-The situation had been reversed; that was
plain, even to child.
MY father was very H. in the last stages
of consumption, and my mother was worn
out with anxiety and the cares of the
household. Our neighbors were panic
stricken and everybody seemed to be ex-
pecting some awful calamity.
"Penned up there as We had been for Il
long time, without supplies and without
any money except worthless confederate
currency, the outlook was gloomy enough.
How was my sick father to get the things
he needed? That was the problem with
my mother.
Somebody told Gen. Sherman about my
father. and mentioned the fact that he was
kinsman of a very distinguished and pow
erful officer On the Union side.
"One day when 1 entered my fathers
room found three federal officers sitting
there in pleasant conversation with the in
valid and my mother.
Il was scared and started to run, but one
Of the strangers, a middle-aged man with
back. He asked my name, and before 1
knew 1t had me on his knee, and he said
SO many nice things to me that took quite
a fancy to him.
He was Gen. Sherman and he had call
ed with two of his staff officers to see my
father. When the visitors left the general
told my mother at the door that he knew
all about the Inconvenience of a siege,
and insisted upon sending from the army
stores something that would suit sick
man.
Under the circumstances such an offer
could not be declined. 20 1t was a picnic for
the children of the family. can tell you.
After that. white the general was in the
CITY something was sent to the house every
day: Brandy. wife, loaf sugar, lemons,
dent know what else. came in generous
quantities. We had plenty for the family
and for our nearest rieighbors
Nor was that aHei The general sent one
OF the best physicfans IL the hospital serv-
ice, and the last aayslof my father were
made far more comfortable than we had
hoped for under the adverse conditions Of
those dark days
Gen. Sherman came to the house once
more before he left Savannah. cannot
remember what her said, but he was SYM
pathetic, and he shid something about the
pleasure it gave Him 10 aid a relative of
his distinguished FRIEND. at Washington.
AT that time I WIS very fond of
snowy uniform, and ii vexed my childish
mind to see my friend ythe general always
dressed so stability His staff officers pre-
scented better appearance, and some of
them were really gorgeous in their spec
rigs.
The other boys and the negroes agreed
with me that the commander must be in
very hard luck. or he would certainly dress
better. Still, was then convinced that he
was wonderfully wise man. With my
pockets full Of his loaf sugar, which had
surreputiously distracted from the pantry.
l would have been ungrateful IL I had
formed any other opinion.
sherman left the city and marched on
WARD through the, garoiinas. and that end
No. never saw him again. Ny father
died. and lived In different places, my
work Keeping me so busy that had no
time TO think OF the general or anybody
else not connected with my immediate bus
II ess. wish now that ] had seen him be-
ere he passed away. As It is. can only
recall him as he appeared to my sboyish and