The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
Sherman was Kind.

Frank L. Stanton, the popular Geor-
gia poet, always speaks up for General
Sherman when he hears any severe
criticism of that famous commanders
methode.
The story told by Stanton has never
found its way into print, but it deserves
a place among the minor incidents and
"reminiscences of the war period.
"When Savannah FELL" said STAN
ton, 81 was a 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 L was, understood that
something very serious lad occurred.
Instead of seeing COME derate soldiers
parading the streets with few FEEDER
al prisoners l saw thousands of Feder-
ais swaiming through the town, and
they had great mary Confederates
under guard.
"The situation had been reversed.
That was plain, even to child.
"My father was very ill, 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 expecting some awful ca
lamity.
"Penned up there as we had been for
long time, without supplies and with
out any money except worthless Con-
federate 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 General Sherman
about my father and mentioned the
fact that he was kinsman of very
distinguished and powerful officer on
the Union side.
"One day when entered my fathers
room found three Federal officers sit
ting there in pleasant conversation
with the invalid and my mother.
81 was scared and started to run, but
one of the strangers, middle aged
man with a roughly trimmed brown
beard, called me back. He asked my
name, and before l knew it had me on
his knee, and he said 80 many nice
things to me that took quite fancy
to him.
"He was General Sherman, and he
had called 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 sll about the incon-
veniences of a siege and insisted upon
sending from the Amy stores some
thing that would suit sick man.
under the circumstances such an
offer could not be declined. 1t was a
picnic for the children of the family, l
can tell you.
"After that, while the general was in
the city, something was sent to the
house every day. Brandy, wine, loaf
sugar, lemons, beef, chickens, coffee,
vegetables and don't know what else
came in generous quantities. We had
plenty for the family and for our near
est neighbors.
"Nor was that all. The general sent
one of the best physicians in the hos
ptal service, and the last days of my
father were made far more comfortable
than we had hoped for under the adj
verse conditions of those dark days.
general Sherman came to the house
once more before he left Savannah.
cannot remember what he said, but he
was sympathetic and he said something
about the pleasure it gave him to aid
relative of his distinguished friend at
Washington.
SAT that time L was very fond of a
snowy uniform, and it vexed my child
ish mind to see my friend the general
always dressed 80 shabbily. His staff
officers presented better appearance,
and some of them were really gorgeous
in their spectacular rig.
1.-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, l was then
convinced that he was a wonderfully
wise man. With my pockets full of his
loaf sugar, which had surreptitioL sly
distracted from the pantry, L would
have been ungrateful if I had formed
any other opinion.
onward through the Carolinas, and that
ended the war.
"No, l never saw him again. MY
father died, and l lived in different
places, my work keeping me 80 busy
that had no time to think of the gen.
eral or anybody else not connected
with my immediate business. l wish
now that l had seen him before he
passed away. AS it is, can only re-
call him as he appeared to my boyish
and wondering eyes, under circum-
stances which did not give me an op-
pOrtunity TO study him. No matter
what may be said OF his conduct in war,
I cannot help liking him. He was
good friend just when we most needed
one. "-Chicago-Times-H Herald.