The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-27
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A Clash of Authority between Shorty and
Gen. Sherman.
Copyrighted 1892 by the publishers OF THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE.

A Clash of Authority between Shorty and
Gen. Sherman.
Gen. Sherman's train, and that follow
ing it. had the right of way back to Kings
ton, where the General had temporarily
established his headquarters.
Every switch they passed the boys saw
was loaded to its fullest extent with trains
bearing northward the great army's strip
pings for battle. Every man whose physi-
cal condition did not promise to stand the
test of the .severest trials had been ruth
lessly weeded out by the Surgeons and
sent to the rear. The worst had been sent
back long before Those going now were
of the later and more rigid cuttings of
the men who wanted earnestly to stay
with their companies, and hoped that they
would tone up sufficiently to satisfy the
eXactng requirements of the medical des-
pots, who knew neither fear, favor nor
affection in their cleaning after men who
were likely to break down on hard
march and cumber the ambuances. They
were going back reluctantly. their only
hope being that they would join Gen.
Thomas and share in his exploits. But
this would not be with their own regi-
mentS.
do smuggle me into your squad, and
take me along with you, Sergeant" plead
ed Ben Camp, one of the 1st Oshkosh,
whom they met at a switch. The pallor
of illness showed through in spots where
the sunburn of the long campaign had
faxed off. Il went through the campaign
all right-never missed a march, a fight
or a roll-call-but | broke down after we
got into Atlanta. Guess it muStve been
the too sudden change to soft bread and
| sleeping under cover
A wan smile played over his thin face.
1t could be seen at once that he was a boy
who haI E,-nI hiS RX- cbanr
| force of will he had kept up through the
| terrific hardships and strains of the cam
paign, but had collapsed when victory
came and the city was captured.
Il had a pretty lively tussle with the
brakebOne," he continued, land the doc
tors gave me quinine till | thought my
head was a hotel gong; but ! pulled
through, and the minute l heard that the
army was going to move. | gave the hos
pital the cold shake and slipped back to
| my company, and with the boys help /
played off on the Surgeons for awhile.
But the last time they went through the
| camp with a finetooth comb, and caught
me. But I'll be all right il | can only
get out with the boys on the march once
more" 81 81
Hes just at the turning point" COM
muned 81 with Shorty, where Il good
strong push, like Il bad cold or hard
march, may send him down the hill TO his
grave. He mustn't go along, though like
Ben awfully."
Don't know about that" answered
Shorty. "Ben's one o, the best men i'll the
LIST Oshkosh. His hearts set on going
along. Likely that'IL bring him right out
and cure hint If he's sent back he'll like
as not fret himself to death in the hos
pital. Let's take him along
las you say" acceded 81. III do any
thing in the world for Ben. The chances
oh
him, but he'll die 4 happier i'll the front
than III the rear. Ben, you watch your
| chances, and skip across, when nobody s
looking" -
Ben started to act on this advice.
Here, yon sick man." called the sharp,
| rasping, imperative voice of Gen. Sher-
man from up toward the locomotive, Ego
back to your own car at once. Go back,
sir"
''Confound that meddlesome Old Brick
top" said Shorty "he's always interfer-
ing with something, if it's only boiling a
| cup Of coffee. | never saw such a Gen
eral. The others don't pay no attention
to things that don't concern them. But
he's always nOsng round into everything.
He's worse'n new Fifth Corporal anx-
ious to show off. Ben, just lay low for a
minute. and watch your chance, and you
can dodge Old Bricktop."
Young man." said Gen. Sherman's
voice, so close that it made Shorty jump,
do you know that you are grossly dis
respectful. and liable to severe punish
ment in abiding to your Commanding
| General as Old Bricktop?"
Everybody sprang to attention, sa-
| luted, and looked wonderingly as to what
| the General would do. Shorty, with the
feeling that he was liable to in emergcn-
| cies, that you might as well be hung for
an old sheep as a lamb" faced about,
Int, Il
| looked the General square in the eye, and
| said:
General, You know your hair is little
| red
May be-may be- said the General,
snappily. Your own looks as if you cut
off lock you'd bleed to death. But
| like that kind Of men. They're sandy
and do what you tell them. But I'm not
| going to discuss hair. You get right back
| in your car there and keep very mum. If
| catch you again encouraging these men
TO come over to your car, therell be red
| headed Corporal not far from here know
what it is to have his stripes taken off
| and be tied up by his thumbs
Now, you men," continued the General,
| turning to those on the other train, don't
| think you are being condemned and laid on
| the shelf. You go on back to Nashville.
| You'll find Gen. Thomas there, with a big
| job on his hands, ana he II ind enough for
| you to do-tbat is, all that's able 10 do
anything. He's got the whole of Hoods
| army down there and you may help fight
the battle that will end the war. You'll
| have all you want to do"
Three cheers for Gen. Sherman" they
| shouted. Three cheers and tiger for
Uncle Billy. Wen come around and meet
| you mt Mobile, General"
There We're many other trains beside
those bearing sick and wounded, making
their way back to Chattanooga. There
were miles of cars laden with tents and
camp equipage, discarded artillery, sur
plus ratiOns and ammunition, hospital
stores, personal baggage of officers, suffers
goods, etc, etc, Sherman had relentlessly
! cut down everything to the barest neceSsi-
ties of the march. He was going to start
| with 10000 absolutely strong, well
healthy young. men, with only the barest
necessaries for 207days' march in their
| wagons and these not to be touched until
they had eaten the country bare
! Never before in the, history of the world
was there an army stripped down to such
clean, unincumbered force, capability and
aggressiveness.-a 1t WAS all bone, muscle
and high-spirited courage.
The experience of, the boys on the boat
| had been prejudicial to what martinets
would regard as proper discipline. 1t had
begotten a disposition TO take things into
their own hands and rely on themselves
instead of waiting for orders. This was
particularly the case with Shorty. He had
never been nearly so amenable to disci