New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
TWO SHERMAN ANECDOTES
HIS ROUGH AND READY TREATMENT OF
AN UGLY TEAMSTER-
From The Chicago Inter ocean.

From The Chicago Inter ocean.
Yes. Sherman was very impulsive." said the
Captain. Il saw Uncle Billy in a great act
down at Big Shauty in June 1864 The army
was working It's way toward Atlanta, ana ~
raining as only southern clouds couId ram
on Uncle Sans soldiers when wagons were
behind and there was shelter. General Sher-
mans tent had been pitched near the road and
the General had just taken off his heavy boots
and put on pair of snow white stockings ana
loose slippers and otherwise made himself com
Portable. when there was an uproar on the road
his headquarters
mules Of his team 20 make them pull became eX-
asperate1 beyond endurance. and, using the butt
eTd Of his heavy whip, began 10 club the mules
over the head. He was 50 brutal that some OF
the soldiers passing protested and this Increased
/ his rage. The screams OF the belabOred mules
the curses Of the enraged teamSter and the
/ shouts of the soldiers made din like a riot,
but the brutal beating went
Suddenly the fap of General Sherman's tent
thrown aside. and the figure OF a tail. bare
headed officer in fatigue dress white stockings
and slippers projected through the rain
into the centre of the melee This was General
Sherman, and without word he seized the
/ from his feet. There was instant quiet The
mules down in the mud waited for the next
\ blow. The teamSter. recognizing the ear pUller,
was imp as a rag Ihe boys IN the ROAD stopped
\ to see what Uncle Billy would do next
/ For a minute you could hear nothing but the
/ patter or the rain Then Sherman still hold
/ ing the teamster's ear in a way to make the
| fellow stand on his toes. turned and marched
| his prisoner to the rear, called the officer in
| charge of the guard and ordered that the beater
| Of mules be properly punished and never be
/ given charge of another team. As the General
/ turned toward his tent after this exploit the
/ passing regiment gave him a cheer. and the
I philosopher Of our company remarked: That's
| better than any cussin 1 ever heard Uncle
Billy is a master hand at pullin'.'"
| "On another occasion 1 Sherman in a
| different mood. We were making a night
| march, swinging to the right around Kenesaw
| The night was as dark as they make them down
| in Georgia. and marched all night without
/ talking under whispered orders, the men being
guided in the line of march by punches Of white
| raw cotton pinned the shoulders of those ii
| front Canteens and haversacks were tied close
so there would be rattling and hour after
hour We moved through the dreary dark, drop
ping down In the road TO rest whenever there
| was stop. This is the most exasperating sort
| of a march. and the men were in no pleasant
mood when it began TO grow light
| ANY night march is very trying. The nat
ural inclination is 10 go forward rapidly
| possible. The men who set the pace in front
| are suddenly halted. and the following
crowd upon them, expecting that there viii
be a delay of only a minute. Instead there
| Will be a delay of hour. which the men
in the rear seems without reason excuse.
Then suddenly there will be a forward move
| ment at a breakneck pace. then another halt
| without explanation, and a tiresOme standing
in ranks. In this case there the added be-
| widerment of following silently the cotton pods
/ on the shoulders of the file leaders, the eXaS-
peratiCn of sudden stops, and the further eXas-
peration OF being compelled To keep quiet 80
/ when daylight came the men We're in a swearing
| mood and they
1T was the habit with all men. particularly
| if they were themselves inclined to eXCeSSeS to
| be very severe upon officers who became i1tOxi-
Gated Nothing gave them so much satisfaction
| as to find an officer drunk along the line e
| march and to indulge in severe comments. With
/ the coming of daylight the rule IS silence vas
suspended. the divisions were then going into
position. As regiment marched rapidly 70
I it's appointed place We passed occasionally
! sleeping officer Every time the boys wCUnS
remark: Another officer drunk As We ana
preached the main line passed a OflceE
asleep in a fence corner Some fellow in our
company shouted There's another officers
drunk
The men were greatly surprised to see the
sleeping figure assume sitting posture and -
hear the voice Of General William T. Sherman
say. not unkndIy: No. boys. not drunk. but ter
ribIy tired and sleepy Instantly came the
ply. Bully for YOU and the men went forward
into line feeling a kinship with their command
ing General. He had not resented the remark,
he had not sworn at the men who made IT, but
he offered the excuse which they would have
offered. that they were tired and sleepy. These
/ two anecdotes explain why Sherman
near to his men He would not man a
mule abused and he held himself a
manding General 10 a close sympathy with the
men in the ranks who To fight his battles"