The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-09-13

rain os Uncle Sans soldiers when
wagons were behind and there was no
sheker. General Sherman's tent had
been pitched near the road, and the
General had just taken of his heavy
boots and put on a pair of snow white
stockings and loose slippers and other
wise made himself comfortable, when
there was an uproar on the road near
his headquarters.
"A teamster who had been whipping
the mules of his team to make them
pull became exasperated beyond endur-
ance, and, using the butt end of his
heavy whip. began to club the mules
over the head. He was so 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
riot, but the brutal beating went on.
Suddenly the flap of General Sher-
mans tent was thrown aside and the
figure of tall, bare-headed officer, In
fatigue dress, white stockings and slip
pers, was projected through the rain
into the center of the melee. This was
General Sherman, and without word
he seized the irate teamster by the ear
and fairly lifted him from his feet.
There was an instant quiet. The mules
down in the mud waited for the next
blow. The teamster, recognizing the
ear puller, was limp as rag. The boys
In the road stopped to see what Uncle
Billy would do next.
For minute you could hear moth
Ing but the patter of the rain. Then
Sherman, still holding the Transfers
ear In way to make the fellow stand
on his toes, turned and marched the
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 n cheer and
the philosopher of our company re-
marked: That's better than any cuss-
in I ever heard. Uncle Billy IL q mas.
ter hand at ear pullin''
Preserving Battle Flags.
1t has been noticed that most of the
battle flags of the Civil War have al
ready fallen into decay. To compare
small things with great, even the older
boating flags" at Yale and Harvard.
highly priced as trophies Of aquatic
not more than forty years ago,
are dropping to pieces, though made
Of the heaviest and most costly silks.
Although cherished within glass cases,
beyond the reach Of settling dust or
distr-. ing airs, the storied banners,
with their record of conflict and glory.
are slowly perishing. Any one who has
visited the state museums in European
capitals must have observed tina. Eul-
ropean silk seems to be exempt from
this corruption. The curator of one of
the collections, which includes flags
more than century old, was amazed
to see the condition of the ragged regi-
mental cOlOrs in the Massachusetts
State House. He attributed their de-
cay to the practice Of allowing them to
hang in folds from their staffs, which
are placed in upright cases.
The weight Of the silk, coupled with
the slight movement which is unavold-
able, causes the fibers to rub on one
another until the destruction is com
plete. and within fifty years at the ut
most the precious standard-exccpt
the staff-will have been swept DIP and
east out in unnOticed shretls of lint.
Silken fabrics should. II properly cared
for. have life" far beyond half a
century. Among the heirlooms of old
one often finds the ball dress
Dr wedding gown of some high born
ady whose name has been carved on a
tOmb these hundred or two years.
There is the best of reasons TO believe.
therefore, that proper diligence would
save our battle flags which have been
spared by shot and shell. In one of
he European museums which has had |
he greatest success in preserving such
rOphies the following method is pur-
'ued: The flag is supported at each
md by staff, SO that 1t Is held Hat. \
woven wire netting is stretched tehiud
I. with meshes about two inches |
'quare. Wherever the wires cross the |
lag is fastened to the net by i bit of |
METAL. In this way the flag is fully |
displayed to the eye of the public. while |
is weight is evenly supported over its
'ntire ce.-Chautauquan.
Status of the Brigadier.
In January. 1862. when Judah P. Ben-
amin was Secretary of War of the
in reply to an inquiry
rom the chairman Of the military COM
nittee of Congress. he announced that |
he construction placed by the War De.
,artment Of the law was that brigadier
GENERALS were not officers, generally,
of any particular COM
nand; but. on the contrary. under sec
ion of the act Of March 8. 1861, held
heir offices ''only while the brigades
re in service" According to this rul-
g not a few so-called brigadier gener-
Is lost their rank and title when not
n service with brigade. In prac-
lce," added Mr.. Secretary Benjamin,
the assignment of brigadier generals
as been made by the President where
he body Of troops did not exceed the
lumber sufficient for single brigade;