Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-14
IMPULSIVE SHERMAN
TWO CIVIL WAR ANECDOTES OF THE
UNION GENERAL.
His Rough and Ready Treatment OF
Ugly and Brutal Teamster-A
Remark From One of His own Men
which He Did Not Resent.

Yes, sherman was very impulsive,"
said the captain. Il saw Uncle Billy
In a great act down at Big Shanty In
June, 1864 The army was working
its way toward Atlanta, and it was
raining as only southern clouds could
rain on Uncle Sans soldiers when
wagons were behind and there was no
shelter. General Sherman's tent had
been pitched near the road, and the
general had just taken of his heavy
boots and put on pair of snow white
stockings and loose slippers aud other
wise made himself comfortable when
there was an uproar on the road near
his headquarters.
"A man 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 n din
like a riot, but the brutal beating went
on.
Suddenly the flap of General Sher-
mans tent was thrown aside and the
figure of n 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 a word
he seized the irate teamster by the ear
CT. l.
There was 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 no next.
For n minute you could hear moth
ing but The patter OF the rain. Then
Sherman. still holding the transfers
ear In n 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 turn
ed toward his tent after this exploit the
passing regiment gave him n cheer,
and the philosopher of our company
Remarked: That's better than any cuss-
IN / ever heard. Uncle Billy is a mas
ter hand at ear pullln.'
ION another occasion saw Sherman
in n different mood We were making
n night march. swinging to the right
around kenesaw. The night was as
dark as they make them down in Geor.
gia, and we marched all night without
talking. under whispered orders, the
men being guided In the line OF march
by lunches Of white raw cotton pinned
on the shoulders OF those in front
Canteens and haversacks were tied
close so there would be no rafting, and
hour after hour we moved through the
dreary dark, dropping down In the
road to rest whenever there was stop.
This is the most eXasperating sort OF q
march, and the men were in no pleas.
ant mood when IL began to grow light
ANY night march is very trying.
The natural inclination is to go for
ward as rapidly as possible. The men
who set the pace in front are suddenly
halted, and the men following crowd
upon them. expecting that there will
be n delay of only a minute. Instead
there will be n delay of an hour, which
reason or excuse. Then suddenly there
viii be a forward movement at a
breakneck pace, then another halt
without explanation, and a tiresome
standing in ranks. In this case there
was the added bewilderment of follow
ing silently the cotton pods on the
shoulders OF the file leaders, the exas
peration Of sudden stops, and the
further evaporation Of being com
PEELED to keep quiet, so when daylight
came the men were In a. swearing
mood, and they swore.
lit was the habit with all men, par
ticularly if they were themselves in
cllned to excuses, to be very severe
upon officers who became intoxicated
Nothing gave them so much satisfac
ton as to find an officer drunk along
the line Of march and to indulge il
severe comments. With the coming OF
daylight the rule as to silence was sus
pended, as the divisions were theI
going into position. AS our regimen
marched rapidly to it's appointed place
we passed occasionally a sleeping Off
Ger. Every time the boys would re
mark, Another officer drunk AS W.
approached the main line we passed al
officer asleep in a fence corner. Some
fellow in our company shouted
There's another officer drunk
1.-The men were greatly surprised t
see the sleeping figure assume a sit
ting posture and to hear the voice o
General William T. Sherman say, no
unkindly, No, boys, not drunk, bu
terribly tired and sleepy Instant.
came the reply, Bully for you? an'
the men went forward into line feeling
a kinship with their commanding gen
eral. He had not resented the remar,,
he had not sworn at the men VIII,
made it, but he offered the excus
which they would have offered, tina
they were tired and sleepy. Thes
two anecdotes explain why Sherman
was so near to his men. He would no
see man or a mule abused, and b.
held himself as a commanding genera
to close sympathy with the men fl