The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-09-26
IlLPULSIVE SHERMAN
TWO CIVIL WAR ANECDOTES OF THE
UNION GENERAL.


said the captain. II saw Uncle Billy
In great act down at Big Shanty in
June, 1864. The army was working
Its way toward Atlanta, and it was
raining US only southern clouds could
rain OH 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 off Ills heavy
boots and put OH 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 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 O din
like riot, but the brutal bcnting went
on.
Suddenly the Gap OF General Sher-
mans tent was thrown inside aud 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 instant quiet. The mules
down In the mud waited for the next
blow. The teamster, recognizing the
ear puller, was limp as q rag The
boys in the road stopped to see what
Uncle Billy would no next.
"For q minute you could hcar 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 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 a cheer,
and the philosopher Of our company
remarked: That's better than any cuss.
! in I ever heard. Uncle Billy is a mas.
ter hand Mt ear pullin.'
ION another occasion saw Sherman
in n different mood. We were making
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 punches Of white raw cotton pinned
on the shoulders Of those In front.
Cantecns and haversacks were tied
close SO there would be no rattllng, 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 1t began to grow light.
"Any night march is very trying.
The natural inclination Is to 60 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
there will be delay Of an hour, which
to the men In the rear seems without
reason or excuse. Then suddenly there
will be q forward movement at q
breakneck pace, then another halt
without explanation, and 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.
ut was the hnbit with all men, par
ticuIarly IL they were themselves in
ciined to excesses, to be very severe
upon officers who became intoxicated.
Nothing gave them 30 much satisfac-
ton as to find an officer drunk along
the line of march and to indulge In
severe comments. With the coming Of
( daylight the rule as to silence was sus-
pended, as the divisions we're then
going into position. AS our regiment
marched rapidly to Its appointed place
we passed occasionally q sleeping offl.
Ger. Every time the boys would re-
mark. Another officer drunk As we
approached the main line we passed an
officer asleep In fence corner. Some
fellow In our company shouted;
There's another officer drunk
The men were. greatly surprised to
y see the sleeping figure assume q sit-
ting posture and to hear the voice Of
General Willinm 4. Sherman say, not
unkindly, No. boys, mol drunk, but
terribly tired and sleepy Instantly
came the reply, Bully for your and
the men went forward into line feeling
@ kinship with their commanding gen.
eral. He had not resented the remark,
he. bad 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
was so near to his men. he would not
see q man or a mule abused, and he !
held himself as commanding general
TO close sympathy with the men In
The ranks who were to fight his bat: