Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1901-10-19
GHAMP. CLARK Stories
Gathered In and About the
Halls of Congress.

Anecdotes Of the Battle Of Gettysburg.
General sickIes' Goodness When He
Lost His Leg-conceaIed His CondI-
tIon From His soIdIers-smoked a
Cigar on the Stretcher-A Southern
er's Account Of the sIaughter-0en-
eraI Blngham's Story Of the Death Of
a Confederate General
copyright, 1901. by Champ ClarkI
Certain specified classes Of persons
have "the privilege of the floor" OF the
house. Among them are ex-members
and persons who have received the
thanks of congress by name. The privi-
lege of entering the house atiany and all
times is highly priced. Thisprivilege is
hedged about by the proviso that no
person having any direct financial in
terest In pending bill shall be+allowed
access to the floor. This proviso Is
practically dead letter, for the reason
that It is difficult to ascertain the fact,
and, furthermore, what is everybody's
business is nobody's business. Conse-
quently 1t has come to pass that sew
eral ex-senators and Representatives
make a more or less precarious living
by plying the trade Of lobbyist.
General SickIes.
General Daniel Edgar iSIckles of New
York is the only citizen,of the republic
whose name l can recall who is en-
titled to ''the privilege OF the floor" for
two reasons: He can come In because
he Is an ex-representatiye and also be-
cause he has received by name the
thanks of the American congress for
heroic conduct In the field. In the
Fifty-third congress he sat within 20
feet of General Joe Wheeler of Ala
bama, who had received by name the
thanks of the Confederate congress for
heroic conduct on the field. OF course
1t is a thousand to one shot that no
such thing will ever occur again.
General Sicxles served In the house
from March 4, 1850, to March 4, 1861.
After an absence of 81 years he came
back to the Fifty-third congress In
1898.
He is a frequent visitor to the house,
where he is a universal favorite. He
generally revisits the scenes of his con-
gressional labors to help the old sol
diers, In whose affairs he takes deep
interest, growing out of a spirit OF
comradeship.
Not long since asked him about his
army service and the loss of his leg at
Gettysburg.
He said: "In April, 1861, enlisted as
n private and was on my way to the
depot to leave for the front when l re-
ceived a telegram from Governor +. d..
Morgan asking me to raise a regiment.
/ raised it in 4S hours and then re-
cruited the Excelsior brigade, which l
commanded as colonel and brigadier
until became a major general"
asked him IL 1t was true, as stated
In the newspapers, that when he was
sorely wounded at Gettysburg he was
carried off the field ON stretcher
smoking a cigar. "Yes; that Is true,
and / will tell you how it happened.
There is not only time for everything
under the sun, but a reason also, If you
can discover 1t. l commanded the Third
corps, which held the Union left at
Devils Den, Round Top and Peach
Orchard. July 2 Longstreet made his
famous charge, of which my corps bore
the brunt In the midst of it grape
shot shattered my knee, knocking me
off my horse. The report spread among
my men that / was dead, and they be-
gan to fall into disorder. l knew that
If they wavered or gave ground Long
street, who was a most indomitable
fighter, would break through our lines,
flank the Union army and perhaps gain
a famous victory. had myself placed
on a stretcher and a blanket thrown
over my leg 10 conceal the nature of
my wound. l then placed lighted ci-
gar In my mouth and had myself car
ried down the battle line In order to
talk to and encourage my men. They
stood firm as a rock, and Longstreets
charge failed. That night my leg was
amputated above the knee" That was
certainly splendid feat. It's GOODNESS
has rarely been excelled on any field.
General Sickles is one of the kindest
men ever knew and demonstrates the
truth of the poets dictum ''the bravesi
are the gentlest."
A man that little children love is one
worthy of love.
In the Fifty-third congress my little
boy, still wearing kits, played about
the house a great deal. He struck vi
a friendship with many members. Gen
eral Sickles was one of his prime ia
vorites. Frequently he would go over
to the old soldiers seat, climb up in his
lap and toy with his spectacles, crutch
es and watch chain. He generally
came back with his pockets bulginl
with candy, apples, oranges or othel
piInnraako CinIlas, 10 m hapd