New-York tribune., 1902-08-31
GOING TO FIGHT NIT SIGEL
SOME CHARACTERISTIC OF THE GER
MAN-AMERICAN GENERAL WHO
DIED FEW DAYS AGO.

Franz SfgeI was a to conjure with in the
time of the Civil War. and it stampeded thousands
| thousands of Germans to the federal ranks
| Elm country, Elm flag, zwei lager. and I fights
| NIT Sigel.' of the sayings the Germans
were fondest of. fights nit Sige1, you drinks
| NIT me-" expressed the comradeshp that service
under the popular little German general was noted
for Sigel himself, who died few days ago, was
early in the the comrade of his men. and as
colonel of his Missouri regiment he knew nearly
all by name. His CHEEKY How are you my poy?
among the wounded in the hospitals was often
heard. The Germans sought him eagerly for a com
mander In 1861 he was chosen colonel of the New
York regiment composed of Turner's. He declined
because he had already promised to lead the Turn
Of st AIo1h
'SigeI would give you his coat any time If he
thought you needed 1t more than he" said one of
his Grand Army OF the Republic comrades the other
day. "And he honest to a fault While he
Register of the city of New-York high prices
being paid for suburban real estate. Thinking
that Sgel would make bad investments, one of his
friends said: See here, Sgel, you're good mill
tary man, but when it comes to business you
aren't worth darn. You put your savings in gov
ernment bonds" The general did not take this
advice, however, but he let his acquaintances un-
load real estate him when 1t was at its highest
figure. The amount OF his loss this account
was recently estimated at least $4,000
To illustrate General Sigers scrupuous regard
for the difference between meum and tuum, Cap
tain Simpson Hamburger tells story of the time
Captain Hamburger whom General Sigel had ap-
pointed a clerk--in his office. was complaining to
him OF tn small salaries which the government
paid. said he make an application
for position special agent. whose pay was
higher. "Au right" replied Sigel, you make
the application unit 1 will indorse it" So the
application written out and presented to Sigel
for his signature. 1t office stationery. NO
no. nor said the general. Dot won't do he
said with characteristic emphasis. 81 have plenty
of paper. This paper belongs to the United States
Government And he Captain Hamburger
sheet of foolscap from mis- desk, and signed the
application on that.
Appointed TO his position by President Cleveland
General Sigel extremely strict in observing
Civil Service principles. On one occasion, 1t ap-
sequence of a decreased appropriation from Con-
gress, He discharged some OF his best friends
had been there longer and they must stay, though
General Sigel was a strong supporter of the Re
publican policy with respect to Cuba, Porto Rico
Samoa by President Grant as commissioner to
report the desirability of American ownersip of
sion. General Horatio King, of Brooklyn, referred
the other day 70 speech that General Sigel made
about a year ago at dinner of the Eleventh Army
Corps sustaining The position of Of the administra
as much energy into that ten minute address"
pend in whole two hours of speaking. He fought,
as it were, before his hearers He fought all his
life The almost ceaseess fighting for living that
Though good English scholar stgel ret retained ed,
the "e sustained, and his Yah. is that so?" We're
characteristic.
One of the popular songs about Sigel,
peated by word of mouth through the army, but
now nearly forgotten, to the air of The Girl
7 eff Rehfnd Me" II ran somewhat as follows
as repeated by of the generals old comrades
from memory:
II tells you how / comes chust now
To init regimentalS,
To git dem rebel felerS fits,
Like dem old ContnentalS
Vat fights NIT England long ago,
To der Yankee eagle,
Ven gif dose rebel felers fits,
For + going TO fight nit Sgel.
Chorus: Yah. dash ist true
| speaks NIT you,
Is going to fight nit Sigel.
When | from the Deutsche countree
sometimes work at baking,
INT den / keeps q beer saloon.
Unit den | goes ShOemaking;
l soldier bold
o Yankee eagle.
INT we'n give dem rebel fellers fits,
For wer going to fight nit Sigel.
On ration day they give us pork,
l thinks dot great sell;
Dey peter Ef sauerkraut,
INT lager beer unit pretzel.
Little Mac would gif US dem
We der Yankee eagle.
Unit I'd put my frau in brtcherloons.
To go unit fight nit Sigel.