The Columbus journal., 1902-03-12

Private Who Struck Gen. Shors0oos
Apropos of q story going the rounds
of the press as to q pugilistic combat
between a division commander and q
private, the following story is told:
when our division swung back
from the pursuit of Bragg in Novem-
ber. 1862. we marched toward Nash
vile. and camped for a short time at
Edgeheld. just across the Tennessee
from Nashville As We went into camp.
Gen. Phil Sheridan commanding the
division, dismounted near house on
hill to our left, and designated the
house and yard as his headquarters.
Between this house and our regiment.
the Fifty-second Ohio. was a field CIV
en- up to cabbage. Many Of the heads
had been cut OF earlier in the season.
and fresh. green. tender sprouts had
grown up about the stalks.
"As soon as our guns were stacked
the mon broke ranks and literally
swarmed over the cabbage field. They
had been living on short army rations
for so long a time that they hungered
for cabbage, and in five minutes that
field was black with soldiers, and they
cleared it of everything green as they
moved forward. So intent were they
on gathering the cabbage that they
paid no attention even to the orders of
the guards Sheridan sent among them.
At last, the general, fuming and swear
ing, caught up stout scane or club
and went among the men himself.
THE men in advance fell back when
they saw the general coming, but
others. not seeing him. kept at work.
and so 1t happened that Sheridan, with
club raised to strike. came unawares
on Jack Jefiers, Of Company X, Fifty
second Ohio. Jack was one Of tho
sturdiest and most athletic men in the
regiment and was not much given to
conventionalities. The confusion about
him had not disturbed him. and he was
wholly oblivious of the approach of the
general commanding the division.
Jack was bending over a particu-
larly fine bit of cabbage when Sheridan
made a rear attack. striking the stoop-
ing man a resounding whack with his
club. Jack went forward on his hands
and face. and. supposing that one of
the boys had pushed him over in rough
frolic, he scrambled to his feet. and
turning in blind fury struck his as
sailant squarely in the face. Sheridan
went down on his back, and Jack. rec |
ognizing the figure and the uniform. !
bolted in a panic for our own camp.
Sheridan was wild with rage. A |
score of men ran to help him. helped
him up and brushed the dirt from Sis
hair and clothes. He pushed them
rudely aside and shouted: Don't
bother about my clothes-catch the
skunk that knocked me down; catch
him, say. and he ran forward him
self in the direction taken by Jehers.
Many of the boys ran with him. hut
.uriously enough. not one could re-
member the fellows name or to what
-esiment he belonged. I stood within
I've feet of the scrappers, and when
he general ordered me to catch the
nan who struck him, I obediently ran
way as fast as my legs could carry
ne
There was a tremendous uproar In
he brigade. Sheridan was determined
O hnd the man. and our regimentAl
md company officers made diligent in
luiry of every man who had been In
he cabbage field We all knew who
truck Phil Sheridan. but nobody told
md think Sheridan never knew un-
II long afterward. and then he regard
q the matter as joke. Je6ers served
h9pssh the var, and u The Asht at