Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-03
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield aud In
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re

cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.
Frank l.. stanton. the popular Geor-
gia poet, always speaks up for General
Sherman when he hears any severe
Criticism OF that famous commanders
methods.
The story told by stanton has never
found its way into print, but ii de
serves a place among the minor Incl
dents and "reminiscences OF the war
period
When Savannah fell" said Stanton,
Il was little chap about s years old.
The confusion and tumult in the
streets frightened me- and was afraid
TO 60 very far from the house,
Young as | was, l Understood that
something very serious had occurred.
Instead of seeing Confederate soldiers
parading the streets with a few FEEDER
al prisoners, saw thousands Of Fed
erals swarming through the town. and
they had a great many Confederates
under guard,
The situation had been reversed
that was plain, even to child.
My father was very i'll, in the last
stages Of consumption, and my mother
was worn out with anxiety and the
cares of the household. Our 'neighbors
We're panic-stricken and everybody
seemed to he expecting some awful ca
lamity.
"Penned up there as we had been
| for a long time. without supplies and
| without any money except worthless
Confederate currency. the outlook was
| gloomy enough. How was my sick
father to get the things he needed
| That was the problem with my mother
Somebody told General sherman
about my father and mentioned the
| fact that he was kinsman of a very
distinguished and powerful officer on
the Union side.
One day when entered my fathers
room | found three Federal officers sit
ting there in pleasant conversation
with the invalid and my mother.
Il was scared and started to run,
but one OF the strangers Il middleaged
man with a roughly trimmed brown
beard, called me back. lie asked my
name, and before knew it had me on
his knee. and he said so many nice
things to me that took quite a fancy
to him.
He was General Sherman. and he
had called with two of his staff officers
to see my father When the visitors
left the general told my mother at the
door that he knew all about the incon-
veniences OF siege, and the difficulty
Of purchasing supplies, and insisted
upon sending from the army stores
something that would suit sick man.
Under the circumstances such an
offer could not be declined. 1t was a
picnic for the children of the family,
can tell you.
After that. while the general was
| In the city. something was sent to the
house every day. Brandy, wine, loaf
sugar. lemons. beef. chickens. coffee,
vegetables, and don't know what else,
came in generous quantities. We had n
plenty for the family and for our near
est neighbors
"Nor was that all The general sent
one of the best physicians in the hos
pital service. and the last days of my
father were made far more comforta-
BILE than we had ho.ed for under the
adverse conditions of those dirk days,
General sherman came to the house
once more before he left Savannah.
cannot remember what he said, but he
was sympathetic, and he said some
thing about the pleasure IT gave him to
aid relative Of his distinguished
| friend at Washington.
AT that time was very fond Of a
snowy uniform, and It vexed my child
lsh mind to see my friend the general
always dressed so shabbily. His staff
officers presented a better appearance,
and some of them were really gorgeous
| in their spectacular rig.
"The other boys and the negroes
agreed with me that the commander
must he In very hard luck, or he would
certainly dress better Still, | was
then convinced that he was wonder
fully wise man. With my pockets full
\ of his loaf sugar, which | had surrepti-
tiously distracted from the pantry
would have been ungrateful II / had
! formed any other opinion.
sherman left the city aud marched
onward through the Carolinas. and that
ended the war
NO I never saw him again. My
| father died, and / lived IN different
places. my work keeping me so busy
that | had no time 40 think ~ the gen
eral or anybody else not connected
! with my immediate business. ! wish
now that / had seen him before he
passed away Az 1t is. ! can only re-
call him az he appeared 10 my bOyisb
| and wondering eyes. under cirCum-
stances which did not give me an OPP
portunity to study him. No matter
what may " said Of his conduct in war.