Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-12-11
Civil War Stories
\ Scrap with Phil Sheridan.
~~~~~~~~~~


toward Nashville and camped for a
short time at Edgefeld, just across the
Tennessee from Nashville. AS we went
into camp, General Phil Sheridan, COM
manding the division, dismounted near
house on a hill to our left, and des-
ignated the house and yard as his
headquarters. Between this house and
our regiment, the Fifty Second Ohio,
was field given up to cabbage. Many
of the heads had been cut off earlier
in the season, and fresh, green, tender
sprouts had grown up about the stalks
las soon as our guns were stacked
the men 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 to Sheridan's calls
for them to go back to their quarters.
They paid no attention even to the or
ders of the guards Sheridan sent
among them. At last, the General,
Tuning and swearing, caught up a
stout cane or club and went down
among the men himself.
"The men in advance fell back when
they saw the General coming, but 9th
ers not seeing him kept at work and
so it happened that Sheridan, with
club raised to strike, came unawares
on Jack letters of company X, Fifty
Second Ohio. Jack was one of the
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 divi-
sion.
Jack was bending over a particu-
larly fine bit Of cabbage when Sheri-
dan made a rear attack, striking the
STOPPING man 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 assailant sQuarely in the
face. Sheridan went down on his
back, and Jack, recognizing the figure
and the uniform, bolted in a panic for
our own camp.
'Sheridan was Wild with rage A
score of men ran to him, helped him
up and brushed the dirt from his 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, l say
and he ran forward himself in the di-
boys ran with him, but curiously
enough, not one could remember the
fellows name or to what regiment he
belonged. I stood within five feet of
the scrappers, and when the general
ordered me to catch the man who
struck him, I obediently ran away as
fast as my legs could carry me.
'"There was a tremendous uproar in
the brigade. Sheridan was determined
to find the man, and our regimental
and company officers made diligent in
quiry of every man who had been in
the cabbage field. We all knew who
struck Phil Sheridan, but nobody told
and I think Sheridan never knew I'M
til after he came to Chicago, and then
he regarded the matter as a joke. JEFF
fers served thrugh the war, and in
the fight at Peach Tree Creek was one
of the first men across the stream.
Captain Snyder, I remember, was
killed there, and letters in sore ex-
tremity asked one of the men for a
little coffee and bit of cracker In
reply he was told that if he had taken
proper care of his rations he needn't be
a beggar. This so angered letters that
he said If there is a God, / think
he would be ashamed of himself for
allowing a man like the captain to be
killed. and worm like you to live"
81 never knocked general down."
said the cOmmisSary sergeant, 'but I
once had a very striking interview
with General William Nelson, a very
striking interview, indeed. 1 was COM
missary sergeant of our regiment and
| felt my honors. I did my best in
the way of chevrons and corded hat
to give dignity to the office. l confis-
Gated a mule and a long cavalry sword
and every morning when the division
took the road 1 made it my business
to ride down and show off before @he
boys of my company The boys didn't
enjoy this as much as l did, and oiYe
as l was passing in review,
they shouted, Look out, Old Jakey is
coming
Il never could understand why the
men of the Old Iron Clad division call
ed Nelson old Jakey,' but they did.
to teach them lesson in re-
spect and military decorum, l rode to-
ward Nelson and his staff. as they
c0nn down q rayina or gully hatuaon