New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-16
S|CKLES SITS AND TALKS|
Only Surviving Corps Command
er Guest of 18th Army Corps.
HITS PENSIONS OPPONENTS
Says They Wouldn't Stand Up To
Be Shot at for S11 a Month
and Hardtack.

As General Daniel E Siclles sat and
talked to the veterans of the 18th Army
Corrs. their sons and grandsons upon the
occasion of the twentieth annual dinner
of the CORDS at the Cafe Martin last night.
his appearance belied his opening remarks.
a the general no doubt fully realized.
He sat the way soldiers at twenty are
taught to sit. His low cut white silk waist
coat was adorned with buttons of brass.
While he sat and smoked a long black
CIGAR, with careful conservation of its ash
resources he told with brusque junction TO
the delight of his hearers how he disobeyed
the orders of General Meade so he might
reinforce General Howard at Gettysburg,
with what subsequent happy results to all
EXCEPT the Confederates is well known
General Sickies commanded the Sd Army
Corps, and the fact that he is the only
surviving corps commander of the Union
forces makes him hero at any gathering
of military men. There were seventy-five
present at the dinner, but only fifteen be-
longed to the 11th Army Corps.
At the speakers table We're General John
r. Lockman, who presided; General Ed
ward L. Solomon, General James Grant
Wilson General Louis R Stegu1an, Charles
G. f Wahle, the Rev. William r. Jenvsy,
chaplain of the 18th Army Corps Asso-
citation. and the Rev. DR.. William W. Bel
linger. vicar OF ST. Agnes's Chapel, Trinity
Parish.
First there were three cheers for General
Sickles, SO inspiringly genuine that he
stood on his one les TO acknowledge his
appreciation. When he sat down the gem
eral said:
II am young man Of only eighty-flve
now, and with only one leg I can't stand
Up as straight as I used TO do and talk at
the same time I can't. attend TO many
oratorical furbelows while seated in chair,
but I can talk TO old friends this way, I
guess Al least, comrades, / Will do the
best I can.
1sI believe the Eleventh Army Corps had
more Germans and diluted Germans than
any corps in the service. Only the Loro
could have brought that corps safely
through the rows hey used TO have on
that account. There were Germans, Boi-
sarians. Austrians, Saxons-what not No
corps had more adopted citizens who were
loyal TO the flag Of their adopted country
AS long as live I will speak a good word
and a loud word for the noble work of the
Eleventh Corps
But I remember that a colonel in that
wanted TO be transferred. He said there
were too many varieties of Germans, with
& distressingly variegeted result at times
General Sickles mentioned him by name.
He was my colone!'' shouted gray
haired man to the generals left Colonel
Of the 18th Regiment"
That's the man." replied General Sickles,
putting away on his cigar. HE had
beautiful woman, sir
''Ninety-five pounds-that's all she
weighed" said the man on the left.
81 never picked her up" replied General
Sickles. amid roars OF laughter. Il con-
graduate you on your good fortune to
the blushing cid veteran, who was happy
at being badgered by the kindly, gruf
commander.
After reviewing the battle OF Gettys-
burg. General Sickles took a few shots al
Of soldiers pensions.
How many OF them would stand up aud
be shot al for 81 q month-and hard tack?''
he shouted. II say Damn the taxpay ers.'
Not another damn word out of you, Mr..
Taxpayer Get down on your knees and
thank the men who saved your country for
you" The audience roared again. The
General was is fine fettle and that vas the
way a general should be.
While General Stegman and General
James Grant Wilson were speaking, Gener-
al Sickles interjected humorous or helpful
comment that made the evening spicy and
a big success. When some one suggested
it was getting late he said: ''All night is
not too long for Us chaps. Keep on the
march, comrade"' and they obeyed him as
n nlG