Evening journal., 1911-02-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How THE Rock Of ChlCa-
manga" Went South
BY "HOlland."

BY "HOlland.'
A few years before his death Gen
eral w. T. Sherman was asked.
General. you knew General George
II. Thomas we'll. didn't you?"
Knew him wellY was the reply.
Il should say I did. We were in the
same class and very intimate at West
Point, and We saw a good deal of each
other after We had been graduated. ]
came to know him at West Point as
one of the noblest characters that
have ever met He was absolutely
truthful. He was the soul of honor
He planted his feet slowly, but when
he did plant them they were planted
surely upon principle. We drifted
apart, however, about 1S4S, or right
after the Mexican war, although we
kept track of one another. / say all
this to explain what l am leading up
TO.
81 think It was in June. 1S61-any-
way, ] know that hot weather had
come In that year-when / happened
TO call at the White House ono day.
having some business with President
Lincoln.
81 don't remember now what it was
that called me to the White House.
but I do remember that the Presi-
dent told me that he was going, on
that day or the next, to send several
nominations TO tho Senate for brig
adler general. He asked me to look
over the list ! glanced at the names
rapidly and saw that they were all
IVanN
that the President had overlooked one
army officer, and | ventured to say to
him:
"Mr. President. I dont'-see the
name of Colonel George II. Thomas
here
81 don't know much about
Thomas, said Lincoln. Would he
make a good generalY
None better, / said. and n you
want any guarantee for him, I'll give
it,
Well, Sherman Mr. Lincon re-
pied, If you say so. # must be so.
and I'll send his name i'm SOON
"A little later. as was on my way
up to the Capitol to see my brother
John Sherman, II suddenly flashed
over me that I had not seen Thomas
for some twelve years. that he was \
Nirginian by birth. and that possibly
he might take tho same view that Lee
mad IN April. when he resigned his
commission as Northumberland in
tho Second Cavalry, with which
Thomas had been stationed since
1855, to go with tho Confederacv II
was startling thought I'm view OF
the fact that I had just guaranteed
Thomas to the President I worried
over the situation for a While. and
then I said to myself. Well, I know
what he was. and will find out what
he is. My own intuition tells me that
he stays with the Union. but I will
find out
Il learned that Thomas was with
his regiment I'm Pennsylvania not so
very far north of Baltimore, and 7
! fastened there as soon as railroad
train and horse would carry me.
When 7 reached the regiment and was
shown to the colonel's headquarters
I found nobody there but an orderly
Tie told me that Colonel Thomas had
gone out a little ways on horseback
hut thought he would be back speed
lily.
by and by I saw him coming. and
went out in front OF the tent Ia
greet him. He knew me instantly
and called out:
Hello. Billy
Hello. Tom Replied. We always
called him Tom
g" Have you come out TO sec me?
he asked.
YES I said. T have some i'm.
portant news for YOU
HE dismounted, and we sat down
together. Tom I said. 4 have come
TO tell you that the President has
told me that he will nominate you
for brigadier general
He showed his JOY. more BY the
expression of his countenance than
by any words. He simply said Billy
you couldn't have brought me an,
more agreeable news
"'But, said 7. Tom. I have come
10 find out exactly where YOU stand
What do YOU mean. Billy?' he
asked
"'well you know that Lee has
gone over to the other side. You
are both from Virginia.
on, that's what you mean. is il?
said Tom. Well, I'll III you Billy
am going South
You are going South?' I said.
eyes. Billy he said. I am going
South. but I am going at the head 81
my boys and I am never going ir
turn my face the other way until H..
all over
And he never did" said Sherman.
Copyright. 1911. by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell oi
~ Sidelight on Grants Opinion OF
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