Evening journal., 1914-05-04
Fiohter Am His lie.

Fighter All His Life.
General Daniel Edgar SiclSles was the
last of the great commanders who
fought the battle of Gettysburg. For
a decade he was fighter by profession.
all his life he was a fighter by ma
turc.
The grulf old warrior, with one leg
shot away IN battle. his massive head
resembling Bismarck's, was a pictur-
csQue figure as he hobblod along on
crutchcs during the last half century
Of his turbulent career.
His indomitabe fighting spirit re-
mainod TO the last. Born IN New York
in 1925. Sickles, at the age of 22.
fought the Wings as a Democrat in the
New York legislature. At 2s he dis
played his fighting spirit AZ corpora
tion attorney of New York. II was he
who secured for his city It's great Gem
tral Park. At this time his military
career began az major of the Twelfth
Regiment, National Guard, New York.
Before he was % years old, Major
Sickles had served as secretary of lega-
tion ot London under Minister James
Buchanan; he had won State Scna-
torship through a bitter campaign and
he was seated in the rhirty-iifth Con-
grcss 40 Washington
Acquitted Under @Unwritten Law
IL was at this time that am event
occurred which became the sensation
of the day. Siokles had begun his sec.
ond term as Congressman in 1859 when
the national capital was stirred by the
news that the young Representative
from New York had shot aud killed
Philip Barton Key, the United State.
District Attorney for the District OF
Columbia. Sickles declared that ke,
had misled Mrs. Sicklcs. who was Their.
e-c Bagioli, daughter of an Italian mu.
s.c teacher. The trial lasted 20 days
ending in the acquittal ol Sclles on
the ground of "unwritten law" H.,
then took his wife back.
am not aware OF any status OF
-codc ui morals, said Sicklcs To hi
critics. (which makes il infamous 1,
forgive woman. can now see IL
the almost universal denunciation will
which she is followed TO my threshold
the misery and peril from which ! have
rescued the mother of my daughter.
shall strive TO prove TO all that an err
ing wife and mother may be forgive
and redeemed
Mrs. Sclsles died OF a broken hear
few years later.
Offered Services TO Lincoln.
AZ the outbreak of the Civil War
Sicklcs, then 80 years old. offered MI
services TO Lincoln and was told to "a
ahead and raise his regiment, of whicl
he would he made brigadier general
hicllos raised the famous Excesio
Brigade. In New York, taking comman,
of one of its regiments as colonel Lin
coin in 1861, raised him 10 brigadier
general On the Peninsula and at An
tietam he distinguished himself as
soldier and leader. At Chancellorsvill
he led "a division. At Gettysburg n
Ted the Third corps. lost leg and he
came national hero. having risen &
maior-general of volunteers.
After the war his fighting spirit y
him into the regular army, and ne be
came first brigadier and then major
\ general He continued active servio
until 1869, when he was appointed min
ister TO Spain by President Grant.
Net Second Wife in Spain.
At the court of Spain Sickles' yigoi
Gus personality made him a dominatin
figure -Four years of brilliant diplom
acy brought him the epithet of 9Th
Yankee King of SPAIN Here he con
tracied his second marriage with N
beautiful and distinguished Senorit
crcagh. This romance was followed b
estrangement which was 10 last moi
than a quarter OF a century. In add
tion came his interference in the ma
riage plans OF his daughter TO a penn
less Spanish nobleman. Father an
daughter separated in bitterness. q
latter 10 return to the United Stat
TO die without reconciliation.
Returning alone TO New York. Gel
eral Sickles again entered politics. I
Served as sheriff of New York aud
" he was reelected to Congress.
Tie faced bankruptcy proceedings
bis last years. though he had early
lifc received a large share of his father
S3.0O0.000 estate, but his estranged wi
and SON came 70 his aid ON sever
occasions.