The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-04
FAMOUS
WARRIOR
IS DEAD

New York, May 4.--Gen. Daniel E.
Sickles, died at his home shortly after
8 o'clock last night. His wife was at
his bedside at the end.
General Sickles was the last of the
great commanders who fought the
battle of Gettysburg. For a decade he
was fighter by professlon-aII his
life he was a fighter by nature.
The gruff old warrior, with one leg
shot away in battle, his massive head
resembling Bismarcks, was a pictures
que figure as he hobbled along on
crutches during the last half century
of his turbulent life.
His indomitable fighting spirit re-
manned to the last. Born in New York
City in 1925, Sickles, at the age of %,
fought the Wings as a democrat in the
New York legislature. At %, he dis
ton attorney of New York. 1t was he
who secured for his city it's great
Central park AT this time his military
career began as major Of the Twelfth
regiment, national guard, New York.
Before he was 80 years old, Major
SiCkles had served as secretary Of
! legislation at London under Minister
James Buchanan; he had won d state
senatorShip through a ! bitter cam
paign; and he was seated in the
thirty-fifth congress at Washington.
1t was at this time that an event
occurred which became the sensation
of the day. Sickles mad begun his
second term as congressman in 1859
when the national capital was stirred
by the news that the young repre-
sentative from New York had shot
and killed Philip Barton Key, the
United States district attorney for the
District Of Columbia. SiCKlCs declared
that Key had misled Mrs. Sickles who
was Therese BagiOli. daughter Of an
Italian music teacher. The trial last
Cd twenty days, ending in the acquital
of Sickles on the ground of ''uaWrit-
ten law" He then took his erring wife
back.
II am not aware of any statute or
code of morals" said Sickles to his
critics. (which make it Infamous to
forgive a woman. l can now see in
the almost universal denunciation
with which she is followed to my
threshold, the misery and peril from
which l have rescued the mother Of
my daughter. 1 shall strive to prove
to all that an erring wife and mother
may be forgiven and redeemed"
Mrs. Sickles died Of a broken heart
a few years later.
At the outbreak Of the Civil war, the
young fighting politician, then Sc years
old, went to Lincoln to offer his serv-
ices.
"You have been a leader in New
York democratic politics." said the
president. "If you keep your end up
at that game surely you'll do to take
command of men in the field. Raise
your regiments and you shall be
brigadier-general in command"
Sickles raised the famous Excelsior
Brigade in New York, taking COM
mand of one of its regiments as
colonel Lincoln kept his word and in
1851 raised him to brigadier- general.
His fighting spirit early won him his
spurs. On the peninsula and at
Antietam he distinguished himself as
a. soldier and leader. At ChanceIlors-
vile he led division. At Gettys-
burg he led the Third corps, lost a
leg, and became, a national hero. At
81 years of age he had risen from a
colonel to major-general of volun-
teers.
After the war his fighting spirit led
him into the regular army, and he
became first, brigadier and then ma
jor- general g.. He continued active
service until 1869, when he was ap-
pointed minister to Spain by President
Grant.
At the court of Spain, Sickles' Wig
orous personality made him domi-
mating figure. Four years of brilliant
diplomacy brought him the epithet Of
"the Yankee king Of Spain" Here he
contracted his second marriage with
the beautiful and distinguished Senor-
ita Creagh. This romance was fol-
lowed by estrangement which was to
last more than a quarter century. In
addition to this domestic trouble, came
his interference in the marriage plans
of his daughter to a penniless Spanish
nobleman. Father and daughter sep
arated in bitterness. the latter to re-
turn to the United States to die with
ou reconciliation.
Returning alone to New York, Cen
eral Sickles again entered politics. He
served as sheriff of New York and at
81 he was reelected to congress.
General Sickles' life drew to a close
with frequent romantic situations. He
faced bankruptcy proceedings in his
last years. although he had early in
life received a large share of his faith
er's SO 900 estate, but his estrang-
ed wife and son came to his aid on
several occasions. . i
His last days were spent at % Fifth
avenue, New York, surrounded by war
relics and attended by his faithful
negro servant. " Il