The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-05-04
SICTII4ES LAST or GREAT
COMMANDERS NJ GETTY SIgUR,

SIO1AItS LAST OF GREAT
COMMANDERS NJ GETTNSBURG
General Daniel Edgar sickles was
the last OF the great commanders who
fought the battle Of G~ettysburg. For
a decade he was hghter by profession
all his life he was a lighter by ma
ture.
The gTun old warrior. with one leg
shot away Ia battle. his massive head
resembling Bismarck's. was a pictu--
esque hgurc az he hobbled along ON
crutches during the last half century
Of his turbulent life.
His indominitable hghting spirit re
manned to the last. Born in New
YORK city IN 1S25. Sicklcs, az the age
OF %. fought the wings as "a Demo
crat In the New York Legislature. AZ
2S. ne dipslayed his hghting spirit as
corporation attorney of New IOrN.
10 was ne who secured FOR his city its
sreat Central parK. AZ this time his
military career began as major Of the
Twelfth regiment. national guard,
New York.
Before he was - years oln Major
Sickles had served az secretary " To-
cation at London under Minister
james buchanan: he had won a state
s%enatorship through bitter a cam
paign: and he was seated In the
Thirty-nfth congress al Washington.
II was at this time that an event
occurred which ecam the sensation
of the day. Sickles had begun his
second term as congressman Ia 1858
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 Tor me
District 81 Columbia. Sickles derlar-
ed that Key had mislcd Mrs Sickics
who was Thesesa Pagioii, daughter or
an Italian music teacher. The trial
lasted 20 days. ending 81 the acquit-
tai Of Sickles on tho ground of "uu-
written law He then took his err.
ing wife back.
- am not aware of auy statute ov
cOdt % morals. asid Sicklcs 90 his
critics. which makes IL Infamous %
forgive q woman. ! con nov see in
the almost UNIVERSAL s-rHgrci8tiuu
with which she h. followed To m
threshold, the misery and peril from
which I have rescued tho mother ol
my daughter. I shall strive To prove
to an that an crring wife and mother
may be forgiven and redeemed.
Mrs. Sicklcs died OF "a broken heart
e few years later.
At the outbreak of the civil war.
the young fighting politician. then SO
ycaEs old. e 70 Lincoln 10 offer his
services.
You have been q leader in New
York Democratic politics, said the
president. N you kept your enc up
az that game surely youll do To take
command Of men in tn eheld. Raiss
your regiments and you shall be brig
adier-gencral in command
Sickles raised the famous Excelsior
brigade In New York. taking com
mand OF one Of its regiments as cob
onel. Lincoln kept his word and in
1861 raised him Co brigadier-Eenerai.
His lighting spirit early % him hts
spurs. on the Peninsula and AT Antie-
tam he distinguished himself a. a
soldier and leader. Al Chancellors-
viTc ne led a division. Al Gettysburg
he led the Third corps. lost a lex.
AMI became a national hero. Al 81
years Of age he had risen from @ cot
oney 20 major-gensral Of volunteers.
After the war his fighting spirit led
him IN TO the regular army. n ns
became first, b%rigadier an dthen ma
jCr- general. Tie continued active
service until 1853, when he was APP
pointed minister 10 Spain by Presi-
dent Grant.
At the court OF Spain. sicklcs' Wig
orouH personality made him a dom
mating hsure. -Four years OF brilliant
diplomacy brought him the cnithet az
THE Yankee King Of spain" Here
he contracted his second marriage,
with the beautiful and distinguished
Senorita Creagh. This romance was
followed by e-strangement which was
60 last more than "a quarter century.
Ia addition 10 this domestic trouble,
came his Interference In the marriags
plans Of his daughter 10 a penniless
Spanish nobieman. Father and dauRh-
ter separated In bitterness, the lat
ter to return 20 the United States to
die without reconciliation.
Returning alone 10 New York. len
eral Sickios again entered politics
lie served as sheriff OF New York and
at 81 he was reelected 20 congress.
General siekles' life drew to a close
with frequent romantic situations. He
faced bankruptcy proceedings IN nis
last years. though he had early in
life received q arge share of his
fathers %t3,000,00G estate. but his es-
tranged wife and son came 20 his aid
on several occasions
His last days were pen at 20 Fiftn
avenue. New York, surrounded by
war relies and attended by his faith
ful negro servant