The Hartford herald., 1915-11-10
PILGRIMAGE Of
An AGED NEGRO
To Washington Revives
Civil War Romance.
GEN. SHERMAN FIGURED IN II
Made Good HIS Promise To
Former Sweetheart 10
SaveHer Home.
OLD NEGRO FAITHFUL TO END

Washington. Nov. Am aged
darky, tottering under the weight of
hundred years, reached Washing
ton few days ago. He had come
all the way from Georgia to see Cen
eral Sherman and to express to him
the thanks of his late mistress for
saving her home from ruin during
the war days of Sherman's March to
the Sea.
Like relic of the past the aged
negro appeared in the streets of
Washington. Dressed in worn
broadcloth suit, with battered silk
hat which his master had worn be-
fore the war, and carrying carpet
bag and palmetto cane. he shuffled
along the streets. He leaned heavily
on his cane and his blinking, eager
eyes scanned the strange scenes
about him.
He asked to see the procession, the
! Yankee procession, the one that
General Sherman was to lead. When
told that the old soldiers had come
and gone. and that the big parade
was now a thing of the past, he
made inquiries for General Sherman.
The policeman restrained smile as
he explained to the aged stranger
many years. Disappointed, yet with
a feeling of duty done, the colored
patriarch then unfolded an interest
ing tale of the war days, when he
was the bearer of a note from the
Yankee leader to a southern woman,
who had been the object of his love
in the days before the war. The
General had saved her home from
destruction during the march to the
sea, and he gave to Josiah, her SER
want, the note which told her he was
carrying out his youthful promise of
protection.
And so the aged Josiah was bring
ing to Washington, where he believ-
ed the General was living, the
thanks of his mistress. 81 stood by
my white people as long as they
lived" he explained. IAN what
come here for was to give the Gem
raj the thanks of my mistress" His
duty completed, he has gone back to
finish out his last days, a relic of
times that We're.
The story that the aged negro told
is an authenticated page already
written in history. This incident of
romance and war dates back to the
time when Gen. Sherman was ca
det at West Point; Miss Celia Sto-
vail was a reigning belle in military
circles. Conspicuous among her ad-
mirers was young William Tecum-
sch Sherman. He was deemed cold
and harsh. and had proven insensi--
BILE to the charms of women. But to
the dark-eyed Georgia girl he be-
came willing slave. In reply to a
vehement protestation of love. the
girl once said to him: Your eyes
are SO cold and cruel. l pity the
man who becomes your antagonist.
All, how you would crush an enc
my" Young Sherman is said to
|. have replied with feeling. Even
were you my enemy, would love
and protect YOU q
Not long afterward the young wo-
man married a Georgia planter by
the name of Shellman, and the
young cadet began military career
which dazzled his contemporaries.
Near the close of the Civil War.
when Sherman was making his ia
NOUS march through Georgia, he
reached the Shellman home in time
TO save IL from the torch. He found
the soldiers looting the place. and
he ordered them away. The yalua-
bles were replaced. and strict orders
were given 10 protect the home.
General Sherman remained ON the
spot for some time. Before quitting
the grounds. he said TO the negro
servant who had been left behind
when the family sought safety, and
who proves to be the aged negro
who came 10 Washington, Take
,this note to your mistress. He
placed IN the negros hand a card on
which was written;
You once said that | would crush
an enemy. and you pitied my foe.
DO you recall my replyg Although