The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-11-02
THANKS
For General Sherman Arrives
Too Late

uoihys tOtteiHlB uHueT| JDe We1Bnt OIL
a hundred years reached Washington
few days ago. He had come all the
way from Georgia to see General
Sherman and to express to him the
thanks of his late mistress for saw
ing her home from ruin during the
war. days OF the march to the sea.
Like relic of the past the aged
negro appeared in the streets of
washington. Dressed in O worn
broadcloth suit, with battered silk
hat which his master had worn be.
fore the war, and carrying a carpet
bag and palmetto cane, he shufiied
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 thing of the past, he made
inquiries for General Sherman. The
policeman restrained smile as he
explained to the aged stranger that
the general had been dead many
years. Disappointed, yet with feel
ing Of duty done, the patriarch then
unfolded an interesting tale of 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 Jo-
siah, her servant, 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 believed
the general was living, the thanks of
his mistress. II stood by my white
people long as they lived" he ex-
planned, "an' what come here for
was to give the gen'ral the thanks of
my mistress" His duty completed,
he has gone back to finish out his
late days, relic Of times that were.
The story that the aged negro told
is an authenticated page already writ.
ten in history. This incident of ro-
nance and war dates back to the
time when Gen. Sherman was a cadet
at West Point. Miss Celia Stovall
was a reigning belle in military cir.
cles. Conspicuous among her admir-
ers was young William Tecumseh
Sherman. He was deemed cold and
harsh. and had proven insensible to
the charms of women. But to the
dark-eyed Georgia girl he became
a willing slave. In reply to vehe-
ment protestation Of love, the girl
once said to him: "Your eyes are 80
cold and cruel. pity the man who
ever becomes your antagonist. All,
how you would crush an enemy"
Young Sherman is said to have re-
piled with feeling, "Even were you
my enemy, / would love and protect
YOU"
Not long afterward the young wo.
man married Georgia planter by the
name of Shellman, and the young
cadet began a military career which
dazzled his contemporaries. Near
Tho oIoya ,f tho Niy;l x,,or x,J,o,, Cbar
man was making his famous march
through Georgia, he reached the
Shellman home in time to save it
from the torch. He found his sol
diers looting the place, and he order
ed them away. The valuables were
replaced, and strict orders were CIV
en- to protect the home.
General Sherman remained on the
spot for some time. Before quitting
the grounds. he said to the negro SER
want who had been left behind when
the family sought safety, and who
proves to be the aged negro who
came to Washington, "Take this note
to your mistress" He placed in the
negro's hand a card on which was
written:
"You once said that I would crush
an enemy, and you pitied my foe. Do
you recall my reply? Although many
years have passed, my reply is now
the same as then-T would ever
shield and protect you.' That have
done. Forgive me for all else. am
but a soldier. w. T. Sherman"
The victorious army marched
away, and Mrs. Shellman returned to
find her property safe. Until her
death, she occupied the mansion, and
through all the years old Josiah re-
manned her faithful servant. Pleas
ant A. Stovall, U. s. minister to
Switzerland, is the nephew of the
late Mrs. Shellman, the heroine of