Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1881 — Gen. Sheridan’s Hat. [ARTICLE]

Gen. Sheridan’s Hat.

It is only natural that great Generals who commanded thousands of men in the late war should frequently meet men in different parts of the country who cherish some incident of war life with which General and private were closely connected. It is doubtful if Gen. Phil Sheridan, whose famous twenty-mile ride to Winchester has made his name familiar to every household, ever met a man who brought up a pleasanter reminiscence than a brown-faced, hardy miner did in this city. Gen. Sheridan was idly sauntering up aud down the lobby of the Windsor Hotel, deep in thought and complacently puffing at his Havana and blowing the smoke into pretty little rings. Suddenly a rough-looking man, with face so heavily bearded that one could see nothing but the twinkling black eyes, approaching him and raising his hat with awkward embarrassment, said: “ Good morning, General.” The hero of Winchester returned the greeting, touching his hat with military politeness, and then, trying to peer through the miner’s heavy beard to get a glimpse of his features, the General added: " I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your face, sir.” The eyes of the man from Gunnison twinkled brighter than ever as he remarked : "It’s not unlikely, General; seein’s we never met but once before, you wouldn’t be so apt to remember me as l am you. It’s seventeen years since I saw you last. Things have changed since then. It was on the battle-field of Cedar Creek. Don’t you remember the soldier that gave you his horse when yours was shot from under you by a shower of canister from the masked battery on the brow of the hill ?” and the old man looked up with eager pride into the General’s face. " That I do,” answered the General, with pleased interest and a bright flash in his eye, “ I remember it welL” "I was that soldier,” continued the miner, proudly. "I remember the circumstance well, sir. When you put your spurs to my horse and galloped oft', you left your hat behind you, and I called to you as loud as I could, but you replied, ‘ Never mind the hat, my boy.’ I’ve got that hat yet, General. It’s hanging in my cabin in the mountain,” and tlie rough old fellow’s eyes glowed with pleasure. Sheridan grasped his hand and led him to a seat, and for half an hour they fought the battle of Cedar Creek over again. —Denver Tribune, A Pennsylvania school ma’am brings ugly boys to time by running then arm through a clothes-wringer.