Little Phil Walks it Back

[AndyHall]

My colleague Ed Cotham tipped me to this little gem, from the time in the spring of 1880 that former President Grant and his family passed through Galveston on a tour through Texas. Phil Sheridan was with them, and at a grand dinner at the Tremont Hotel, the former Union general took the opportunity to clarify some intemperate remarks he'd made years before. Galveston Daily News, March 25, 1880, p. 8:

Speaking so kindly about Texas — and I speak from my heart — probably I ought to explain a remark I once made about it [loud applause], and I can do it this way: It was in 1866. At that time we had some trouble with Mexico, and I went down to the border. . . On my return to San Antonio I found a dispatch there which required me to go with the greatest haste to New Orleans. I remember that I hired relays and coaches from San Antonio to Galveston. . . . I traveled day and night. It was in August and very warm, the dust being about as deep as it is in Mexico, where it has not rained in several months. One or two officers fell sick and I left them. I arrived in Galveston covered with dust. My eyes and ears and throat were filled with it, and I think I had about as much of the soil of Texas on me as would have raised a cotton crop. I went to a little hotel [the Washington]; and in that condition, as I went up to register, one of these newspaper men rushed up to me and said he: How do you like Texas?" I was mad, and said if I owned Texas and all hell, I would rent out Texas and live in hell. Now I want to assure you that by that expression I only meant to convey how much I was disgusted with that newspaper man. It did not represent my opinion of Texas. . , and I have always had the highest regard for Texas. Every time I visit Texas I think a little more of it than ever before. . . .​

I've never ridden in a hired coach non-stop from San Antonio to Galveston, but I did once drive from El Paso to Galveston, in a single day, in the summer, in a car with no A/C, with 100-pound dog that was prone to car sickness. I say we cut Little Phil some slack on this one.

 

[K Hale]

If he were a man, he'd own what he said and not weasel out of it with excuses. This is a mixture of "Media caught me at a bad moment" and "Isolated incident," with overtones of "I'm under a lot of stress lately."

If he hadn't left all his sick underlings behind, he might've even played the "overzealous staffer" card.

 

[diane]

That's why he said that! Well, he also told the real story behind the dead Indian snark, too... Him speak with fork-ed tongue... him make too many good Indians!

 

[robert hayden]

View attachment 52158​

My colleague Ed Cotham tipped me to this little gem, from the time in the spring of 1880 that former President Grant and his family passed through Galveston on a tour through Texas. Phil Sheridan was with them, and at a grand dinner at the Tremont Hotel, the former Union general took the opportunity to clarify some intemperate remarks he'd made years before. Galveston Daily News, March 25, 1880, p. 8:

Speaking so kindly about Texas — and I speak from my heart — probably I ought to explain a remark I once made about it [loud applause], and I can do it this way: It was in 1866. At that time we had some trouble with Mexico, and I went down to the border. . . On my return to San Antonio I found a dispatch there which required me to go with the greatest haste to New Orleans. I remember that I hired relays and coaches from San Antonio to Galveston. . . . I traveled day and night. It was in August and very warm, the dust being about as deep as it is in Mexico, where it has not rained in several months. One or two officers fell sick and I left them. I arrived in Galveston covered with dust. My eyes and ears and throat were filled with it, and I think I had about as much of the soil of Texas on me as would have raised a cotton crop. I went to a little hotel [the Washington]; and in that condition, as I went up to register, one of these newspaper men rushed up to me and said he: How do you like Texas?" I was mad, and said if I owned Texas and all hell, I would rent out Texas and live in hell. Now I want to assure you that by that expression I only meant to convey how much I was disgusted with that newspaper man. It did not represent my opinion of Texas. . , and I have always had the highest regard for Texas. Every time I visit Texas I think a little more of it than ever before. . . .​

I've never ridden in a hired coach non-stop from San Antonio to Galveston, but I did once drive from El Paso to Galveston, in a single day, in the summer, in a car with no A/C, with 100-pound dog that was prone to car sickness. I say we cut Little Phil some slack on this one.

if I am not misteaken, I believe "little Phil" was the commander of Texas Territory immediately following the "great inconvience." George Custer was under his command, assigned to Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. The site had
been used as a Confederate supply depot and hospital during the war. Custer was reassigned north, and "Little Phil"
ordered Custer to burn Liendo on his departure. As a gesture recognizing the kindness shown to him and his wife Libby during that assignment, that order was not carried out, and as a result we have that plantation available for reenactments. I think maybe "little Phil" realized that Texans have excellent memories and sidearms.

 

[K Hale]

if I am not misteaken, I believe "little Phil" was the commander of Texas Territory immediately following the "great inconvience." George Custer was under his command, assigned to Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. The site had
been used as a Confederate supply depot and hospital during the war. Custer was reassigned north, and "Little Phil"
ordered Custer to burn Liendo on his departure. As a gesture recognizing the kindness shown to him and his wife Libby during that assignment, that order was not carried out, and as a result we have that plantation available for reenactments. I think maybe "little Phil" realized that Texans have excellent memories and sidearms.

Texas was never a territory.

 

[Nathanb1]

if I am not misteaken, I believe "little Phil" was the commander of Texas Territory immediately following the "great inconvience." George Custer was under his command, assigned to Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. The site had
been used as a Confederate supply depot and hospital during the war. Custer was reassigned north, and "Little Phil"
ordered Custer to burn Liendo on his departure. As a gesture recognizing the kindness shown to him and his wife Libby during that assignment, that order was not carried out, and as a result we have that plantation available for reenactments. I think maybe "little Phil" realized that Texans have excellent memories and sidearms.

What Ms. Hale said. We came in as a state, owning the status of a sovereign nation (thus the French Embassy). After the war, the State of Texas was part of the 5th Military District for purposes of reconstruction occupation, which may be what you're confusing with a territory.

 

[Cilla]

if I am not misteaken, I believe "little Phil" was the commander of Texas Territory immediately following the "great inconvience." George Custer was under his command, assigned to Liendo Plantation in Hempstead. The site had
been used as a Confederate supply depot and hospital during the war. Custer was reassigned north, and "Little Phil"
ordered Custer to burn Liendo on his departure. As a gesture recognizing the kindness shown to him and his wife Libby during that assignment, that order was not carried out, and as a result we have that plantation available for reenactments. I think maybe "little Phil" realized that Texans have excellent memories and sidearms.

Speaking of The Liendo Plantation Civil War Weekend, it is actually this weekend.

 

[Greg Taylor]

Regardless of what anyone else thinks, I think that that is one "helluva" funny comment! It sounds like something Mark Twain might have said.

 

[AndyHall]

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Sheridan was a horrid human being, just wretched. He was a pathological liar and a hypocrite--all of which is well-documented--so nothing along these lines surprises me in the least.

 

[AndyHall]

Sheridan was a horrid human being, just wretched. He was a pathological liar and a hypocrite--all of which is well-documented--so nothing along these lines surprises me in the least.

I wish you wouldn't hold back like that.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I wish you wouldn't hold back like that.

You know that I'm the shy and retiring type, Andy.

 

[BillO]

Sheridan was a horrid human being, just wretched. He was a pathological liar and a hypocrite--all of which is well-documented--so nothing along these lines surprises me in the least.

I knew there was something about you I really like.

 

[K Hale]

Sheridan was a horrid human being, just wretched. He was a pathological liar and a hypocrite--all of which is well-documented--so nothing along these lines surprises me in the least.

^ What he said.

 

[Northern Light]

Now I am curious about Little Phil. Wherever I have encountered him in my readings,he has always struck me me as a bit of a nutter. Any good books about him available?

 

[Northern Light]

The devil may have his faults, but he seems to have a rather nice butt!