The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-07-03
Letter from Licnt. Gov stanton
z to Major General w. T. sher-

Letter from LicnI. Gov. Stanton
z TO Major General w. T. shcr-
g,man.
: - BELLKFoSrArsE, June s3, 1869.
W. II Sherman, Major General Of Volun
s@rs:
SIR:-Your letter. ot The 10Th, dated
"Camp iu'the field, near Chewalla, Ten
uessee." in manuscript. ,wab fcceifed on
Saturday, the 2ist iust.
| congratulate you on having at las'
found one whom YOU are willing to rec
oguizs as your "peer," and hold respch
sible for the charge that our army wal
.t "surprised" on the Geld OF Shiloh, OF
Eanday morning. the 9th oi April last.
You do me too much honor, however
in assigning to me higher position thar
thousands of others, both in and out o
the army who have made the same charge
in .mueb more direct and offensive terms
than were used in the letter to which 20,
refer.
The county in which reside had si'
companies Of Infantry and a battery o
Artillery in the battle of Shiloh. /"
vailed myseli of the opportunity afforded
by my visit to the battlefield for the pur
pose OF reno wing our wounded soldiers
TO inquire into the fate Of my neighbor
aud fellow citizens who were engaged j
the battle.
Tie letter TO which you refer. wa
written to weekly newspaper, publishe
at the county seat. for the purpose Of in
forming The. people 0f the couh'y 10,
their friends. had Jared in that territi
conflict.
Il reached ithe publisher the day afte
the publication Of the paper, and wa
published in an extra for the purpose
Disseminating the intel igence II bUhtair
I'd in advance Of the regular publicalie
:. Of the paper.
" This explains its publication in an e'
,ra Of an obacure country paper.
:. Alter. giving the inforpattoh, whlc
was the main objec, ofthS letter, col
cluded with the remarks which you quo
as to the causes Of tho disasters whic
bsfel our army in that battle. The san
charges, in every form Of expiessio
were made in, all the Leading news2ape
Of the country, published by gentlemt
~ Of the first standing in society, and r
peatsd orally in every tent on the bait
field, by men of all ranks, from Maj
,. .6sperals commanding divisions, to pI
yates in the ranks.
'' That you must have seen and hea
these charges thousands Of times, is
matter that cannot admit Of a doubt. A
yet you seem to have submitted to it
with a spirit OF chris,iau forbearauce a
resigpaiion " hich lie worthy Of all prai
for more than sixty days; but now,
reasons hich arc, doubtless satsfactc
TO yon, and which have no dispositi
<. 70 call in question, you propose to hi
me rssp6hsible for their publication in
,Jf obscure country paper, E4..
tt' I accent the responsibility, and prop
10 sustain s6b .ehatge-that the officers
command OF the army we're guilty Of gr
negligence, and that the army was taE
by surprise on the morning OF the 9Th
April last. In the letter to which J
Y lefdt, you were net named as one Of
officers who were responsible Tor t
surprise, Ny reason for not naming
was that you we're not the Commander
.. Chiei, and that your gallantry and co
age in the battle, to great extent,
claimed your error 10 neglectiTg the
cautions necessary 70 guard against |
prize. ! will now say, however. u
~ after General Grant, upon whom the
possibility mainly reSts,uo man is chsl
able with lager share Of that respo
hility than yourself.
You complain that did not inquir
Nayoa as tothe' facts. instead Of relying,
on camp rumors for my information.
.. will lldoubtless reoolleot that had ne
had the honor Of your acquaintance
.sstil met you AtGen. MoC Cook 9 headq'
ters on the Sunday after the battle,
have. never seen you since. You did