Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-08-31
Sketch of General sherman.

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William r. Sherman was born in Lancaster
Ohio ON the Sth day Of February, 1920, His father
was the Hon Charlie Il, Sherman, one Of the judges
Of tho Supreme Court Of that state, IN 1886 at
the ago Of sixteen hc entered West Point as q ca
del and was graduated on the 30th Of June, 1910
sixth u hi. class Young sherman ut once entered
the service ON graduation a. second lieutenant N
the third Artillery and served IN Florida through
the winters of lsiO and lsil, In November, lsil
be was promoted to first licutcnuncy He was
uilprvard stationed nj Fort Moutrie South Caro-
lima In lsl6 be was sent TO California, aud re-
NAMED thore iu -aryico all through the Mexican
war having reached tho grade of captain,
IN 1850 be- was married TO the eldest daughter Of
Hon Thomas Ewing, Of Ohio, In 1858 he resigned
his commission IN tho army and took charge Of the
banking house of Lucas, Turner X Co., at san
Francisco IN 1860 he was the President Of the
State Military Academy Of Louisiana, and remained
In that position until the outbreak Of the present
war lie had evidence satisfactory to his own mind
long before the first shot was fired at Sumter, that
was inevitable and thGreupon, taking prompt coun-
sol Of honor and PATRIOTISM wrote and dispatched
the following keen, but honest straightforward and
loyal letter
JANUARY, Is, 1861
.Gog Thomas . Moorc Baton Rouge Louisiana;
SIR As | occupy II quasi-military position under
hi. State / deem II proper to scquaint you that !
accepted such position when Louisiana was State in
the Union, and when the motto Of the seminary
Wns inserted In marble over the main door, BY the
bculity Of the general government of the United
States The Union ESto Pcrpetaa,'
Recent events forshudow great change, and it
becomes all meuto choose If Louisiana withdraws
from the Federal Union prefer TO maintain my
allegiance TO the old Constitution as long rs frsg-
mont of il survive, and my longer stay here would
be wrong IN every sense of the word, In that event
beg you will send or appoint some authorized
agent to take charge Of the arms and munitions Of
war here belonging 10 the State, or direct me what
disposition hould be made Of them.
And furthermore, as President Of tho Board Of
Supervisors / beg you TO take immediate steps to
relieve me rs superintendent the moment the State
determines TO sccede for on no earthly account will
do and act or think any thoughts hostile to or in
defiance Of the old Government Of the United States
with great respect, &cq
Nv T. SHERMAs'
His resignation being accepted, he removed TO ST.
Louis and shortly before the attack on Fort Sum
ter repaired to Washington. He was astonished at
the apparent Ignorance and mcredulty Of the Gov
eminent in regard 10 the condition Of the Southern
State, lie declared that the men in authority were
sleeping on a volcano which would surely burst
upon them unprcpared.
|. Filled with this idcr he addressed Il letter TO the
Secretary Of War; stating that he was educated at
the expense of the United States and owed every
tllnu To ms country ne Ili come TO tlllcI MS mil
itary services. He warned Mr. Cameron, in earnest
language tina, war was imminent, and that We were
not prepared He also called upon the President,
and in like manner stated his views and rendered
his services The President ioculorly replied I'VE
shall not need many men like YOU the whole affair
will soon blow over. He was then urged by his
friend, 10 go TO Ohio and take charge Of the organ
i2ati1n Of the thrcc months regiments. This he
declined as he did not believe in such tring expe-
dient. lie declared it would be as wise to under
take to cAtingu-h the flames Of a burning building
with squirt gun to put down the rebellion with
three months troops His plan was to organize for
a gigantic war TO call out the whole military power
Of the country at once and by the exercise Of ire
si,bo force to crush the rebellion in It's incpency
These views were In advance Of the times.
On the 18th of June, 1861, Sherman was appoint
ed Colonel in the regular army his appointment
dating May IA, 1851 and was assigned TO the COM
maud of the thirteenth infantry. On the 3lst Of
July occurred the unfortunate affair At Manassas
in which sherman was engaged and took m impor-
tant part.
WLcn Gen Anderson wus assigned 10 the depart
mgnt south of the Ohio, Gen Sherman was attached
thereto as second in command and was soon after
wards dispatched with force of seven thousand
men, composed Of volunteers and Kentucky home
guards TO occupy Mudraughs Hill, strategic point
south of the Rolling Fork Of Salt River, There
nls nomc-gHards len him the achievements de-
slplCu 10 strengthen MS tOllIndQ were necessarily
sent elaowAere, and he found himself with scarcely
five thousand troops, in an Unfriendly part Of the
country, confronting q rebel army Of twenty-five
thousand men under Gen Buckner. While affairs
were in this position, Gen. Anderson was relieved
and Gen Sherman succeeded to the very unenviable
position Of commander Of the department. t
On the 81 of November he telegraphed to Gen.
Mcclellan detailing the position and number Of his
several forces, showing them to be everywhere, ex-
copt at one single point outnUmbered, and con-
cludCl his dispatch with the emphatic remark Our
forces are too small TO do good, and too large TO be
sacrificed.
In reply Gen. Mcclellan asks; How long could
McCook keep Buckner ont Of Louisville, holding
the railroad with power TO destroy il inch by inch?
giving no hint Of purpose TO reiniorcements, but
looking to the probable abandonment of Kentucky.
Previous to this Gen Sherman had an interview
with Secretary Cameron, III presence OF Adiutant
General Thomas, ut Lexington, Ky, and fully cX-
planned TO him the situation Of his command, and
also of the armic, opposed to him, and on being
asked what force necessary for Il successful for
ward movement in his department answered 1.-TWO
hundred thousand men,
By the lst Of November Adiutant Gen, Thoma,
report Of this conversation, in all its details, was
published i'm most Of the newspapers in the country,
giving the enemy q full knowledge of many impor-
tant facts relating to Gen ShcrmNns Department.
He was too weak TO defend our lines and the enemy
knew Il, lie naQ no nope OF re-entOfcclncnts, ana
was evidently in dscrcdit with the War Depart
ment a, being too apprehensiye Of the power,
strength and resources of the enemy. He therefore
felt he could not successfully conduct the campaign,
and asked to be relieved. He was succeeded by
Gen Buell., who was at once re-entorced and ena-
bcd to hold his defensive position until Grant the
following pring, should advance down the Miss.-
sipp and up the Cumberland
Gen Sherman was now set down as crazy and
quietly rcti red TO the command Of Benton barracks
near ST. Louis, The evidence Of his insanity was
hi, answer TO the Secretary Of War-that to make
successful advance against the enemy, then strong
~ posted at al strategic points from Mississippi to
Cumberland Gap, would require m army two hun
dred thousand strong Theanswer was the inspra-
ton or the Judgment Of military genius; but TO
the mind Of Mr.. Secretary Cameron It was the
prophgsy Of false wizard.
At shiloh he held the key of the position. Gen.
Rousseau said
He gave US vur first lessons in the field in the
face Of an enemy, and Of all the men ] ever saw he
is the most untiring ygant and patient No man
that ever lived could surpas, him. Hi, cncmic, say
that he was surprised at Shiloh. tell you no. lie
was not surprised nor whipped, for h. fights by the
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