The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-24
tlloluolT Desp AItHES

Hast ~ Y 2s ea@
! am sorry, to az that oar line failed
this evening near Burlington, think,
and it csnnos be sepsired until morning.
st O. H.,K.
sKEroH e1 aENERAL sHERmAr.
The United States Service Magazine
for August contaiss ~ intevesting sketch
Of Major General Sherman, By Colonel ]
II. Bowmas, from which we make ths
subjoined extract:
William T. Sherman was born IN L,n-
caster, Ohio, on the 9Th day Of February,
1920. His father was the Hon. Charles
h. Sherman, one Of the Judges Of the Su-
preme Court Of that State. In 1886. At
the ago of sixteen. he entered West Point
a. cadet. and was graduated on the Both
Of June, ie40, sixth 10 his class. Young
sherman at once entered the service on
graduation, . second Lieutenan, in the
Third Artillery, and served in FIorid.
through the winters OF 1910 and l84I
In November. l84l, be wal promoted 70
FIRST lieu.enancy. He vas afterward
stationed 1t Fort alosltrie, South Csroli.
m. In 1916 he was sent TO California
aud remained there in service oil through
the Mexican war, having reached the
grade Of Captain.
Ia 1850, be was married 10 the eldest
daughter Of Hon. Thomas Ewing. of
Ohio. In 1853 he resi- isned his commits.
mission in the army, and took charge Of
the banking house of Lucas, Turner 4
Co.. 1t San Francisco. In hs6O hs vaa
the President Of the State Military Aead.
emy of Louisiana. and remained il that
position until the outbreakind of tho pres.
ent war. He had evidence isfactory
to his own mind, long befe,re the frst
shot was fred at Snmpter, that war was
enevitsbIs. and thereupon, taking prompt
counsel Of honor and patriotism. wrute
and dispatched the following keen but
honest. Straightforward aud Ioyal letter:
January Is, 1861.
Coz. Thomas o. Moore, Boson Rou,.
Louisiaaa
SIR-As occupy quasi military DO
sition under this Sts,c, / deem it proper
to scquaint you that accepted such DO
sition when Louisiana was State in the
Union, and when the motto Of the semi
nary was inserted in marble over the main
door: by the liberty of the General
Government of the United States: The
Union. Esto Perpetua'
Recent events oreshsdow q great change.
and it becomes all men TO choose. If
Louisiana withdraws from the Federal
Union, prefer to maintain my allegiance
to the old Constitution as long as . frsg-
ment Of it survives, and my longer stsy
here would be wrong in every sense OF
the word. In that event beg you viii
send or appoint some authorized agent to
take charge Of the arms and mupitions OF
war here belonging to the State. or direct
me what disposition should be made Of
them.
Aud furthermore, Is President of the
Board Of Supervisors, ] beg you to take
immediate steps to relieve ne as su2erin.
tendent the moment the State determines Q
70 sscede; for on no earthly account viii
| do any act, or think any thought, hos
tile to or in defiance Of the old Govern
ment of the United States.
With great respect. de-,
w. I. SHRRxAE.
His resignation being accepted, he re.
moved to St. Louis. and shortly before
tho attack on Fort Sumter repaired 10
Washington. He was astonished at the
apparent igacrance aud incredulity Of the
Government iu regard 10 the real con
dition OF the Southern States. He de.
ciared that the men 10 authority wsre
sleeping on q volcano which would surely
burst upon them unprepared. Filled
with this idea he addressed I letter TO the
Secretary Of War, stating that a. he was
educated at the expense of the United
States, and owed everything to bis coun-
try, he had come TO tender his military
services. He warned Mr.. Cameron. in
earnest language, that war was immine nj
aud that We we're not prepared. He also
called upon the President, and in like
manner stated his views aud rendered his
services. The President joculatly repli-
ed, I'VE shall not need many men like
you; the whole affair will soon blox
over He was then urged BY his friends
to 60 to Ohio and take care of the organ.
ization of three months regiments. Thi,
he declined, As be did not believe in such
trifiDg expedients. He declared it would
be % wise to undertake to extinguish thu
flames OF barning building with q squirt
gun as to put down the rebeliiou viii
three months troops. His plan was te
organize for a gigantic war, to call ou,
the whole military power Of the country
at once, and By the exercise of irresists
BILE force to crush The rebellion in it's in
cpiency. These views were in adysne,
Of the times.
On the 18th Of June, 1861. Sherman
VAS appointed Colonel in the regular ar
my, his appointment da.,ng May I4th
1861. and vas assigned 10 the eommAnt
fof the 18th Infantry. On the 2Ist of J u
y occurred tho unfortunate affair Of Ma
nassa., in which Sherman was engaged
and took an importan. part.
| When General Anderson was sssigne.
TO the department south Of the Ohio, Gen
eral Sherman was attached thereto a. sec
ond in conmand, sod wHs socn afterward
4 h.~A e