Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-01
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General Sherman's Dispatch 4
General Grant. -

General SherInan's Dispatch TO
General Grant.
New YORK, May 3l.-An abstract of Gen.
Shcrman's report, containing important
points, is published. Itcontains the follow
ing dispatch to Gen. Grant:
HEADQUARTERS MIL. DIV. OF MIss.)
In THE FIELD,
as'- RALEIGH, N c., May 9Th, 1866
GENERAL:-Since you left me have re-
ceived a copy of the New York Times of
the 24th, containing budget of military
news authenticated by the signature of the
Secretary of War, which is grouped in such
a way as to give very erroneous impress
sions. 1t embraces copy Of the basis of
agreement between myself and Gen. john
stop of April 10th, with commentaries,
which it will be time enough to discuss two
or three years hence, after the Government
has experimental little more in the ma
chinery by which power reaches the scat
tered people of the vast area of country
known as the South; but in the meantime
| do think that my rank, if not past service,
entitled me at least to the respect of
keeping secret what was known to
none but the Cabinet, until further inquiry
could have been made, instead of giving
publicity to documents l never saw and
drawing differences wide of the truth. |
never saw or had furnished me copy of
President Lincoln's dispatch to you of the
5th of March, until after the agreement;
nor did Mr.. Stanton or any human being
ever convey to me its substance, or anything
like it; but, on the contrary, had seen
Gen. Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia
Legislature, made in Mr.. Lincoln's very
presence, and had failed to discover any
other official notice of q plan of reconstruct
tion, or any idea calculated to allay the
fears of the people of the South, that
authorities they would be left without any
government at all. We should not drive
people into anarchy, and it is simply inn
possible for our military power to reach all
the resources of their unhappy country.
confess did not wish to break General
Johnston's army into bands of armed
men, moving about without purpose and
capable of only infinite mischief; but
you saw on your arrival that l had my
army so disposed that his escape was
only possible in disorganized shape and
as you did not choose to direct military op-
erations in this quarter, l infer you were
satisfied with the military situation. tall
events the instant learned, what was prop
er enough, the disapproval of the Presi-
dent, | acted in such manner as to COM
pei the surrender Of Gen. Johnston's whole
army on the same terms you prescribed to
Gen. Lees army, when you had it sur
rounded and in your power.
Mr.. Stanton, in stating that my orders to
Gen. Stoneman were likely to result in the
escape of Mr.. Davis to Mexico or Europe,
is in deep error. Stoneman was not at Sails
bury then, but had gone back to Slatesville.
Davis was beyond him. By turning to-
ward me he was approaching Davis; and
had he Joined me, as ordered, would have
had mounted force, greatly needed for that
and other purposes. But even now don't
know that Mr.. Stanton wants Davis caught,
and as my official papers, deemed sa-
cred, are hastily published to the world,
it will be imprudent for me to
state what has been done in that respect, as
the editor of the Times has. 1t may be log
lcally and fairly drawn from the singu-
lar document, the conclusion that am in
subordinate. | can only deny the intention.
| have never in my life questioned or dis
obeyed an order, though many and many a
time have l risked my life and health and
reputation in obeying orders, or even hints
to execute plans and purposes not to my
liking. 1t is not fair to withhold from me
plans and policy, if any there be, and ex-
pect me to guess at them as facts, and even
appear quite different from different stand
points. =
For four years have been in camp deal
ing with soldiers, and can assure you that
the conclusion at which the Cabinet arrived
with such singular unanimity, differs from
mine. conferred freely with the best ofli-
GERS in this army as to the point involved in
this controversy, and, strange to say, they
were singularly unanimous in the other
conclusion, and they will learn with pain
| and amazement that | am deemed insub-
ordinate and wanting in common sense;
that /, when in the complications of last
year, worked day and night, summer
| and winter for the cause and the Ad-
ministration, and who have brought
an army of 10000 men in magnificent style
across country deemed impossible, and
about just when it was wanted, almost on
theNday appointed, have brought discredit
on our Government. do not wish to boast
the courtesy of being consulted before pub
fishing to the world proposition rightful-
ly submitted to higher authorities for adju-
| dication, and then accompanied by other
statements which invited the press to be
let loose upon me. 1t is true that nom
| cOmbatants, men who sleep in comfort and
security, while we are on the distant lines,
are better able to judge than we poor SOL
| diers, who rarely see a newspaper, and
| hardly can hear from their families or stop
long enough to getour pay. Ienvy not the
task of reconstruction, and am delighted
that the Secretary has released me of it.
AS you did not undertake to assume the
management of the affairs of the army,
infer, on personal inspection, your mind ar
rived at different conclusion from that of
| the Secretary of War. l will therefore go
on and execute your orders to their conclu-
| sion, and when done, with intense satisfac-
| tion will leave TO the civil authorities the
execution of the task of which they seem
to me so jealous, but, as an honest man and
soldier, invite them to the following path,
for they may see something and hear some
thing that may disturb their philosophy.
With sincere respect,
lSigned] w. Il. SHERMAN,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
To Lieut.. Gen. U. s. GRANT, General-in-
Chief, Washington, DC
P. S.-As Mr. Stahton's singular paper
has been published, demand that this also
be made public, though am in no manner
responsible to the press, but to the law
and my proper superiors. La- .sF '' e.,