The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-06-21

II
should not drive people into anar.
chy, and it is simply impossible for
Jour military power TO reach ali The
resources Of their unhappy country.
! confess 1 did not wish to break Gen
Johnson's army into bands Of armed
linen, moving abont without purpose
and capable only Of infinite mis-.
lchief. But you saw on your arrival
that had my army 50 disposed that
his escape was only possible in a dis.
organized shape, and as you did not
choose to direct military operations
in this quarter, infer you were sat.
|lshed with the military situation. Az
all events, the instant learned, what
was proper enough, The disapproval
LOT the President, Iacted ID such .
manner as to compel the surrender Of
Gen. Johnson's whole army on the
same terms you prescribed to Gen.
Lees army when you had it surroun.
ded and in your absolute power
Mr.. Stanton, in stating that my or.
ders to Gen Stonenian were likely 10
result in the escape Of III. Davis to
lNexico OF Europe, is in deep error.
Stoneman was notat Salisbury then.
but: had gone back to SaIterville.
DAVIS was supposed to lbe between
us, and therefore Stoneman was be.
yoad him By turning toward me he
was approaching Davis, and had no
joined me, as ordered, Iswould have
had & mounted force, greatly needed
for that and other purposes: buteyen
now don't know that Mr. Station
wants Dayis caught; and as my OFF.
cial papers, deemed sacred, are hasti.
~ published to the world, it will be
imprudent for me to state what has
been done in that respect, as the eds
tor OF thu Times has. It may logic
ally and fairly drawn from this singu-
lar document the conclusion that I
am insubordinate. | can only deny
the intention. Ihave never in my
life questioned or disobeyed an orr
der, though many and many . limo
have Irisked my life, my health and
reputation, in obeying orders OF cvun
hints to execute plans and purpcses
not to my liking 1t is not fair to
withhold from me plans and policy, if
any there be, and expect me to guess
at them, as facts aud events appear
quite different from different stand
points.
For four years have been in camp
dealing with soldiers, and can assure
you that the conclusion at which tho
Cabinet arrived with such singular
unanimity, differs from mine. j con-
ferred freely with The best officers in
this army AS the points involved in
this controversy, and, strange to say
they were singularly unanimous in !
the ether CONCLUSIONS; and they will
seosn with pain and a.nazement that
I ain deemed insnrbordinate and
wanting in comman scnse; that !,
who, III tho complications Of last year
worked day and night, summer and
winter, for the cause and the Admi,iS
istration, and who have brought an
army Of seventy thousand men III;
magnificent style across q countr,
deemed impossible, and placed Is
just where it was wanted almost OH !
the day appointed, have brought dis:
credit on our government, ! do not
wish to boast of this; but | do say
that it entitled me to tie courtesy
Of being consulted before publishing
to the world q proposition rightfullY
submitted to higher authority for adj
Indication, and then accompanied By
other statements which invited the
press to DO let loose upon me. tits
true that non combatants.-men who
sleep in comfort and security while
we watch .on the distant lines--are
better able tojudge than we poor
soldiers, who rarely SEGA newspaper
hardly can hear from our families, cr
stop long enough to get our pay.
] envy not the task Of reconstruc.
ton, and am delighted thatsthe Sec
rotary has relieved me Of 1t. AS you
did not undertake to assume the nan-
agement Of the affairs Of this army,
/ infer, on personal inspection, your
mind arrived alta different conclusion
from that Of the Secretary Of war. &
will, therefore, 60 on and execute
your orders to their conclusion, and
when done, will, with intense satis-
faction, leave to the civil authors
ties the execution Of tho task Of which
they seem to me 30 jealous; but as an
honest man and soldier, invite them
to follow my path, for they may SEQ
something that may disturb their
philosophy.
With sincere respect,
w. T. SHERMAN,
Major Gen. Commanding.
Lieut.. Gen. q. s. Grant, Gen.in.C Chef,
Washington nc. s.,ss
P. S.-As Nj. Stanton's singular
paper has been published. | demand
ftaf fh;r o1cr i,n rnodn r,,h1;c tl,ornb