Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-05-01
Gen. sherman's Mistake.

WE uhpC HDs ACtt utspOeoo w Auu5C
Gen. Sherman for what the people re.
gard as the great mistake Of his life
Unlike some of our cotemporaries, we
cannot overlook his invaluable services
in the past besause be has closed them
by fearful blunder, which, under other
circumstances, might have been frsught
with the direst consequences 70 the
nation. On the contrary, his singular
proceedings with Johnston and Breck-
inridge have so confounded us, that we
hardly know what to think OF them, much
less what 10 say. Looking at his con-
duct from one standpoint, it would seen
that Gen. Sherman had become so pnff,,d
up by past success as to imagine him
self already kind of military dictator,
and at once usurps ell the prerogatives
Of the President, and issues bis nkase
for the pacifeation Of the country and
the restoration of rebels to their former
rights and privileges. But, on the other
hand, we cannot forget that hitherto
Gen. Sherman has been q good and sub
ordinate soldier, dischArging the du-
ties assigned him, however unpleasant
-as they frequently have been--with
rare 6delity and skill He has obeyed
orders regardless of the clamor Of the
Press, and in the face of unenlightened
popular prejudice, Nor can we forget
the fact that Sherman and his army
have done more towards ruiniRg and
devastating the South than all other
armies of the Union combined He has
not been particularly tender either Of
their feelings or property. Hence it is,
when we remember his past actions,
that his conduct, in bis negotiations
with Johnston and Brsckinridge, seems
so inexplicable.
That he made terrible blunder-
that his proposition was IN outrage to
justice, and an insult to merey-evsry
loyal man in the country keenly real
lied. Indiscriminats pardon to Grimm
ais of the darkest dye is an insult to
mercy, because il breaks down all dis
tinctions in crime, and consequently de-
stroys the most charming design OF
mercy TO wisely administer kindness for
the purpose OF reformation. The action
Of Gen. Sherman is the more inexplica'
BILE because it was unsolicited. Gen.
Johnston had signified his desire to sur.
render his army on the same terms
granted Gen. Lee by Gen. Grant. He
seems to have expected nothing more
he asked nothing more. Breckin-
ridge-whose impudence is on par with
his treason--backed by JEFF. Davis, ap-
pears to be the author of the insulting
propositions which Gen. Sherman fool
ishly signed. His object evidently was
to gain time. II win be remembered
that, when Johnston irst proposed to
surrender his army, be requested that
bis proposition should be sent to Wash.
ington for approval Gen. Sherman re.
piled to this that he had full power TO
enter into negotiations of that sort, and
it was not necessary to refer the matter
to Washington. Johnston then solicited
an interview, and during the conferences
that ensued, Breckenridge submitted hi'
insulting propositions, which were, oi
necessity, sent to Washington for reiec'
ton, for il is quite evident neither Breck
inridge nor Davis anticipated that the.
would be accepted by the President
But they accomplished their purpose
Stousman's cavalry was taken out o
their way; Wilson was stopped in hi
career, while the millions Of tressur
stolen from the Richmond banks, wit
which the leading conspirators expect
live in affiuence in Europe, was MAXIM
its way to the Mississippi river. Tha
time was all Johnston aud Brecl
inridge expected to gain BY thei
= negotiations, 10 also evident from th
fact that as soon 90 Gen. Grant reache
Raleigh and issued his accustomed ord'
"to move on the enemy's works" Johl
ston surrendered ct once. Poor She
man was duped by the WHY rebel Secret
ry of War, and his laurels are bad
tarnished. There was time when !
= stood uppermoss of Gil our Generals
I the estimation and pride of our. psopl
Re but it is quite apparent nov that sever
. officers out-rank him in their approvs
while the Lieutenant General towe
above him pre-eminently majestic. &c
Grant 10 great because he is too good
= soldier to step outside the bounds of
own department; because be Is too mo
>" est to usurp the prsrogatives Of 9th
departments of the Government and |
- tempt to dictate the civil as well as /
military policy of the people. Far b
or or. ter had it been for Shermans q reputati
s's If he had pro6ted by the Lieuteua
- Generals prudence.
Testimonial.