The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-03-11
Gen. Sherman and the British Consul
af Savannah.

The Washington correspondent Of
the New York Herald is responsible
for the following:
The extraordinary success with which
General Sherman has conducted his
campaign during the last nine months
has secured for him the affections Of
the American people beyond that OF
any other military officer. He has be
come as popular as a military officer, as
Vice Admiral Farragut has as q naval
commander Anything relating to him
is therefore interesting. Through an
officer IN his command, recently arrived,
/ have obtained the circumstances of
an amusing scene said to have taken
place between General Sherman and
the British Consul at Savannah, which,
TO say the least, is Characteristic of that
officer, as well as the self sufficient style
Of her Msjesty's officials in the South.
On the arrival of General Sherman
at Savannah, he saw a large number of
British flags displayed from buildings,
and had curiosity TO know how many
British Consuls there were there He
soon ascertained that these flags were
on buildings where cotton had been
stored away, and at once ordered it TO
be seized Soon after that, while the
General was busily engaged at his head
quarters, pompus gentleman walked
in, apparently in great haste, and in
quired If he was General Sherman
Having received an affirmative reply,
the pOmpous gentleman remarked,
That when he left his residence,
United States troops were engaged in
removing his cotton from it, when it
was projected by the British flag"
stop. sir, said General Sherman,
"not your cotton sir, but my cotton;
my cotton in the name of the u tied
States government, sir. l have no
ticed, continued Gen Sherman. "a
great many British flags here, all pro-
tecting cotton ] have seized It ali in
the name of my government"
But, Sit" said the Consul, indig>
nantly, "there is scarcely any cotton IN
Savannah that does not belong to me-"
There is not a pOand OF cotton here,
sir, that does not belong to me, for the
United States, responded Sherman
Well, sir, said the Consul, swelling
himself up with the dignity Of his Office
and reddening in his face, my govern
ment shall hear of this. / shall re-
port your conduct to my government,
sir
"Ahl pray, who are you, sirT said
the General
Consul 70 her British Majesty, sir.
ooh indeed I" replied the General.
" hope you viii report me to your
government You will please say to
your government, for me, that have
been fighting the English government
all the way from the Ohio river to
Vicskburg, and thence TO this point At
every place / have encountered British
arms, British munitions of war, and
British goods OF every description, at
every step, sir. ] have met them, sir,
in al shapes; and now, sir, l find
you claiming all the cotton, sir in
tend to call upon my government to
order me to Nassau at once.
What do you propose to do there r
said the Consul somewhat taken aback
81 would, replied the GeneIal, stake
with me a quantity of picks and sh0
wells, and throw the curs ed sand hill in
20 the sea, sir You may tell your govN
eminent, that sir would shovel it in
to the sea, sir; and then / would pay
for il, SIR, If necessary. Good day, sir "
1t is needless to add that General
Sherman was not again troubled with
the oficious representative Of her Ma
jesty's government.