Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-02-06
GeneraI Sberman's Talk.

Some one who recently visited Savan-
nah on business, and was personally
acquainted with General Sherman, call.
ed on him, and gives the following very
interesting account Of the interview:
On my entrance into the room, he
rose from his seat, and taking me by
the hand" What is the matter with
you, Al What brings you here2
Speculation OH / understand, you
are cotton shark. Take care. ! have
decided to hang every one can lay my
hands on Cotton sharks have brought
ruin on the country and on the army,
and / will not permit them 10 carry on
their schemes in Savannah.
disabused the General Of this idea,
and told him that my business was to
set up some kind Of an office in Savan-
nah
Yes, understand. You people Of
the North believe that conquered city
can be Immediately converted into a
commercial mart, to the great benefit Of
the Union cause think quite differ
entity / believe that whenever we call
We feed the rebel people out OF our own
resources; 10 that, in the end, they gain
more by their losses than we do by our
victories If had my own way, | would
exclude trade from every captured city,
aud convert very many Of them into a
military post
"This, General said I, would be
severe blow to the business community
OF the Northern States, who, having suf-
fered greatly BY the war, need some
kind Of compensation for the losses.
'And who, said the General, iii re-
turn for the privilege OF trading, will
supply the rebels with all kinds OF mill
tary stores, from a leather belt 70 a
| blanket. The business community, sir,
/ will make money even at the expense OF
| our country interests and the honor Of
our flag They will make money any
| how Look at the city Of Memphis, for
instance, open to trade Immediately al
| ter It's surrender What has been the
result Of the privileges granted 10 com
msrce on that occasion Why, 10 give
Forrest all the supplies he wanted, and
ten or twenty thousand men besides
know that my advice will be unheeded
the pressure Of the commercial class, /
am we'll aware, will defeat all the meas
ures | have suggested or can recon-
mend sill deem it my duty 20 clear
my own responsibility, by protesting
against any effort having for It's objeei
the opening of the port OF Savannah TO
American commerce
General" replied, ''your popularity
in the Northern States is so great thai
you can, think, take such steps as yeu
choose without fear Of seeing them
thwarted by the Administration,
Perhaps so, said he; but mari
this ! am here for a few days only
when | leave the city, the cotton shark
will pounee upon il and devour every
thing they can lay their hands upon
As for the popularity you speak Of,
know very well Of what stuff it is made
Lam popular as long as ! am success
ful Not only the American press, bu
the London papers, praise me now a
the great general of the age. Why
Because | have crossed great exten
of country, aud, by long and perilou
march, have caused an important cit
to fall into our hands All this is yer
we'll But suppose, in the campaign
am about to undertake. | meet the com
bined forces of Lee, Beauregard, an
Hardee, and fail-what would be IN
fate then2 Why, every laurel ] hav
} won, everything have done, would b
forgotten; there is not tree hig
enough to hang me upon; | should b
dragged down from the pillar Of fam
! to rot in some remote corner Of th
West; and the great general would
iailure-an imposter.
But, General with all our recer
successes, and with the plans in viel
don't you think the war is nearly at q
end2
CAT an end The war at an end
> Well, sir, if you wish my opinion on tn
subject, | will only state that far fro
. being at an end, the war is only abo
to begin, the policy Of giving up d
sea and river coast cities, although ia
), ing away some Of the prestige Of Il
Confederacy, is making it material
stronger than if they retained them
their possession; while the opening
ee the same cities to trade, by the Feds
al Government, is sufficiently supplyil
the rebels with all the goods they us
"a to received by bloekade-runners, at
cheaper price, aud with less risk and
convenience to themselves.
n We have no doubt this is pretty f
report of what General Sherman sa
because it is characteristic Of him. /
statements regarding the,evil eonsquec
ces of trade following the flag are trut
m and be testi6es from his experien
Memphis and Paducah have been sseo
, only to the Wilmington and Cbarlesi
-. as sources Of supplies for the rebels, q
- it becomes the Government TO see to
that while Cape Fear River is closed
blaekade-ruuners the Mississippi 81
not remain open 10 contraband trade
of the same class that glusted the Sol
ern market with percussion caps 8 cou
- of years ago, as 3 writer IN Blackwoc
L. Magazine, who has been behind
scenes, tells Us.