The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-09
GEN. SHERMAN.
His Dispatch to Gen. Grant, Defend.
ing Himself Against the Aspersions
Of Stanton. ... -.....

His Dispatch to Gen. Grant, Defend.
ing Himself Against the Aspersions
NEW YORK, May 31.-An abstract of Gen.
Shermaa's report, covering important points
10 published. 1t contains the following dis
patch to Gen. Grant:
HEADQUARTERS NIL. DIv OF Mws.,)
In THE FIELD,
Raleigh, N. c., April %. 1866.
GENERAL: Since you left me yesterday,
have seen the New York Times OF the oath.
containing budget of military news, anthem
tica,ed by the signature of the Secretary of
War, which is grouped in such way as to give
very erroneous Impressions.
1t embraces q copy of the basis of agree
ment between myself and Gen. johnson, of
April 18th, with commentaries which it will be
time enough to discuss two or three years
hence. after the Government has experiment.
ed o little more in the machinery by which its
area OF country known as the South.
But in the meantime do think that my rank
and past services entitle me at least to the re-
spect of keeping secret what was known to
none but the Cabinet, until further enquiry
could have been made, instead of giving pub
iicity to documents never saw or heard, and
drawing differences wide of the truth.
President Lincolns dispatch to you of the 9Th
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 in
| vitation to the Virginia Legislature, made in
Mr. Lincolns very presence, and had failed to
discover any other official notice OF plan OF
| reconstruction or any idea calculated to allay
the fears of the people of the South that after
the destruction of the armies and civil authori.
| ties they would be left without any govern
ment at all. we should not drive people into
anarchy, and it is simply impossible for our
military power to reach all the resources OF
their unhappy country.
| did not wish to break General JohnstOn's
army into bands of armed men moving about
without purpose and capable only of infinite
| mischief But you saw on your arrival that
had my army so disposed that his escape was
only possible in disorganized shape, and AS
| you did not propose to direct military opera.
tons in this quarter, infer you were satisfied
with the military situation.
| At all events, the instant learned, what was
proper enough, the disapproval of the Presi-
| dent, acted in such o manner as to compel
| the surrender of Gen, Johnston's whole army
| on the same terms you prescribed to Gen. Lees
army when you had it surrounded and in your
absolute power.
| Mr.. Stanton in stating that my orders to
Gen. SLoneman were likely to result in the es-
cape of Mr.. Davis to Mexico or Europe is In
| deep error. SlOnemau was not at Salisbury
then but had gone back to Danville Davis
was beyond him. By turning toward 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 then 1 didn't know that Mr.. Stanton
wanted Davis caught, and as my official papers
deemed sacred are hastily published TO the
world, 1t will be important for me to state what
has been done in that respect, as the editor of
the Times has. 1t may be logically and fairly
drrwn from that singular document, the con-
| clusion that am insubordinate l can only
deny the intention. I have never in my life
| questioned or disobeyed an order, though
many and many time have 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 expect me to guess
| at them as facts, and even appear quite differ
ent from different stand points For four years
| have been in camp dealing with soldiers, and
| can assure that the conclusion at which the
Cabinet arrived with such singular unanimity,
differ from mine.
| conferred closely with the best officers In
this army as to the points involved in this con-
troversy, and strange to say, they were singu.
| larry unanimous in the other conclusion, and
| they will learn with pain and amazement, that
l am charged as being insubordinate and lack
| ing in common sense that l. who, in the COM
| plicatiOns of last year. worked day and night,
| summer and winter, for the cause and the adj
| ministratiOn, and who have brought an army
| OF 20 900 across q country deemed impossible
| and placed it just where it was wanted almost
| on the day appointed, have brought discredit
| on our Government. do not wish to boast of
| this, but do say that it entitled me to the
| courtesy of being consulted before publishing
| to the world proposition rightfully submitted
| 70 higher authorities for adjudication and then
accompanied by other statements which invited
| the press to be let loose upon me-
1t Is true that non cOmbatant men who sleep
| in comfort and security while living on the dis
tant lines are better able to Judge than we poor
| soldiers who rarely see newspaper, and rarely
| hear from our families or stop long enough to
| get our pay.
| l envy not the job of reconstruction, and am
delighted that the secretary has relieved me of
it, As you did not undertake to assume the
management of the affairs of The army. infer
on personal inspection your mind arrived at a
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 satisfaction leave to the civil
authorities the execution of the task which
they seem me so jealous of, but as an honest
man soldier invite them to the following PATH
for they may see something and hear something
that may disturb their philosophy.
With sincere respect,
(Signed) W. T. SHERMAN.
Maj. Gen. Comd'g.
To Lieut. Gen. U. 8. GRANT, General-in- Chief
Washington, ID. g.
| n IL -, ,lo~ ho1