Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-23
DAILY LEADER.
A Quaruette of fGeneraIs-Remin1Ecence
OF sherman, kc.
Irror Az LearlnEorlh gonlsrvatiTs.l


Citizens of Lesvenworth will remember
tbst there stood on Main street, between
Delaware and Shawnee, in 1S57-5s-59, on
the ground now occupied by handsome
brick buildings, q shsbby-lookiRg, tum-
| bling, cotton wood shell. 1t was occupied,
on the ground floor, by Hampton P. Dem
man, ex-Msyor, as Land Agency Office.
The rooms above were reached by era
zy-looking stairway on the outside, up
which none ever went without dread of
falling. DiDgy signs informed the curious
that within was 8 alaw shop" kept by
Hugh Ewing, Thomas Ewing, jr, w. I.
Sherman, and Daniel McCook. These
constituted the firm known here in the
early part of SO as Ewing, Sherman and
McCook. All were comparatively young
men. All were ambitious; the enc who
has gained the greatest fame, perhaps the
least SO of the associated lawyers. The
Ewings had the advantage of high cul-
ture, considerable natural abilities, cold,
impsssive temperaments, and s powerful
family influence to aid their aspirations
Hugh Ewing was little known heresbouts,
though acknowledged 10 be brilliant and
versatile genius by his intimstes. "Young
1OIQ. ~ ku6 NkADL bIlDA II
called, has always been q prominent and
influential man.
The third member of the firm fills to-day
one of the proudest pages in the history Of
our land. His name and fame take rank
with the greatest of earth. All conspire to
do him honor. aliens bow to his genius,
and enemies show the extent of their fears
Of its power, by the virulence of their hate
and its manifestations w. T. Sherman
never mingled in our public affairs. He
lived among us for several months, having
some landed interests here. An outlying
part of our city plat is marked on the maps
as GShermsn's Addition" Prior to enter
ing upon the practice Of the law in this
city, he lived for some time in the vicinity
of Topeka, upon farm of l60acres, which
we believe he kti ! owns. His neighbors
tell of his abrupt manner; reserved, YET
forcible, speech and character. Previous
70 residing 10 Kansas, Sherman had lived
in California, where, as miner, banker
and lawyer he made and lost q large for
tune. A graduate of West Point, he had
previously held Captains commission in
the Typographical Engineer Corps, and, In
pursuance Of duty, had made several i'm
portsnt surveys and explorations, the re-
ports of which had been duly published By
the Government. They relate principally
TO routes for the Pacific Railroad.
The fourth member of the firm, Daniel
McCook, was known and appreciated here
ty the fraternity as one of the best of
agood fellows" He was young, active,
ardent, an intense partisan, and ambi-
tious wight, who held the tOlerable good
opinion ofhis own capacity common to the
npin-feather state OF the genus homo.
"Dan prscticed law before the lower
courts, doing the justice and and probate;
and always having plenty Of work in the
United States District Court which was
often the scene OF amusing sparring be-
tween him and the Judge-the able, but
indecent Petit-Whose judgments Dan
was in the habit of freely criticising.
All of the firm were Buckeyes-the
Ewings being sons of the able and vener-
able Hon. Thomas Ewing, of that State.
Sherman is connected with them by mar
riage, being a brother TO Mrs. Thomas
Ewing, ir., we believe. He is brother of
Senator Sherman. McOook belonged to
the since famous lighting" family Of that
name. His father was the well-known
Major McCook, killed in the Ohio Morgan
raid. One brother was killed at the first
Bull Run battle. Another was the Brig
adler General AcCook, murdered by guer-
rillas in Southern Kentucky. Another,
brother OF uncle, we know not which, is
the famous Msjor General McCook of the
armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee.
In politics the firm was unequslly pro-
portioned-Thomas Ewing, Jr, being a
conservative Republican, while his brother
Hugh, Sherman and McCook were all
Democrats, the latter being an active local
politician, and at one time elected Probate
Judge of this county. The city being
largely Democratic, and somewhat pro-
slavery, the firm possessed considerable in
huence.
A good story is told of Sherman's expe-
rience as counsel, and of his dissolution Of
partnership to take the position held by
him when the war broke out-that of Pres
ident of the Military College Of Louisiana.
While in the practice of the Law here,
Sherman was consulting partner, having
an almost insurmountsble objection to
pleading in court. He is accorded the pos
session, as q lawyer, of thorough knowledge
of legal principles; q clear, logical percep-
tion Of the points and equity involved in
any case. He could present his views in
the most direct manner, stripped of all
verbiage, yet perfectly accurate in form.
BE was perfectly aW fat in the authority.
But to return to our story. Shortly after
the reception Of the offer from the Gov
ernor of Louisiana, In relation to the Col
lege, Sherman was compelled to appear
before the Probate Judge-Gsr1ner, we be-
lieve. The other partners were busy, and
Sherman, with his authorities and the case
ali mapped out, proceeded to court. He re-
turned in rage two hours after. Some
thing had gene wrong. he had been petit
logged out Of the case by sharp petty
attorney opposed to him, in way which
was disgusting to bis intellect and his con-
victions. His amour pTopre wss hurt, and
he sWore that he would have nothing more
to do with the law in this State. That
afternoon the business was closed, partner
ship dissolved, and in a very short time
Sherman was on his way to more con-
genisl cline and occupation. The war
found him in Louisiana, and in despite his
strong pro-slsvery opinions bOund him an
intense and devoted patriot.
We met him hele, and, though butsGght-
ly acquainted, have remembered ever since,
the impression he left on our mind. He
sphered himself to our perception as the
most remarkable intellectual embodiment of
force it he'd been our fortune to encounter.
Once since we met him, in our lines before
Corinth, where he had command Of the
right wing of Halleck's magnificent ar
my. The same impression was given
then, combined with the idea of
nervous vitality, angulsrity Of char
scter, and intense devotion to what he had
in hand. Sherman is truly an ideslist, even
unto fsnaticism, though, in an probability,
if told SO he would abruptly reto1t back an
unbelieving sarcasm. He outlines himself
to our memory as man of middle stature,
nervous, muscular frame, with long keen
head, sharply defined from the forehead
and back Of the ears His eyes have
hluieh-grav paeG and an introvartad lOOlr