Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-01
GENERAL SHERMAN.

duu HuIIlTtllVH tHau OeHcIdl " L. pucI~
nnn. His splendid and successful campaign
FROM Tennessee through Georgia, South Car
olina and North Carolina to Virginia had
placed his name highest in the praises of all
loyal Americans and but for his un fortunate
negotiations with the rebels Johnson and
Breckinridge he would have ovcrshadowed
even Gen. Grant. Unfortunate and great as
was that error, it would have been not only
forgiven but forgotten, if he had committed no
subsequent blunders. In view ofhs splendid
successes this, in short time. would have
been forgotten as an error of the head and he
would still have been enrolled among the high
est of the nations military jewels.
But alas for the fraity Of human nature,
he seemed to think himself infallible and took
in high dudgeon the refusal of President Lin
coin to ratify the terms with which he had
suffered himself to be mised or wAecdled.-
That he should have felt sore ut having made
such blunder was perfectly natural, had he
manifested sorrow and endeavored checrfully
by subsequent open good conduct, to repair
this error, he would have elevated himself
higher in the opinion Of his rejecting country
men. But by sulkily encamping himself at
Alexandria and permitting it to go forth to the
world that he did not intend to 60 to Washing
ron except in case of compulsion, by order or
other necessity, he dcepcned the chill ON the
hearts of his countrymcn He has now added
the capstone to,his calamity by writing letter
which was first published in the .Ncr York
World. We call it calamity because the terms
and temper of that letter show that the head not
alonewas wrong but that the heart also is wrong
We write with regret and sorrow, but this
letter shows bitterness at heart inconsistent
with the clcmer is necessary to constitute q
great man. a man great under all circumstan-
eos and adequate to great and small occasions
We lad believed that Gen. Sherman was q
great man and. Notwithstanding his fanr pas,
we believed that he would yet prove that he
was great man. But this letter has disap-
pointed our wishes and blasted onr hspes.-
VI are now satisfied that he is one of the
great men of the Mcclellan stamp, great for
day but lacking the stable foundations Of a
good head and good heart, without which
no man can be truly great or ever possess any
thing but an epliemoral name.
We fear ,his letter is not the result of re-
pentance or bitter disappointment for his ~Sn
short comings. but is dictated by the malice
Of disappointed ambition of political charac-
;er. The following paragraph from his letter
though but two sentences, speaks volumes Of
information and that Of an Enthusiastically bad
character: Gas to myself, l ask no popu-
q larity, no reward but dare the War De.
''partment to publish my official letters and
reports. assert that my official reports
have been purposely suppressed, while al
g the power of the press has been malignant
.'ly turned against me-" The first shows
that General Sherman, if he meant what Ii,
said, does not know himself or humra nature
The writing Of this letter disproves the dec
laration, he writes because he does dcsir
popularity and reward, which he thinks ar
purposcly withheld from him by the War De
partmeft, and be by this letter, appeals to tn
Judgment of his countrymen against tho &C
ton of his superior officer. No man has eve
acquired 1.-THE of General Sherman's posi-
ton and fame who was not imrclled to act b
the desire of the good opinion, the good word
and esteem of his fellow men this it is to ac
quire popularity, this he does ask when h
dt,res the War Department to publish h
''letters and reports" The spirit of mutin
stands out very prominently in this lettel
He dares the publication of his letters and re
ports after making the accusation that the
have been " carefully suppressed" Have ii
official letters Of Grant, ofSheridan, of Mead
Of Hooker. Burnside, Pope. Mcdowell, an
others, been published Men who have fiji
ished their campaigns before he began his,
all, none save be and Mcclellan have askt
for the publication of their reports and letter
Why is he so DESTROYS that his should be pu
]ished ere his campaign is finished ? II a
just arrived. All my army will be in t
day" Are there not matters of jnformati
in bis " letters and reports which it wou
he improper for the euemy to know before t
rebellion closed up?"
Ny reports have been purposely su
pressed, while all the power of the press
been Indignantly turned against mt
What is the extent of this assertion II
the President Of the United States and
Secretary of War have suppressed letters a
reports official, which would increase the p
ularity Of Gen. Sherman and turned all
power of the press Indignantly against hi
Abraham Lincoln conferred on General Sh
man the highest reward in his power
making him Major General in the rcgu
Service, and yet after be is dead and in