Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-25
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
Commencement Exercises : Interesting
Speech Of Gen. Sherman-His Own Rem
frlscences of an Eventful Life.
M HANOVER, n. H, July Iy. 1866.

l ~.
+ The commencement of Dartmouth
EColege took place to-day. Maj Gen.
],Sherman, Chief Justice Chase, Gov
lSmiih, of New Hampshire, Senator Pat
terson, Mayor Lincoln, of Boston, and a
large number of other distinguished
guests we're present, together with an
immense audience. The graduating
class numbered forty-two, and the ora
tions all indicated high order of ability
in the speakers Among the degrees
conferred was that of Doctor of Laws
| (LLD.) upon Gen Sherman. President
| Smith, of the College, in few happy re-
fmarks comforting it, called upon the
General for speech. On stepping for
ward to comply, Gen. Sherman was re-
fceived with the widest expressions of
tdelight
L SPEECH OF GEN. SHERMAN,
rs Gen Sherman said
+ LADMS AND GENTLEMEN - 1t is be-
| yond my power or the power of any liv-
ling creature to fill one-half the picture
your worthy President has just painted.
! / am afraid you are doing what was done
| in The early part of the war : eleyaiing
men far above their ability and letting
them down pretty hard Laughter and
applause Nevertheless, as in former
parts Of my life, l will try and discharge
the duty assigned to me humbly to the
best of my ability, and turn with pleas
ure TO the men to whom we have been
listening with so much delight. The ar
ray of ladies and gentlemen before us,
of mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers,
attest the interest that is felt in you, and
the hopes they entertain Of you, now
! that You are about leaving your teachers,
who have been fitted by former expert
ences, by the study of books, and by
association with other men. to impart
knowledge to you that will fit you for
the life before you, Unfortunately for
me, ! was not so favored as you have
been, and / regret it now and shall re-
gret it to the end of time. | was com
PEELED to pick up what little knowledge
| possess by grasping it, as 1t were,
through brambles, and l so betimes had
my hand pretty sharply pricked too.
You have had those around you who
have gladly told you everything you
desired TO know, whose minds were well
STORED with the richest learning of the
past And now, young men, you must
look out for yourselves. applause J
| Your ship is about TO sail on an unknown
sea. You have your charts and your
compass see that you steer your course
properly, that you watch your compass,
and do not allow your minds-to be turned
aside by the scudding of the sea or the
winds across your sails, but follow your
com pass, and you will just as surely ar
rive at your destination as honesty will
produce good man. (Applause.) My
young friends, | remember that twenty
six years ago l stood as you now stand,
about to 90 forth to do whatever might
fall to my share, and | now find myself
here in the presence of men who were
graduates Of this college before l was
born. IL appears TO me almost IKE
sacrilege for me to stand up IN their
presence and attempt to give advice or
instruction, and would not presume to
say one word had not your honored Presi-
dent asked me 10 do it; probably for some
reason unknown 20 me (Applause.) }
When | graduated, | was told, in plain
English-not in Latin-( laughter that
had finished, and was qualified in ma
tural philosophy, chemistry, mathemat-
les, aud so forth. To prove that | was
qualified, ] was sent down TO Florida to
catch Indians. / did not see the logic OF
it then, nor do | now; butt had to go.
went from place to place in that coun-
try, and, finally, L brought up in Charles.
ton: and whether | had foresight oil
what was coming, if that could be, or
whether it was by the directing hand OF
Providence. who rules all things, | GER
,ainly was a wanderer in those days, and
hunted through the marshes of the San
tee. the Edisto and the Savannah rivers,
obtaining knowledge which has since been
of value to the nation. lCheers Again,
by what seemed Providential accident,
| was sent to take testimony about some
lost saddles and bridles-value, nothing
but nevertheless those lost saddles and
brides took me into a region of country
the knowledge of which afterwards proved
to be of the greatest importance to the
people of New Hamshire aud the whole
civilized world | went TO Marietta and
Chattanooga and stayed six weeks, and
in that short time gained knowledge
which has since, think. repaid the mile
age paid me at ten cents per mile. Ap-
plause Shortly afterward, just about
twenty years ago, ] remember sitting
with many young officers - Braxton
Bragg was one-at The dining table Of
the Hon. James Pettigru. believe The
best Union man present will not doubt
the loyalty of Mr. Peitigru, for he was
lovaI in 1861. He was the only loyal in
] telligent man in Charleston during the