The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-12-14
GENERAL SHERMAN.


GENERAL SHERMAN.
A war correspondent gives the following
probably just analysis Of Gen. sher.
mans characteristics
ale is by far the most brilliant General,
but not by any means the most reliable ;
the most facina,ing, but not the most ele-
CANT the quickest, but not the safest; the
first to resolve, bnt not the mos, resolutc.
As man he il always generous. but not
uniformly just (; affectionate by nature, but
not at all times kind in demonstration |;
confding and yet suspicious: obstinate,
yet vacillating; decided, but not tenacious.
A mass Of contradictions so loosely and
yet SO happily thrown together as to pro-
duce the most interesting combination i'm.
aginable.
General Sherman may be described As q
bunbe OF nerves all strung to their highest
tension. No woman was ever moro pain
fully nervous but there is nothing Of the
woinan's weakness in Sherrnan's restless
ness.
The idea generally prevails that com.
manding Generals are very didactic on the
battlefield, and give their orders in precise
language and stentorian voice. A little
familiarity with actual war will soon dispcl
the false impression, particularly if you
meet Sherman on the battlefield, for there
Is less Of dignity, display aud srandiIo-
quence in him than any other General
whom have met during the war. At the
battle OF Chattanooga he gave his orders
for the advance Of his troops against the
enemy's strongly fortified position to his
brother in.law. General Hugh Ewing. In
the words uttered between two pufs at
bad cigar: j guess Ewing, if you arc
ready, you may rs we'll 60 ahead Ewing
asked few questions IN regard to retain.
ing the eehelou formation Of his command
rs then marshalled for the advance: Sher.
man replied, Il wan. you to keep tho left
well toward the river, (,he Chickamauga,) J
and keep up the formation four hundred
yards distance, until you get to tho foot Of
the hill
"And sbpll we keep it after tha.i" asked
Ewing.
4Oh, you may 60 up the hin as you like" I"
said Sherman and then he added, sotto
poee, with smile and wink to his aid and
Gen. Ewing's brother, Charley Ewing. who
stood near by, "if you can" As Gen.
Ewing was mounting his horse and about
to leave, Sherman called out to him:
~ say, Ewing. don't call for help until
you actually need It." Gen. Frank Blair,
and Others Of the Army Of the Tennessee
who were standing near Sherman, laughed
at this in such manner as loft tho imprcs.
sion on the minds Of others, as well a. my.
selI that on some former occasion Gen.
Ewing had called tor help before Gen.
Sherman thought he really needed II.
1t Is recorded Of Sherman that, on wit.
Messing from the top Of rico mill on the
Ogeechee River tho capture Of Fou Nc.
Allister by Gen. Hazen's forces, and the
successful termination by that capture. Of
the ',nsrch to the sea- he exclaimed.
imitn,ing the vioce Of anegro, Dis chile
don sleep dis night and hurried of to
meet Gen. Foster and complete the juno
ton of the Two armies.
One moment bis legs arc crossed, and
the next both arc on the floor. He sits
moment. and then rises and PAGES the floor.
tie must talk, quick, sharp, and yet not
harshly, NIL the time making his odd gcs-
tuIrcs, which, no less than tho intonation Of
his voice, serve to emphasize his language.
He cannot bear clog upon bis thoughts
nor an interruption Of his langusgc.-He
admits Of no opposition. He over6des
everything. He never hesitaics at inter.
rup,ing any one, but cannot bear to be IN.
,err,p,ed himself lie 10 very well aware,
and candidly admits, that his temper Is un.
commonly had. and, what Is worse, he
makes no a,,en,r. to control or correct Il.
In speaking Of the late Gen. McPheSon,
Of the Army OF tho Tennessee, he once 10
marked - He b % good an officer a. ]
sm-is younger, and has better temper
Grant, onco speaking Of shennan's peev-
ishncss, said: SHERMAN 10 impesuous and
faulty, bat he sees hh faults a soon % any
man. The fact b, II shemans fault.
alone could b given to another. they would
serve 10 distinguish him from tho eommo"
beri." rti "a s