The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-02
General Sherman's Last Speech.

j
his public speeches. the best opinion OF
himself He is so full of his own cx-
ploits that he parades them in all COM
panies. He has just made triumphal
tour through New England, speaking
whenever opportunity offered. His latest
effort was at the Commencement of Dart
mouth College, New Hampshire, on the
10Th instant There was an immense
audience, and large number of distin-
guished guests. His address, as a piece
of autobiography, will interest our
readers, and we give it entire with the
exception of the half dozen sentences in
which he speaks of the comfortable cir
cumstances and the future of the gradua-
ting class, and his few words of farewell
at the conclusion. Gen. Sherman said {:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 1t is beyond
my power or the power of any living
creature to fill one-half the picture your
worthy President has just painted. I
am afraid you are doing what was done
in the early part of the war, elevating
men far above their ability and letting
them down pretty hard. Laughter and
applause Nevertheless, as in former
parts of my life, I will try and discharge
the duty assigned to me bumbly and to
the best of my ability, and turn with
pleasure to the men to whom we have
been listening with SO much delight.
My young friends, I remember that
twenty-six years ago stood as you now
stand, about to go forth TO do whatever
might fall to my share, and 1 now find
myself here in the presence of men who
were graduates of this College before !
was born. 1t appears to me almost like
sacrilege for me to stand upin their pres
ence and attempt to give advice or in
struction, and would not presume to say
one word had not your honored Presi-
dent asked me to do it; probably for some
reason unknown to me. [Applause.]
When I graduated, L was told, in plain
English-not in Latin-[laughter] that I
had finished, and was qualified in natural
philosophy, chemistry, mathematics, and
so forth To prove that l was so quail
fed, was sent down to Florida to catch
Indians, did not see the logic of it then,
nor do now; but 1 had to 60 I went
from place to place in that country, and,
finally, I brought up in Charleston; and
whether I had foresight of what was
coming, if that could be, or whether it
was by the directing hand Of Providence,
who rules all things, l certainly was q
wanderer in those days, and hunted
through the marshes of tho Santee. the,
Edisto and the Savannah rivers, obtain
ing knowledge which has since been of
value to the nation. [Cheers.]
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 q
region OF country, the knowledge of which
afterward proved to be of the greatest
Importance to the people of New Hamp-
shire and the whole civilized world. L
went to Marietta and Chattanooga and
stayed six weeks, and in that short time
gained knowledge which has since, I
think, repaid the mileage paid me at ten
cents per mile. [Applause.] Shortly af
terward, just about twenty years ago,
remember sitting with many young Off
cers-Braxton Bragg was one-at the
dining table of the Hon. James Petit
grew. believe the best Union man
present will not doubt the loyalty of Mr.
Pettigrew, for he was loyal in 1881 He
was the only loyal intelligent man in
Charleston during the rebellion, and he
is loyal now. Mr.. Pettigrew listened to
our complaints that our future looked
poor, and that the only promise held out
to us was brevet major commission and
command of some little post on the New
England coast. He told us, "Gentlemen,
do not be alarmed there is Providence
guides this world, and you young men
will yet have to await an opportunity to
put your talents to use." His language
gave us encouragement.
The Mexican war soon broke out, and
l was sent to California, where, in my
wanderings, 1 saw the first pieces Of gold
discovered, and watched its magical effect
upon the whole world The discovery of
that gold gave millions to America, and l
doubt much whether if that gold had not
been discovered, the nation would have
managed to work out the problem of f.
nance which the war of rebellion had
raised, and preserved it's present glorious
position That gold gave us wealth and
credit abroad, and strength and dura-
bility which survived the war. After
some years again went South, and all at
once paused to see and feel in the very
air that we were upon the verge of a sec
tional war. had heard it spoken of in
Charleston. We had laughed and joked
over it at the mess table. had heard it
discussed by politicians; I had heard Gen.
Scott say we were upon the eve of war;
but my mind never realized it until the
spring OF summer of 1860, when I was in
] d.