The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-01-10
Issssr From General sEhsrmatl

Letter From General SherInar.
The following = IN extract from psi.
vase letter Of General Sherman 70 ATTEND
Lin this Prish, vindicating himself against
certain erroneous impressions that have got
abroaa in reference to himself:
II have seen several numbers Of the Lou
isiana Democrat, in oneof which is made a
common mistake which I have observed be-
fore, attributing to Bragg and Beauregard
ny appointment as Superintendent Of the
State Seminary in 1860. I was at Leaven-
worth City, a member ola Law frm, when
General Buell., then Major in the Adju-
sant Generals Office, on duty near the See.
Rotary Of War, Governor Floyd, sent me
| the invitations for applicants for the differ
ent protessorships, which he had received
from General g. Mason Graham. Iapplied
and was appointed just as goa were at the
same time. Beauregard had no agency in
the matter ct ALL and Bragg, who was nl5
friend, had no Knowledge that l was an ap.
plicant; for he told methat, ignorant of the
fact, he had recommended Jenkins for Che
same Office. Lam under no personal obi
cations to either Bragg or Beauregard in
the matter, though both we're most friendly
to me all the time / was in Louisiana, bal
not in a way to lay me under obligations Of
any sort; nor was under obligations te
any body that could qualify my allegiance
was hired by q contract, earned my pay
and received it. ~8
Again, the idea is given out that l left
louisiana pledged not to take service
against the South. That gov know is alb
surd. At that day 40 one at the South e1
peeted war; but always told you and
others that war was the inevitable result oil
secession. In my last interview with Bragg
at the hotel in. New Orleans I may have
said that did not 60 North to seek mill
tary service, which was true; for l came
here Ito st. Louis) and correspondent with
you from here. Even our Northern papers
mistake my position. / refused to ente,
the volunteer force FIRST called out by Lin.
coln--the $4,000 call-because considered
that the rebellion was bound toSinvc!!;;;e the
wwhc!o South, and could be handled only BY
vast armies, and these Of Regulars. Il
urged an army 50 large as to make your re.
bellion ridiculous. ~
/ But events have drifted otherwise, and
thank God it is over. think such d thing
will never be dreamed Of again. I wish you
all well; / wish the South well, and if /
have been a scourge think how much better
that it was | than Ben. Butler or some
other of that school. Present me kindly to
your associates and write me fully and
frankly as Of old. Your friend, {, s.
...a.e w. I. SIBERIAN
Fsuch an extract as General Sherman
speaks Of ever appeared in'the Democrat, il
was not editorial, but must have been
clipped from some other paper, either mad
rertently, Or for the purpose Of giving other
information than that alluded to in his let
ter. We knew that General Sherman did
not obtain his position in the Seminary
through General Bragg Or General Beaure-
gard. His own modest letter of applica-
ton, not fortified BY any recommendations,
which be refused to seek, because, as h
said, anybody could get them,p obtained
the Office for him over his mary able com.
petitors. The choice of the Board proved
a most admirable one, for no one will say
that Major Shermun did not isearn" the sal.
airy that was paid him. =
1t has often been whispered around that
General Sherman said that he would take
no part in the war against the South, but as
he left here some time before the war broke
out, the account he gives ofhis position is
doubtless correct.
We may add that General Seerman's mil
itary renown took no one in this neighbor.
hood by surprise. All knew his ability and
predicted his success. He has displayed
more military genius than any other gene
raj on the Northern side, and was the first
that demonstrated the exhaustion and the
hollowness Of the resources Of the South,
and the utter hopelessnoss Of continuing
any longer her struggle yss!s for independence.
! Appointments by the Governor.
CAprAlvs-W. n. Calvit, Of Alexandra
Ward; Michael Bane, Pinev,lle; j. B.
Reeves, Lamourie'; George B. Marshall,
Cheneyville; K. NJ. Clarke, Spring Hill /;