Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-28
SHERMAN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
ShermRn's Speech at the Dartmouth
COmInencemcnt-A Brief Review o
His Life.

General Sherman received the degree
of Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth Col
lege in its Commencement last week, and,
on beingcalled upon, made a brief speech.
After giving the usual advice to the young
graduates, he INDUCED in the following
pleasant bit of autobiography:
When 1 graduated 1 was told, in plain
English-not in Latin-1aughter) that L
had finished, and was qualified in natural
philosophy, chemistry, mathematics, and
so forth. Toprove that l was so qualified
! was sent down to Florida to catch In
dians. did not see the logic of it then,
nor do I now; but l had to go. l went
from place to place in that country, and
finally l brought up in Charleston and
whether l had a 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 a
wanderer in those days, and hunted
through the marshes of the Santee, the
Edisto and the Savannah rivers, obtain
ing knowledge which has since been of
value to the nation. (Cheers.)
Again, by what seemed a Providential
accident, l was sent to take testimony
about some lost saddles and bridles-value,
nothing; but nevertheless those lost sad
dies and brides took me into a region OF
country, the knowledge of which after
ward proved to be of the greatest impor-
lance 10 the people of New Hampshire
and the whole civilized world. 1 went to
Marietta and Chattanooga and stayed six
weeks, and in that short time gained
knowledge which has since, 1 think, re-
paid the mileage paid me at ten cents per
mile. Applause. Shortly afterward
just about twenty years ago, l remember
sitting with many young oficers-Brax-
ton Bragg was meat the dining table
of the Hon. James Pettigrew. l believe
the best Union maj present will not doubt
the loyalty of 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.. Pet
tigrew listened to our complaints that our
future looked poor, and that the only
promise held out to us wa a brevet major
commission and command of some little
post IN the New-England coast. He told
us, Gentlemen, do not be alarmed, there
is q 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 o o broke out, and l was
sent to California, where in my wander
ings l saw the first piece of gold discOv-
cred, and watched its magnificent 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
finance which the war of rebellion had
raised, and preserved its present glorious
position. That gold gave US wealth and
credit abroad, and q strength and dura-
bility which survived the war. After
some years l again went South, and all at
once l paused to feel and see in the very
air that we were upon the verge
Of a sectional war. | had heard
it spoken of in Charleston. We had
laughed and joked over it at the mess Ia
bic. l have heard it discussed by polite
isns; l had heard General Scott say we
we're upon the eve of war; but my mind
realized until the Spring or Sum
mer Of 1860, when | was in New Orleans
and Baton Rouge. Then, for the first
time, l saw that it was not all talk. That
cry of wolf, wolf, meant something, and
that civil war was upon us sure enough;
and what has been the issue? You know
that it has been a short war to the world
Mt large, but long enough to us during
those dark days which formed the early
part of it, l will not review it. Let
history take charge of it. All l will say
is that in that war arose men, one by one,
equal to the emergency, until the
Applause And now, young gentle
men, 1 ask you TO look at these men and
your future. They are like yourselves.
Look at Gen. Grant, a modest, plain, bold,
brave, ~unohanging gentleman, with the
idea to do what is right, and moth
ng will turn him aside from that. A
more modest man than George Thomas
exists not on earth. If he were present,
you could not begin to get him to stand
up here, and Phil. Sheridan would infin-
itely rather, with sabre in hand, ride
down the rebel line than enter this room
and stand in my place. CHEERS. Gen.
Meade is an accomplished gentleman and
and would fill this place far bet
ter than 1. [Cheers] Thus you see that
the war men have risen to the
positions, and stand there now,
not n of whom pretends to be above
you; and this teaches the simple lesson
with honesty of purpose you can
every problem if you go at it with
a good purpose and a determination to do
SO.