The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1868-07-30

General sherman's Opinion OF
Gen. Grant---Interesting Cor.
FespOndence.
i General Grant having been appoint.
ed Lieutenant General, was ordered to
Washington. Immediately before set
ting out on his journey, on the 4th Of
March, 1864, he sent the following priv
ate letter by Colonel Badeau of his staff,
who was dispatched with instructions
to General Sherman:
DEAR SHERMAN: The bill reviv-
ing the grade of Lieutenant General
in the army has become a law, and
my name has been sent to the Senate
! for the place. I now receive orders to
report to Washington Immediately in
person, which indicates a confirmation,
or likelihood of confirmation. I start
in the morning to comply with the
order. While I have been eminently
successful in this war, in at least gain
ing the confidence of the public, no
| one feels more than I, how much of
this is due to the energy, skill, and
harmOniOusly putting forth that ener-
gy and skill, of those whom it has
been my good fortune to have occupy
ing subordinate positions under me.
There are many officers to whom these
remarks are applicable to a greater or
less degree, e,prOpOrtionate to their abil-
ity as soldiers but what want is to
express my thanks to you and Nc
PhersOn, as the men to whom, above
all others, 1 feel indebted for whatever
I have had of success.
How far your advice and assistance
have been of help to me, you know.
How far your execution of whatever
has been given you to do entities you
to the reward 1 am receiving, you can
not know as well as I.
I feel all the gratitude this letter
should express, giving it the most fat
tering construction.
The word "yOu" I use in the plural,
intending it for Mcpherson also. I
should write to him, and will some
day, but starting in the morning 1 do
not know that I will find time just now.
Your friend,
U. S. GRANT,
Major General.
Sherman received this letter near
Memphis on the 10th of March, to
which he Immediately replied:
DEAR GENERAL: I have your
more than kind and characteristic let
ter of the 4th inst. 1 will send a copy
to General Mcpherson at once.
You do yourself injustice and US too
much honor, in assigning to US too
large a share of the merits which have
led to your high advancement. l
know you approve the friendship 1
have ever professed to you, and will
permit me to continue, as heretofore,
to manifest it on all proper occasions.
You are nOl0 WaShingtOn'S legitimate
successor, and occupy a position of
almost dangerous elevation but if you
can continue, as heretofore, to be your
self, simple, honest, and unpretending,
you will enjoy through life the respect
and love of friends, and homage of
millions Of human beings that will
award you a large share in securing to
them and their descendants a govern
ment of law and stability.
I repeat, you do General Mcpherson
and myself too much honor. At
Belmont you manifested your traits,
neither Of US being near. At DOnel
son, also, you illustrated your whole
character. 1 was not near, and Gen
eral Mcpherson in too subordinate Il
capacity to influence you.
Until you had won DOnelsOn, I con-
fess 1 was almost cOwed by the terrible !
display of anarchical elements that |
presented themselves at every point
but that admitted ray of light l have
followed since. I believe yOu are as
brave, patriotic, and Just, as the great
prototype, Washington - as u1SeLfSh,
kind hearted, and honest, as u man
should be, but the chief characteristic is
the simple faith in success you hare
aJ10ayS manifested, a0bicb I can Hken
to nOthingelse than the faith a Christian
has IN the SuUi1r.
This faith gave you victory at
Shiloh and VickSburg. Also, when
you have completed your best prepa-
ratiOns, you 60 into battle without
hesitation, as at ChattanoOga-nO
doubts, no reserves and will tell
you, it was this that made US act with
confidence. 81 knew, wherever I
was, that you thought of me, and if / |
got into a tight place you would help |
me out, If alive"
My only point of doubt was in your
knowledge Of grand strategy, and !
books of science and history; but / |
confess yOlr common sense supplied aU
these.
Now, as to the future. Don't stay
in Washington. Come West; take to |
yourself the whole Mississippi Valley. |
Let us make it dead sure, and 1 tell
you the Atlantic slopes and Pacific |
shores will follow its destiny as sure
as the limbs of a tree live or die, I
with the main trunk. We have done |
much, but still much remains. Time, |
and times influences are with us. We
could almost afford to sit still and let |
these influences work.
Here lies the seat of the coming en-
pire and from the West, when our
task is done, we will make short work /
of Charleston and Richmond, and the
impoverished coast of the Atlantic.
Your sincere friend,
WIN. T. SHERMAN. |
There are but three States remain