The New York herald., 1873-11-21
GENERAL SHERMAN ON WAR.

He Reports the Army i'm Sound Order
His Method Of Raising Additional
Troops If War Were Proclaimed-A
Story in Which Old Hickory Was tho
Hero-What He Thinks OF Castelar,.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 1873
General Sherman left tonight Tor Newark, N. j.,
to be absent until Monday. He was accompanied
by Colonel Audenreid, senior aid. General Sher-
man had an interview with the President this
afternoon on the military situation and other mat.
ters. The views of General Sherman on the all
important questions now agitating the public
mind have not yet been stated, al
though meagre report Of one two
observations purporting to have emanated from
him has been printed General Sherman has from
the moment that the first intelligence respecting
the virginius reached here, taken the greatest
interest in watching each successive phase OF the
affair as developed.
ton he responded that matters had not yet
progressed to that point where his part
OF the business began. 1t is still
question OF diplomacy and according to
the old adage, ''War begins only when diplomacy
ends" As to the condition OF the material or the
army, the arsenals well stocked with arms OF
the most approved patterns; the magazines are
stored with full supplies of ammunition Ior small
arms and artillery; the depots have abundant
quantities OF clothing and acc0utrements all in
fine condition and available at the shortest
notice. He believed that the most effective
way OF raising such force as would be ne
cessary to an invasion OF Cuba would
be to increase the numerical force of each
company to the standard Of 100 men, There are at
present 25 regiments OF infantry and Is regiments
OF cavalry and artillery. With each company num-
bering 100 men the army would be increased to
about 45 600 instead of about So 900, al pres
ent. Such an organization would render unneces
sary the employment Of any officers OF the line in
addition to those now belonging to the regular
army, the present allowance of commissioned
officers to q company, would be amply COM
petent to command in the field 100 men. In many
OF the armies Of European nations for instance the
General remarked, as many as $50 men are
led into action by captain and two
lieurenants. The additional men, he thought,
might be enlisted for the war, so that they
could be discharged upon the cessation OF
hostilities. BY this method of increasing the per-
sonnel OF the army the expense would be much
less than to attempt to put in the field an entirely
new force. Unquestionably the most speedy mode
OF raising the necessary troops for immediate ag
gressive movements would be TO call for volun-
teers-say 1000 or 100 900. From the tone OF pub
lie sentiment 1t looked as If double that number or
men could be secured on the shortest notice.
Fighting in Cuba would be rather per-
picking and embarrassing on account OF the large
numbers OF the native Cubans VINO, there is the
best reason to believe, would be friendly toward
the United States, but who would not dare to
openly proclaim their sympathies, fearing that
after SUFFICIENT punishment had been admins
tered to the Spanish oicals, the army OF invasion
might be Withdrawn and they left to the
tender merces OF their harsh rulers. The Amer
lean soldier Is trained to lighting in Sec
tions destitute OF roads and bridges. This
cannot be said OF European soldiers. He had no
fear that the junges and Businesses of Cuba would
be any obstacle TO the conquering march OF an
American army.
The General remarked that the case OF the yir
glnius recalled TO his mind the incidents OF
case arising during the operations OF General
Jackson in Florida, and which created
great excitement throughout this country and
in England, and which was used by the
enemies OF Jackson many years after, when he
was candidate for the Presidency OF the United
States. In 1877, Spain having shown herself un-
able to repress the smuggling OF merchandise and
slaves into the United states from Florida, then
one OF her provinces, the Illicit trade being car
ried on by band Of adventurers OF all nations,
President Monroe sent expedition which drove
out the adventurers and hoisted the nag OF the
United States in place OF that of Spain, garrison
ing Fernandna in trust for the King or Spain.
This did not put an end to the improper
or Spanish territory for purposes inmica TO
the United States. The Florida Seminoles had
mastered forty troops OF the United states and
had committed other depredations upon American
SOIL and the United states was unable TO obtain
from the Spanish authorities any proper satisfac
tion. General Jackson was then put in command
OF the United states troops on the spanish
frontier and invested with fun power to
conduct operations as he thought best. He
inaugurated his campaign oy pursuing the offend
ing Indians into spanish territory who sought ref
uge under the guns Of the Spanish fortress OF SC.
Marks The commandant OF the fortress claimed
that he was unable to resist their demands. Gen.
cral Jackson at once took possession OF the fort say
ing that the measure was justified on the principle OF
set-delence, and must be satisfactory 70 the klpg