New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-20
General Sherman's Reninescence.

.enuen1, anu also professor OF engineering
in the Louisiana Military Academy at Al,
exandria, Louisiana. His brother, John
sherman, was candidate for Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives, against
brooks, OF Virginia. The discussions of
that period show the divided sentiment of
the people. He narrates the following:
Que evening" at large dinner party at
Governor Meore's, at which were present
several members of the Louisiana Legsla
ture, Taylor, Bragg and the Attorney Gel
| eral Hyams, after the ladies had left the
table, noticed at Governor Moore's end
quite lively discussion going on, in which
my name Was frequently used. At length
the Governor called to me, saying: Colonel
sherman, you can readily understand
that, with your brother the Abolitionist
candidate for Speaker, some Of our people
wonder that you should be here at the head
OF an important State institution. Now,
you are at my table, and l assure you of
my confidence. Won't you speak your
mind freely on this question OF slavery.
that so agtates the land! You are under
my root, and, whatever you say, you have
my protection" l answered: "Governor
Moore, you mistake in calling my brother,
John Sherman; an Abolitonist. We have
been separated since childhood-I in the
army, and he pursuing his profession of
law IN Northern Ohio; and it is possible we
may differ in general sentiment, but deny
that he is considered at home an Abolition
ist; and, although he prefers the free in
stitutions under which be lieves to those of
slavery which prevail here, he would not of
himself take from you by law or force any
property whatever, even slaves" Then said
Moore: "Glvo us your own views of
slavery as you see it here and throughout
the South answered in effect that the
people OF Louisiana were hardly respons;-
bic tor slavery as they had inherited it; that
l found two distinct conditions of slav
cry, domestic and field hands. The domes-
tic slaves. employed by the females, were
probably better treated than any slaves On
earth: but the condition Of the field hands
Was different, depending more on the TEN
per and disposition OF their masters and
overseers than were those employed in the
house," and went on to say that, d" were /
a citizen OF Louisiana, aud a member Of the |
Legislature, would deem it wise to bring |
the legal condition OF the slaves more near |
the status of human beings under all Chris
tian and civilized governments. In the first !
place, l argued that, in sales OF slaves by |
the State, would forbid the separation of !
families, letting the father, mother and |
children be sold together to one person, in |
stead OF each to the highest bidder. Aud. |
again, | would advise the repeal of the stat |
ute which enacted a severe penalty for |
even the owner to teach his slave to read |
and write, because that actually qualified |
property and took away part OF It's value;
illustrating the assertion by the case OF
Henry Sampson, who had been the slave of |
Colonel Chambers, of Rapides parish, who
had gone to California as the servant of an |
officer of the army, and who was after
ward employed by me in the bank at San
Francisco. At first he could not write or
read, aud l could only afford to pay him
500 month; but he was taught to read
a hup h,,,l
his services became worth 5000 month.
which enabled him to buy his own freedom
and that OF his brother and mis- family"
What said was listened to by all with the
most profound attention; and, when l was
through, some one Il think it was Mr..
Hyanlsl struck the table with his fist, max
ing the glasses jingle, and said, by - he
De bate, which went on, for an hour or more, |
Oh both sides with ability and fairness.
Having severed his connection with the
Military Academy and gone to New Or
leans to settle finally the financial matters |
with his administration, and as
lie says, ''stood free and discharged Of auy
and every obligation, honorary or business,
that was due by me to the State OF Lou
isiana or to any corporation or individualin in
that State" he describes affairs in that city.
This bushes soccupled two or three days,
during which stayd at the ST. Louis Hotel.
usually sat at table with Colonel and Mrs. |
Bragg, and an officer who wore the uniform
VI the State OF Louisiana, and was addressed
as captain. Bragg wore colonels uni
form, and explained to me that he was
colonel in the State service. colonel of az
,ile1y, and that some companies of his reg
menJ garrisOned Forts jackson and ST.
Phillip, and the arsenal at Baton Rouge.
Beauregard at the time had two sons at the
Seminary of Learning. | had given them
some OF my personal care at the fathers re-
quest, and, wanting to tell him of their con
iition and progress, | went to his usual Of
ice, in the Customhouse building, and
found him in the act Of starting tor Mont
,oInery, Alabama Bragg said afterward
hat Beauregard had been sent for by JET
ferson Davis, and that 1t was rumored that
ne had been made Brigadier General, of
which fact he seemed jealous, because in
he old army Bragg was the senior. Davis
md S,ephens had been inaugurated Presi-
lent and Vice President of the Confederate
states Of America. February 16, 1861, at
Montgomery, and these States only en-
,raced the seven cotton States. recall d |
conversation at the tea-table one evening, |
It the st. Louis Hotel When Bragg was
peaking OF Beauregard's promotion, Mrs.
5ragg, turning to me, said: "YOu know
1y husband is not a tavorite with the new |
President" My mind was resting on Mr..
lincoln as the new President, and | said |
lid not know that Bragg had ever met Mr..
lincoln, when Mrs. Bragg said, quite point
dly, II didn't mean your President, but
nr President" | knew that Bragg hated
Davis bitterly, and that he had resigned
rom the army in 1855 or 1856 because Davis i.
g Secretary of War, had ordered him, with
is battery. from Jefferson Barracks, Mis-
ouri, TO Fort Smith or Fort Washlta, in
he Indian country, as Bragg expressed it,
0 chase Indians with si4 FOUNDERS
l visited the quartermaster, Colonel A. 1
;. Myers, who had resigned from the army, j
anuary %, 1861, and had accepted service
nder the new regime. His office was in a
he same old room in the Lafayette Square d
uilding, which he had in 1853, when was L
here commissary, with the same pictures =
u the wall, and tue letters ~. S." on every
ling, including his desk, papers, etc. l
sked him if he did not feel funny. "No,
OF at all. The thing was inevitable, seces-
on was complete success; there would be
o war. but the two governments would
title all matters of business in friendly n
brit, and each would go on in it's allotted I
,here, without further confusion" About c
lis date, February Is, General Twiggs, J a
[yers' father in law, had surrendered his 0
lrire command, in the department OF
exas, to some State troops, with all the
1vernment property, thus communicating n
le first serious step in the drama Of the Q
'nspiracy. which was to form a CON D
deracy of the cotton States, before work q
K upon the other slave or border States, D
I'D before the fourth of March. the day b
# the inauguration of President Lincoln. i,
walked the streets of New Orleans, and e
und business going along as usual. Ships "
ere strung for miles along the lower levee, a
nd steamboats, above all discharging or
.ceiving cargo. The Pelican flag of Lou
lana was flying over the Customhouse, !,
int, City Hall and everywhere. At the =
wee ships carried every flag on earth y