The Portland daily press., 1875-06-15
Gen. w. I. Sherman.


about the grim warriors ears which would
| demoralize less aggressive man. The regu-
lar Washington correspondent, who, lawyer
| like, works for his client, has selected his
sharpest pen with which to puncture the
General. The thin-skinned man, who is
thin-skinned because he has an impression
which, like Banquo's ghost, won't down,
that his record will not stand criticism, finds
allevation for his imaginary wounds by doing
his utmost to belittle and cast reproach upon
the great leader of the Army of the West.
The trouble with Gen. Sherman is that he
has told the country just what he thinks OF
many of the men with whom he came in con-
tact during the years of the war. He has
not gone out of his way to speak his mind of
any man. On the other hand, he has not
modified his opinions respecting any man
with whom he came in contact simply be-
cause his views were going into print.
We think, however, that the general read
er will be surprised to find so little of harsh
criticism as Gen. Sherman's books contain. 1t
is true that he assails ex-Secretary Stanton
with a great deal of vehemence. Now that
Mr.. Stanton is dead, unquestionably, much of
this criticism would much better have been
omitted. But it must be remembered that
Gen. Sherman feels that he was Intentionally
at time when his signal service should have
been conspcuously recognized. For four
years he had devoted every energy to the
prosecution of the war and as much as to any
other man, its successful termination was due
to his ability as a general, to his unceasing
zeal which challenges the highest admiration
and TO that lofty patriotism which so conspic-
uously characterized his efforts. There could
be no possible ground for suspectng his 10y
atty or the entire rectitude of his purpose.
The only intimation he had of the policy of
the administration was from President Lin
coin at City Point less than three weeks be-
fore his assassination, which, as it appears by
notes taken at the time by third party, was
to avoid all possible bloodshed and to dis
band the rebel armies on such generous
terms that the men would go to their homes
feeling that the federal government had moth
ing but good will toward them. He had as
precedents the terms of the surrender of
Gen. Lees army to Gen. Grant and the in
Virginia after the surrender of Lees
army, to assemble at Richmond to confer for
the public good. He knew that both
terms of surrender offered by Gen.
Grant and the suggestions of Gen. Weitze
were approved by President Lincoln. Now
he had the army of Gen. Johnston nearly
within his grasp. Another battle would GER
tainlY settle the matter, but Gen. Johnston
would surrender all the armies in opposition
to federal authority on terms which would
secure the future safety Of all the officers and
men and also recognize for time the exist
ing state governments. These terms Gen.
Sherman accepted. In the meantime Presi-
dent Lincoln had been assassinated and a
change of feeling had taken place in conse-
quence, in Washington. Gen. Sherman's
terms of surrender for the rebel armies were
overruled. OF this Gen. Sherman does not
so much complain as of the manner in which
it was done and the spirit which seemed to
actuate Mr.. Stanton. Il must be admitted
that his orders TO Gen. Sherman were very
curt ard that those given to other officers
contained, by implication, the most severe
censure upon him. All of these the Secre-
tary allowed to be published without waiting
any explanation from Gen. Sherman. 1t is
this studied insult as he regards it, which
has aroused and kept alive the resentment of
Gen. Sherman. A more sanity spirit would
have overlooked it, but Gen. Sherman with
all his rare qualities has never set up in that
business or claimed to. Indeed, West Point
teaching does not bring that rare and beauti-
ful element into especial prominence in its
course of instruction. Both the Secretary
and the General were jealous patriots, de-
voting every energy to the work of subduing
the rebellion. Both were positive men with
positive ideas. When they differed, collision
was inevitable. 1t will be noticed that how
ever severe Gen. Sherman is upon Mr..
Stanton, he does not cast any reflection upon
his general integrity. Gen. Haleck also comes
in for bit of criticism in connection with
this affair through his ability as soldier in
highly commended elsewhere.
1t is also stated that Generals Logan and
Blair feel aggrieved and that they propose to
vindcate themselves sometime in the future.
The fair minded reader will search the Men,
oirs in vain for any criticism upon either oil
these gentlemen. Gen. Sherman speaks of
'poltical generals" but applies the .erm to
no one in particular. He gives his reason for
passing by both these generals at the death of
Mcpherson at Atlanta and giving the COM
mand of the Army Of the Tennessee to Gen.
Howard, which is, that he wanted men to
command armies who ''were purely and
technically soldiers as there was to be the
most delicate maneuvres, requiring the ut
most skill, nicely and precision" We are
sure that the history of the war and OF that
campaign fully confirm the wisdom Of Gener-
ais Sherman's and Thomas's choice. The
blunders and disasters of Gems. Butler and
Banks when in command of independent ar
mics in the field, were the results at political
generaship. The public require men speci'
ally trained in their respective professions for
ldWytlS, puyolCidue, SiOl Sy yhioh3 Oh5thS0Aot
but most every man thinks that he can sue
cessfully command an army-or manage a
metropolitan journal better than anybody else'
Generals Hooker and McClernand are cen
sured aad if these men are guilty of that
which is laid to their charge, they really de-
serve all that Gen. Sherman has said of theln.
The former VIXEN transferred to the West
undertook to cultivate those little quarrels and
! jealousies with other generals which resulted
so disasterously in the Army OF the Potomac
| during the first two years of the war. The
| other was ambitious, selfish and unpatriotiC
as his after conduct has shown.
But the "aggrieved' are not all included in
what was the Union army and side. Con
federate generals and especially the late Mr.
Jefferson Davis, who is struggling hard tC
remind those of his countrymen that he die
not murder or starve, that he is yet living
he has taken occasion to denounce Gen. Sher
man for refusing to say that he thought JEFF
Davis had nothing to do with the assasina
ton of President Lincoln and even init
| m atipo that his narticinationS in that crime