The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-21
sherman and Grant-Lct Us Have tho
Truth.

The discussion attending the publication OF
I General Sherman memoirs" is taking wide
range Many opinions are expressed as TO the
wisdom OF the General in inviting the contro-
yersy. Some military critics think that 1t
would have been wise for him to have
ignored the subject altogether, leaving to
history the adjustment of his own fame,
Others recall the generosity shown BY Pres
dent Grant in restoring TO him his protest
against the attack of yicksburg-an attack
which was successful against Sherman's judg-
ment and was the real foundation OF the Presi-
dents military fame-and contrast this with
what appears to be desire on Sherman's part
to invite controversy with the President.
Others regard the book of General Sherman
as simply tribute to the West Poiat ''aristoc-
racy'' which was so unfortunately dominant
during the war, and an attack upon the volun-
teer system and volunteer generals. General
Logan, in correspondence with IA Philadelphia
paper, published yesterday, makes the apt
point that if General Sherman did not think
him fit to command after McPherson's death,
General Grant did think him fit to super
son, and holding higher command. This
point VIC think aptly taken. The friends and
admirers of Mr.. Stanton are preparing to
vindlcate the great Secretary from Sherman's
severe assaults. So that we arc really en-
barking upon a discussion that bids fair to
be more interesting than any We have had
since the war
Clearly enough, General Sherman has a
right TO publish the memoirs of his military
career during his life. In doing so, as we
have shown, he simply follows the example
Of commanders as illustrious as Xenophon,
Cesar, Frederick Napoleon and Scott. Nay,
more; he follows the example of his imme-
diate predecessor, General Grant. 1t is wen
understood that the President has given
official sanction TO the admirable and COM
prehensive work Of General Badeau, in
'sThe Military History of General Grant" the
second volume of which is soon 10 be pub
lished. The difference between General
Sherman and General Grant is that General
Sherman "A ready, interesting and at times
brilliant writer-prefers to tell mis- own story.
General Grant is a clumsy writer, and has
been too much concerned in public affairs 10
give the time necessary to a history: 50 he
has selected the facile and scholarly pen
Of one who was near him in the army
More than this, no harm is ever doLe
by telling the truth. In the inter-
est Of truth no one can question
the course of General Sherman. As Milton
says, in an extract quoted BY Judge Porter the
other day.. Though all the winds Of doc
trine were let loose upon the earth, SO Truth
be in the field we do I'M uriously to Inisdoubt
her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple.
Who ever knew Truth put to the worstin free
and open encounter? For who knows not
Truth is strongest next to the Almighty? She
needs no policies. no stratagems, to make her
victorious. Those are the shifts that Error
uses against her power. Give her but room
and do not bind her when she sleeps" These
majestic words can find no more appropriate
application than TO the discussion OF General
Sherman's memoirs" The only question we
have to ask i, Does General Sherman tell the
truth? Does he tell il without needlessly Of
tending any one and without the violation Of
the proper amenities and reservations of life?
If he does not then there are hundred
thousand witnesses who can rise and confront
him. Every general in the army who served
with him, the officers, the private soldiers, his
antagonists. the people whom he conquered,
the War Department, the civil servants Of
the administraton--ell have it in their power,
on one point or another, 70 testify whether
General sherman speaks what is true or what
is false II il in the interest Of truth and
history that this discussion should proceed
now. Better have the truth determined when
the witnesses are living than to wait until the
accumulated dost Of generations makes honest
investigation impossible.
Take one point alone. and this Is only one
Of the points abou, which there will be wide
discussion. General Sherman, in his book.
plainly says that the march to the sea. con-
ceded by foreign critics t. b. the most brill
liant achievement IL the war. was his own act
and that BE- has been denied this honor by
the friends III President Grant Let Us quote
his own words T. make otr statement exact.
On page lee. volume III, Of his Memoirs. the
General SAYS: This W. the frs time that
General Grant assented to the march
- the -ea. and although many Of his
warm friends and admirers insist that
H. was the author and protector Of that
march, and that simply executed his plans,
General Grant has never, in my opinion,
thought 20 or said 50. This clearly means
that General sherman suffers under the in
justice put upon him by the 'friends and adj
mirrors ana historians Of General Grants
career. II order that It may be seen that he
does not speak without reason. and as showing
the wisdom and coumge OF these Memoirs,
1T us quote again from two AZ least OF the
military authorities whose position aud inior-
nation entitle them to respect First, we take
General Badeau whose work j. published
under the personal supervision Of the Presi-