The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-06-17

Interview reported tor the Chicago Times.]
Reporter. General, the Times wishes
to present to its readers your idea OF the
character of the criticisms upon your book.
and to give you an opportunity, in short,
Of criticising your critics.
Gen. Sherman (laughing) | very much
prefer to leave that alone until thel- crit
icisms are all in. have but very little
to say about it; hardly anything, IN fact:
knew very we'll that the volume would
call forth great deal of comment, and |
am willing, indeed am anxious, that 1t
should elicit the most thorough criticism.
l am sorry to see that some portions OF
it have been misunderstood, and indeed
misrepresented, in some quarters. For
instance, it has been said that a portion
of it seemed to reflect disparagingly upon
the volunteer army, but / should
be, I think, we'll enough known by
this time for my belief in the efficiency
and love for the volunteer army to be
above question. I always loved the vol
unteers, and was ever profoundly i'm
pressed with their courage, and in no part
of my book have ever alluded to them
but with affection and respect. 1t was
my constant care to write these memoirs
in the most respectful and careful vein,
so as to avoid hurting the feelings of any.
body. It has been said, again, that |
wrote the book as
A WEAPON AGAINST BLAIR AND LOGAN,
but this again is an assertion that is ut
terly groundless and is unjust and In
deed absurd. l have, and always have
had, the greatest admiration for both
these gentlemen as soldiers, and never
questioned for moment their patriotism
or ability. All the reference have made
to them in the book has been done in the
most respectful way. In reference to my
appointment of Gen. 0. 0. Howard to the
Army of the Tennessee, instead Of Blair
or Logan, I thought then, and think now,
that it was the wisest appointment.
could not help feeling then that,
admitting the military ability Of
these gentlemen, they would perhaps be
induced to subordinate that ability to the
furtherance of a political future and the
gaining of political ends. Gen. Howard
was the man wanted for the place, fol
he was technical soldier, and felt sur,
that he would devote his whole time an(
energy to the single work of that army
His ambition was simply to ccmmant
that army; it was limited to that ant
stayed there. AS we say in the army
success is the end of the discussion, AM
as the campaign was eminently success
full, it INDICATED the choice. Fun Their,
think my inward prediction at the tim
was verified, for Logan and Blair cam
back and devoted themselves to making
speeches. Gen Howard was thorough
" good technical soldier, and was tn
right man for the post; but of the abilit,
and patriotism Of either Blair or Logan
never entertained the slightest doubt
and any impression to the contrary is
misapprehension Of the gravest char
acter.
r. Was not Howard good deal Of
martinez general
Gen. S. No, sir, he did not deserve t
be called martinez he was only pre-
else. He was unainchingly precise, an
in the transportation Of troops across tn
country and by various roads, it need
pre-eminently the faculty of precision t
avoid collisions and serious mistakes.
R. see in letter published in thi
mornings Times that Jefferson Davis
going for you without gloves.
Gen. S. with half smile, and in
manner comical from its very quietudel--
Well, don't see that | need care yer
much about the criticism of jeff. Davi.
anyhow.
r. The criticism of the press Of tn
country, reviewed as whole, would seer
to tend toward verdict Of regret ths
the book was published in your life tim
in brief, it might be put in sing
phrase: SHERMAN, aren't you sorry 20
did it,
Gen. S. Qaughing) No, I'm not. Til
: book want thoroughly criticized, an
, the deliberate judgment that is arrived I
: by . searching review oeits contents, an
which such general criticism will procur
: THE ONLY GOOD THE BOOK WILL DO,
r and is the purpose At which aimed.