The People's vindicator., 1875-06-26
An Open Letter.

. An Open Letter.
NATc11rrocuEs, L., June q, 1877!
Editors Times, Shreveport:
, Gentlemcn-1n your issuo of Sun
day, June goth, appears tle follow
ing:
"Col. VIM. N. Levy, Congressma
elect from this District, Is said to hav
recently made the following state
ment to correspondent Of the Gin
cinnati Enquirer:
Gen. Sherman voluntarily, unequi
vocal1y and unconditionally Pied dgc'
himself in the most binding manne
not to fight On either silo during th
war. The day before tho occasion
refer to, Col. Sherman, in compan!
with myself and Gen. Bragg, wlil'
taking q drink at the St. Charles bar
made the same pledge in unmistak-
able terms. His strongest desire il
parting was to leave an assuranc.
that he had no enm,ty, and wouli
not participate in the fight. 10 was
an opinion among many that Shcr'
mans policy was to retro until the
thing was over, then return and re-
sumo his old place at tue military
school, which lie could have done, as
he was regarded as a very valuable
man for that position"
deem it my duty to correct this
Statement" mas. much as it is mis-
understanding or misapprehension Of
tho facts of the case, and am unwil-
ling that my name should be connect.
ed with aught that does injustice to
another.
have frequently, in private inter.
course, spoken Of my relations with
Con. Sherman while he had charge
of tho Louisiana State Seminary of
Learning and resided iu Rapides Par.
ish, but must have been greatly mis-.
understood, if, from any remarks of
mine, it has been deducel that Gen.
Sherman ever "voluntarily, unequ,v-
ocally and Internationally pledged
himself in the most binding manner
not to fight on either eide during the
war"
l saw a good deal of Gen. Sherman
just before the war, and had frequent
conversations with him, and was
greatly impressed by his earuestness
and uneasiness of feeling in the dis
cussion of the probable result of the
secession movement.
l was an ardent advocate Of seces-
sion, both on principle and policy
He was ardently and, I believe, sin-
cercly, opposed to it, on the same
grounds-I we'll remember solemn
and saddened expression of his opin-
ion, just after the adoption of the or.
dinance ofsecessiou, by the Louisiana
Convention, to the effect, that peace.
able secession was impossible, and a
terrible internecine war was inevita
bic, the magnitude of which, he
thought, was not appreciated by US
Of the South, but which, from his
knowledge of Northern sentiment, he
professed to foresee. He expressed
most grateful for the kindness
and hospitality which had been cx.
tended to him by the officials and
private citizens Of our State, and
stated, on more than ono occasion.
that in view Of the terrible struggle
which he believed was imminent and
inevitable, he wished to retire to some !
quiet home in the West where he !
might not be called upon to partici.
pate in it, or even witness it's horrors. |
certainly construed Gen. Sherman's |
remarks as indicative of q desire to |
abstain from active participation in |
The war, but not as ptdy;sg Aimself
not to take part in it. It is due to !
him to state that saw him last (be-
ore the wary but short time after
he passage Of Secession Ordinance of
Louisiana, and these conversations
we're had, if my memory serves me
right, at least q month or six weeks
'efore the commencement of actual
'ostilities. What causes may have
'perated to change bis views, as un-
lerstood by me, I have no means OIL
moving.
Since tho surrender, I have seen
ion. Sherman but once, and then
'ur interview was casual and our con.
'ersation carsory. Ny ante-bellum
with him. have not been
His military course and
'olitical views are before the people
I the country for their judgment,
I'D however I may differ with him
officially and condemn bis conduct
t the war in tho high position which
Q occupied, 10 justice to history, to
'yself and to himself. I do not hes