The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-05-27
GEN. sHERmAN's oURIOUs BOOK.

Gen. Sherman has written and published
his own memoirs. 1t is a remarkable book
distinguished by aninfnite degree of terri
BILE frankness. Very strangely Northern
people have differed widely from those of
the South in estimating the relative great
ness of Northern generals. Here there has
been no difference of opinion. Sherman
has no peer in the catalogue of Northern
heroes, and Grant, in Southern eyes, was
never more than butcher. A given num-
Der of men were required to Overwhelm a
given force of the Confederaoy. The uni
verse was his resource and he exhausted it
in paving States with human skulls. Sher
man never halted in his ''march to the sea.
He 2ronounces Joseph E. Johnston the
greatest of tacticians as he was the most
skillful and bravest and prudent of officers.
In any event the confidence reposed in him
by fifty thousand men, when he was safely
encamped at Atlanta, was even sublime.
We speak of what we know of the esprit of
the army. Though bayonets are not sup
posed to think, the soldiers confidence IN
Joe Johnston was never for moment
shaken and it may be we'll to say that Brax-
ton Bragg was as thoroughly trusted by the
masses of men who served under him as
was Joe Johnston. Bragg's subordinate
and disobedient officers were his misfor-
tunes. OF course, like all others of our
time, we are incapable of writing the
history of events, even yet within the
shadow of the wall of prejudice and per
sonal predictions within which we live,
and we are only induced to write of these
facts because the South sees more clearly
than the North the virtues and wees of.
Northern leaders, even as the North has
not, as shown in sherman's memoirs, mis-
taken the relative virtues of our great COM
manders. Sherman crowns Lee aud Stone
wall jackson, and is strangely malicious in
his assertions affecting Mr.. Jefferson Davis.
lie absolutely thinks Mr.. Davis capable of
planning LincOln's assassination. Sherman
had great respect, and properly, for Gen.
Thomas's sOldierly worth and little for that
of Frank Blair, and less, surely infinitely
less, for that of one Logan. In all this the
world has already asserted its entire con-
currence with Gen. Sherman. But Sherman
says that Stanton was a thief and utters
many terrible things. he does hesitate to
tell the palpable truth that he rather than
Grant captured Richmond. II the capture
Of Richmond signify the overthrow Of the
COnfederacy the event was consummated
by Sherman. He taught the South what
war was and that 1t Was simply intolerable,
and even in this was most benefcent to the
7ery extent that he was most destructive
and ruinous. He stopped It. He made
its duration simply impossible, and only one
end, from the beginning. was possible.
sherman, having withdraw from Grant
and from WashingtOn, and having retained
share Of decency-as this Affects Ameri-
can simplicity Of tastes and unsuIhed
morals and personal integrity-is stin
esteemed for his genius and personal worth
BY the great body Of the people. HIS per
sOnal friends and admirers. and these are
necessarily very numerous, think that he
should be Gnnt's succcssof. MOI very long
ago the south was Of TIN opinion. But
popular fancies and asplEations have under
gone great changes Grant's reion has ex-
ciisd incursble prejudice against soldiers