Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-06-17

Correspondence New York Times.

GARDEN CITY, L. l., May 2G, 1872.
Major General Joseph Hooker, better known
as ''Fighting Joe,' Of the Twentieth Army
Corps. is residing, for the good OF his heal1h
in this suburban city. He came here last NO
yember for ''elbow room" he says, and 1resh
air, and having fonnd botn is in no hurry 10
leave Your correspondent called on him yes
terdav and found him hale and hearty ne
still suffers from the stroke of paralysis whlch
so seriously affected his right side, but, as nc
saws himself, that does not matter SO mocn
while he can eat, sleep and ENJOY as Soou
health as he now does. lie is ever reaoy 10
talk of the dark days, and the Doys III oloe,
whom, he says, he prizes more than al o!nef
people on earth, and he recalled with en'nc-
sasm to-day the memories OF some OF 1 MS
comrades sleeping down in Lookout valiey'
Upon the introduction of the subject OF Sher-
mans Memoirs he changed his tone, and
gravely condemned the manner in which some
of the country's best-known Generals had
been spoken of in them. Said he: II had
rather be among those malgned by the Me-
moirs than among those commended. IN his
esteem General Thomas was the great Gener-
al OF the army, Sherman's superior as SOL
dier in every sense. Farragut was the hero
of the war.
He then made the following criticism Of
the Memoirs and their author: II have no
objection in the world in stating to you bref-
| " nv opinion in regard to the extraordinary
| publication of General Sherman's Memoirs.
| think it is the first instance recorded where
| commander cast asperslons IN this manner
| on his whole command. l have no taste tor
! responding to General Shermans slanders,
| but may do so, nevertheless, at the proper
time. Indeed, my own command almost re-
auires this of me, and shall not shrink from
the responsibility, no matter whether these
SANDERS emanate from the commander OF the
army or any other functionary OF the Gov
erpment. / feel indignant at the desecration
of the honored names Of Thomas, Farragut,
Mcpherson, and host of others l might
mention. do not envy the man who had it
in his nature to do so, as it seems General
Sherman had. His march to the sea, IN my
| Judgment, is not properly understood yet.
| Farracut's conception and execution OF the
great capture of the Lower Mississippi had
much more influence on the close OF the wal
than ANYTHING that General SheTman's army
did. But people must not be surprised at bis
stopping over, for he has been doing this all
his life
s'This is enough, trust, to give the people
an index of my opinion of the "Nemoirs "
and their author. Apparently he is impatient
for adventure, Nncn, lnlnk, Ae snouiO VI
well satisfied with what he has already ob-
tanned. He made war, like brigand, while
many other generals never forget that they
were making war on their own countrymen.
General Grant learned the character of his
Lieutenant long before the war was ended,
and now, if Sherman is ignored by the Ad
ministration, he can only thank himself fol-
it. The march to the sea up to Atlanta was
well done, but beyond that the enemy disap
peared from before Sherman's army, and
followed Thomas, who demolished them a
Nashville. It is ridiculous to talk Of Sher.
mans having ended the war, put up the price
of gold, or taken Richmond. He had nc
more to do with any of these than the man
in the moon. He did, however, leave black
streak in his rear, for which, no doubt, some
Of his countrymen justified him. think
however, that will, some time or other, bt
considered disgraceful by the great Christian
world. When the press RECEIVERS from the
shock it and the country received on the ap
pearance of the Memoirs, l take it for grant
ed that it will show less indulgence and len
iency toward the author than it has done thu:
far. 1t appears to have been appalled,, like
all others, by the magnitude of the outrage
perpetrated on those whom the nation honor
as its best defenders. and who, being dead
are silent.