The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03

looking but stawart orderly sergeant in one Of ths
classmates and, walking up to him. said
"How old are your
"Twenty-thrce General"
"You are a very young man 10 be an orderly SER
gcant. Is this your first enlistmentY'
Eyes, General
''rhen, remember, replied the General s.tbat II n
such men a. you that Congress is going make lieu.
tenants. Do you know any mathematlcsf ~
avery lrlc, General
'rhen get books and begin at once IL Is lust such
men as You that We want To what State do you boz
ITO South Carolina"
"south Cardinal" said the General, musngIy a. hs
turned and LEFT
The little steamers bow was next turned toward
sandy HOOK where The visiting party met by
Colonel Crispin Major Mckee extended the heartieet
welcome to the now considerably increased party a
visitors
AT SANDY HOOK.
II Is needless here 10 describe the symmetrical desert
Of granite forming the huge rndmonts OF fort ON
Sandy Hook. Upon beng asked when II would probably
be finished, General Hancock glanced colossal note
various guns occupied considerable time, but IL
shorn OF OF It's in crest by the fact OF the sucs
three and nne-inch brcech oadcrs and the Thompson
twelycnch gun having already been sent on 10 the
Centennial Exhibition Major MacKec kindly explained
the writer that the experiments now being carried
on at sandy Hook had IN WOW the utilizing OF our
present ordnance by the economical conversion OF the
kodman guns into rihed pieces by the insef-
uon OF ricd lube thus stated. the
work sounds simple enough but the array
oil mathematical calculations required TO deter mine
,ni',ai velocity dead pressure impact accuracy &C.
Is enough to appal even enthusiastic mathematician.
Alter the inspection the party invited 70 cola.
ton by Colonel Crispln Amer nm interchange a
adeus the Henry Smith was headed for Fort Hand
ton, where General Getty and party were landed ana
the steamers bow pointed TO New York.
SHERMAN on BELKSAr AND BABcocK.
On the way up the writer had an opportunity or
eliciting General sherman's upon some matters
which have OF late cngrosscd the public mind =
1t Is held General, ~ said the writer, sthat the
reasons given for your removing The headquarters u
tho army from Washington ST. Louis were not only
MAINTAIN that the inharmonous relations. between
yourself and the cx-Sccretary OF War, resulting from
his encroachng upon your domain, was the chief
cause
General SnERMAS-My relations with General Belknap
were not lnharnonos, but IL Is fact that no had
sumed himself so much that OF right belonged 10 tho
duties OF the General Of the Army, that found what
left me TO do could be well done In st. LOUIS a.
in Washington Having, too strong family reasons for
moving to ST Louis and prcerring II as residence to
Washington, determined with the concurrence ofths
President, To 60 there.
REroRrER-Rumor now has 1t that II is probable you
will, under tho new state OF things, return TO WASH
ington.
General suERxAS-I cannot speak positively a. to
any such probability but shall certainly 60 wherever
the best interests vi tho army Indicated 10 mo by
those who have right 10 do may require me. But
any case my family VIII reside in ST. Louis because
look upon II as many ways, . moro desirable
place OF residence than Washington
REroRTER-Do you not think, General that the case
OF Secretary Bclknap and OF General Babcock will
do something toward clearing tho atmosphere OF WASH
ingtonY
General SHERMAN-lt certainty ought 10 nave some
such effect. Those who know the state OF things In
Washington well were not much surprised. Matters
had TO eliminate, and IT 49, perhaps, well they did
at the present as at any future time.
RErORTER-But tho public look at General Babcock's
case with feelings different IRON those with which they
regard General Bclknaps.
General SHEgMAN--With regard to General BclknAp
would simply say that think his fall manly attrbut.
able to the fact that he wished to duties and re-
sponsbiltles for which he not qualified and which
properly belonged 10 others. General Babcock's tall,
you observed struck home the heart OF the
and has couucd the high rcputc In which graduates Of
West Point are held. But we must expect, In every
army, to lnd some weak men, and General Babcock,
like others who have Mt times 10 be dismissed the SER
vice. merely the rule by the exception nothing
more.
RnpoRrER-Do you think it likely that military
court inquiry Will be held his case, Of the
fresh evidence accommodating against himy
General SBERMAS-under present circumstances ]
could only pronounce TO whether there ground
for inquring into gwen charges not Such court
the demand Of the accused and as has no power to
punish, do not see what Il could do especially ~
Congress has tho case In hand
REpoRrER-Woud you allow me to ask you General,
what is your opinion with regard 10 the post trader.
ships?
General SuYRMAy-There have undoubte been
great abuses tho appointment OF the post radcrs or
they used to be called suffers. IL Is clear 10 me
that officers the best judges Of the Mt
of applicants. and the post trader ought 10 be
selected by a board or officers and his name SIMPLY
submitted % tho secretary OF war LOT approval. II
case OF an uniavorablc decision the Secrotary'g
part. let the Board go selecting and submitting
until applicant acceptable to both parties has been
found.
REPoRrER-How do you look spon the transfer d
the Indian Bureau to the Army Department.
General SHERMAN am OF opinion that II will BE- u
every way beneficial TO the Indiana No men In ths
country better acquainted with the Indians than
officers the frontier, there any in whom the
Indians have SO much confidence whom their
word ia pledged The transfer will be the solution OF
long and weary ing difficulty.
REroRrER-Do yon incline 10 believe that tho Indian
war will be long and bloody as many people sup
pose?
General SHERMAN do not II IL probable tha
many Indians will escape but do not see where thu
elements for a long war are. The Indians arc really
not strong and can be readily dealt with
The HERALD rcirained from troubling the new
OF War with questions, and the conversation
was Purely conventional; IN fact the new Secretary
had but little time Tor talking. his attention being
in taking mental notes Of what be saw.
Upon tho arrival OF the steamer at tho foot Of
street Secretary Tafts party at ouc<
went to the fith Avenue Hotel Tonight the Secra
lary returns Washington. General Sherman
expected TO remain In the city day or SO longer.