New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-31
CHARGE AGAINST GENERAL SHERMAN
HE Is ACCUSED BY H. ". DoYNToN, TO THE SEC
RETARY Of WAR, OF CONDUCT UNBECoMING
orFfCrp ASD A GENTLEMAN.

HE Is ACCUSED BY II. ". DoYNToN, TO THE SEC
RETARY Of WAR, OF CONDUCT UNBEcoMNG
AN OFFICER AID A GENTLEMAN.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 30.--H. V. Boynton,
Washington correspondent o. The Cincinnati Gazette.
has sent TO the Secretary OF War charge Win spec
cations against General William r. Sherman for " con
duct unbscoming officer and gentleman" He cites
opinions that such charges may be brought 10y
civilians and that to justify proceedings It is not neces
sary The officers conduct should have any connec-
ton with the mItsry service.
Mr.. BpyntOn gives summary Of the circumstances
which led to his bringing the charges oil OF which are
contained the specifications given below. Mr. Boyn-
ton then adds:
His offence was OF a character that made him fully
liable to arrest q criminal and arraignment
before the Police Court OF TINS district tribunal where
the varied representatives 81 the dangerous and the
wicked classes Of the Capital stand common level
for hearing and punishment. But proper regard ioT
exalted Office " the General of the Army prevented
the undersigned from taxing srch action against ne III
cumbeot, although he bad voluntarily sunk himself to
the level Of police court jurisdiction.
He might have been proceeded against on the criminal
SIDE OF the Supreme Court OF this district b1t mere
Sne ripan holds might well restrain any citizen from
initiating proceedings which would arraign him III a
the undersigped has, therefore, concluded to afford
General sherman the opportunity OF asking Tor Sgrl
VIII ch III called OF necessity be made NJ or Ohcfrs
gh ~ rank aud essinP the respect aud eOnnHence
O. the p1ec would os9 pe Te eS Sverv
which high rank and extended fame could give; not
Of relieving himself OF the urden OF proof
The undersigned therefore respectfully rcqness that
General sherman be given an opportunity OF nS6-
Ing to appear before such tribunal, to make gOod ms
charges. To himself from the above direct aeg-
lions o. crme and also 60 establish, III he cam the aec
racy, the fairness and tie business OF ms enors,
for criczing which Ia the light OF the olhela records
he has t 20 charge me with deliberate fasehood
with garbng the records and with general ha
ness formally set forth in the charge and seei-
hcatons herewith Enclosed.
CHARGE AND SPECIFICATIONS.
The charge Is conduct ubbecominc officer and a
gentleman" There three specifications:
First Syecidcaton-ln this that william T Sherman,
General OF tie Army OF the United States, being ap-
preached by Eugere Cowes.a reporter for news
as such MS opinion OF the re puiatiOn OF Henry Boyn
ton, Washington correspondent OF The Cincinnati ca
able character among his associates and In the comnu-
nifty where he resides, ana having IN honorable repnt
press, be- the SAID William r. Sherman General Of the
Army OF the United States, did reply to the SAID re-
porter Cowles and the presence ana hearing OF sun
dry other 'orsons. IN the following words, to WI;
Eyeryepdy knows h to De notorious no. 0na a'oeror
And further reply 10 tie said reporter Co"es Ola
"He is entirely without character. Why, for thou
sand dollars ne wopld Islander his own mother
The said William shermsn, General of the Army Of
tire Tilted States by tlns language, uttered aiore
said S N derossiion q gn o and foreetu OF ma
official position and the honor AMI dignity OF the service
TO which attached did violate the criminal laws OF
the district In which he is stationed 10 Wit the laws
defining and Furnishing the crime OF SANDER IN the Dis
Second Spectdcaion-In this. that upcn the appear
sherman. General Of the Army. as recited in the first
specification OF this chsrge. and contained IN The inter
view brreunto attached. and marked A), the said
Henry V. Boynion did address to me SAID William r.
sherman a communication 10 the following letters and
WASHINGTON, Jan. l6. 1880.
General W. 7. SHERMAN, Washington. d.
GENERAL: The nclosed interview appears IN the
Washington correspondence Of The Cleveland Leader Of
the 18TH insr and, you Will perceive. IL pupoits TO
OF courpe DO not object TO that part which treats of
my criticism OF your Memoirs; but am lo'h 70 be
leyo that used the language contained In the tHO
brief paragraphs have marked, namely:
You could hire Inn 10 40 any thing Tor money ana
As these purport TO be your exact words. am sure
you can have no hesitation IN informing NE II lhe cor
respondent N question reported them correctly ana II
he did not. am also sure you Will promptly diSayow
them. Very respectfully. - =, ,,
the SAID II. Boynton meaning by the first part OF
cistp of his treatment OF the MeuoIrs-O which com
municstou said William T. Sherman. General OF the
Army. did return reply written IN his own nand' III
the following letters and figures. TO wit:
HEADQUARIEks ARMY OF THE uNTrED STATES
WASHINGTON. ID. G., Jan. 16, 1850
SIR: have received your letter inclosing copy OF
Cleveland paper which have glanced a. and recognize
as the report Of young man who came 10 me SAVING
that you had slandcred his father ,..,..-
for pay that SANDER your daily avocatio and as
you ndd deliberately falshed az TO me- believed you
capabe OF sandernR your own mother for pay. This 10
Yours W. T. SHERMAN.
And he. the said william T. sherman. General OF the
Army DID subsequently exhibit the same TO divers and
sundry persons and thus for second time did violate
the criminal OF the district IN which he stationed
to w.t. the laws defining and Furnishing THE crime OF
SANDER IN the District OF Columbia.
The third specification relates to General shermans
Memoirs to Boyntons book called sherman's Hstori-
cal Raid" and TO statements made by General Sherman
I'm the controversy that followed in the OF which
no accused Boynton OF fasifying records and with
being persistent and energetic" in the manufacture CT
falsehoOd