The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-02-04
GENERAL TELEGRAMS.
BOrNros VS.. SHERMAN.

Text of the Charges and specifications Pre-
rerred A yainst General Sherman by H.'y.
BOynien.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S, 1870.
Hon. Alexander Ramsey, Secretary of War:
sIE-HeTewith inelose for your informa-
tion, and through you for the information of
the president, In his capacity of commander
In-chief Of the army, charge, with specilica-
tiOns, against William L. sherman, general OF
the army, for ''conduct unbecoming an officer
ana n gentleman" IN violating the criminal
laws of this District. which define and punish
the crime OF sl2noer.
The legal right of a citizen to prefer such
charges is fully recognized in an opinion re-
corded in vol. 10, page f2', Opinions OF the
Judge Advocate General of the Army. In the
following words, tO-wit:
BUREAU on MILITARY JUSTICE.
July ~, 1876. !
'sCArTAIS-I have to advise you that IL can
ia 40 WAY affect the validity of charges against
m the military service. 1t u.s. indeed, ordina-
riy the duty of every person, military or
civil, TO bring TO the notice OF the local com
m2ndcr any grave matter OF Offsnse a. ainst
an officer within his knowledge. al in so do
ing such person exhibit formally drawn
charges ana specific atoms, the commander
ssshonld ne deem the case otherwise a proper
one 10 De investigated OY court mari1ail may
either auoPt tbs se, or MAY frame entirely new
THE charges should indeed be subscribed by
some officer before being served upon the ac-
cused, but this superscription Is matter Of
. form merely, ana may IN al' eases properly
be made BY the judge advocate OF the court in
his own name aS sUcD."
As further bearing upon this case, tue Judge
advocate general h9lds tDigest of Opinions.
page %. paragraph b that: ITO justify pro-
.ceedings under this article (S}d, conduct un-
becoming an officer and q gentleman) II il not
necessary that the officers conduct should
have any connection with the military ser
vice IL is enough that il Is morally wrong.
and compromises MS personal honor. The act
need not have been Committed when the
officer wsS 'on duty"
These charges are preferred for the following
ON the u instant, II reporter Tor newspaper,
one +. II. COwles, approached
General w. Il. sherman, in the
his opinion of the reputation Of The under
signed, explaining TO General Sherman that
ne and some others associated with him had
published the undersigned as a iiar; and that
General sherman : testimony" was also de-
a sired to add TO their own on that point, Ito
show the public what fraud he the under
signed) is"
In the course of the conversation which
followed, in which The reporter acted in his
capacity "a such, General sherman SAID 10
him, with the full understanding that what
he said was solicited for publication, among
other false and sland -rOuS things OF the under
signed: "He is entirely without character
'iNou could hire him to do anything for
money for thousand dollars he would
slander his own mOtber;' anu that he was
very persistent and energetic in manu;aetur-
ing falsehoods."
these things being spoken to a reporter for
publication. and being uttered ia The presence
and hearing OF others, constitute the crime Of
slandsr "a defined by the laws in 1Orce in the
Further: -Four day after this conversation
with this reporter, and when his printed YER
sion of the interview with General Sner-
. man had arrived IN Washington, the un
dersigned, feeling confident that however Sc
verely General sherman might criticise the
review OF his "A1emoirs" by the undersigned.
of which he was more particularly speak lug to
the reporter, he would not so far forget what
, belonged 10 MS high once, as 10 use language
at once so coarse, 80 false, and so unoflicer-
like, therefore called the attention Of General
sherman, in writing, 10 the reporters article,
correctly stated.
General sherman replied. indorsing them in
language in some respects SILL more gross
than that to which mis- attention had been
called.
: This letter he subsequently exhibited to
others, by which exhibition lac again violated
the laws relating to the crime of SANDER.
AS this second Offense was committed in cool
moments, and when even the poor excuse of
the reporter CowIes of the criticism of mis- ME
moirsh did not exist. there was but one course
left TO a man claiming to possess good char
acter among his fellows, and that was 10 give
General sherman an opportunity TO exhibit
tue grounds Tor MS grave assertions. Inc un
derSigned therefore gave MIN notice through
the press that he would In due time select n
tribunal and form of action, which, without
tnfiicting any personal indignity upon the
general Of the army, would afford him ample
opportunity TO prove line truth OF bis charges,
and in case OF his failure would place him be
fore the public az reckless slanderer
HIS offenee WAS OF ~ character that made
him fully liable 10 arrest as a common crimi
this District, tribunal where the varied rep
Z resentatives of the dangerous and wicked
classes OF the capital stand on a coJDmon level
for hearing and punishment. But a proper
regard for the exalted office OF the general of
the army prevented the undersigned from
taking such action against its Incumbent,
although he had Voluntarily SUNK himself to
the level of police court jurisdiction.
He might nave been proceeded against on
the criminal side OF the supreme court OF this
District: but here again respect for the honor
able Office which General sherman holds
. might well restrain any eifizCn n from Initiating
proceedings which would arraign him in
prisoners dock.
srfOrd General sherman the opportunity Of
asking for a court. which. If called, must OF
necessity b. mace up OF officers high In rank,
and possessing the respect aud confidence of
the public. II would also be a court wherein
the general of the army would have every ad-
Dvantage which high rank and extended fame
could give. MOI the least OF these advantages
would be the opportunity of relieving himself
of the burden OF proof
The undersiQned therefore respectfully re-
L quests that General sherman may be- gwen
7 an opportunity of sssing 10 appear before
such tribunal. - make gOcd his charges, 10
. clear himself from the above a. rect allegations
of crime. and also to establish, II he can, the
accuracy, the fairness and the J1stness Of nj
Memoirs" for criticizing which in the light
OF the official records he has seen tit TO charge
me with delibersts falsehood, with the garb-
ling OF the records and with general Dasencss,
as more formally set forth in tile charge ana
and specifications herewith incio.ed.
It's respectfully submitted that. while an
eles OF war by writing inaccurateIy, and to
the distinguished feIlow-ofiicers. and OF the
renowned armies. such conduct does most
grossly violate their spirit; and it il further
respectfully submitted that an officer no O.diug
the position of general of the army, with all
the records of the war at his control by which
tOinsure justice and accuracy can not well CON-
NIT greater offense against military mora
than 10 publish inaccurate and unjust state
ments, 10 the injury of noted officers, both
}ivlDg and dead, whose regulations, deeds and
fame are dear 10 the country a. his own.
r. nar Qfsa
undersigned respectfully asks that others may
~pe drs gn TO cover the ground indicated, ana
that they may then be forward
I'd to 9eneral Sherman, in order
r1at, if b. feels confidence ina his
ability 10 sustain his charges against the
Undersigned, or 10 meet those herewith pre-
sented against him, he may avail hims.lt Of
his right 20 ask for a court TO settle the points
1hus formally placed At issue.
Very respectfully, your Obedisnt servant,
II. v. B9YNT0N.
| Charge aud specifications Preferred Against
1 William II sherman. General of the A rmy