Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-01
THE BoYNTon.sHERMAN TROUBLES.

COrresp0noenCe ana OmCtAl End Oroe meNlo
on the subject.
Washington, Feb. 26-The following are
the official Endorsements upon the charges
preferred against General Sherman for
conduct unbecoming an officer and n gem
tleman," and the closing correspondence
withthe war department on the subject:
Received At the Office of the secretary of
war. Jan. %. 1880.
Brought to the notice of the president
Feb. 8. 1880, and, on Feb. IL, 1880, direct
ed BY the president to be referred to Gen.
Sherman.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. Is, 1880.
Respectfully referred to the general of the
army for such remarks as be may deem pro-
per to make.
ALEX, RAMSEY,
Secretary of War.
Upon reaching Gen. Sherman, he indors-
ed them IS follows:
HEADQ's Army T UNITED State,
WARRINGTON, Feb. Is, 1850.
The Hon. A. Ramsey, Secretary Of War.
Sir: / have this moment received, for
the first time, the communication of II. V.
Boynton, addressed TO you under date OF
Jan. %, 1880, ~inclosing charges and speci.
6cations against General w. 7. Sherman,
With his volume marked Exhibit B." l
recognize the manuscript document az SUBJ
stantially the same has been published in
all the newspapers for the past weeks,
aud herewith return it with the few remarks
l deem proper to make. The charge" it.
self is an insult to my Office, my past record
of public services, and a name which ha,
stood sixty years without a single imputa-
ton IN my honor or integrity.
The fret two specifications involve pure.
~ the civil ofense of libel, or Islander com
pressed into the short letter l wrote him
upder date Of Jan. l6, 1880, every word Of
justify.
As to the third specification, Ihave never
heard that General Grant or Thomas OF
Logan or Blair or any of the great men,
whom he assumes TO defend, have ever ap-
pointed General Boynton as their attorney
To the living aud to the friends of the
dead, I am ever responsible for every word
spoken or written. I yield to no man in
my love and venerat!on of my comrades,
and have been for fifteen years ON sll suit.
able occasions, theil euiogist. All men have
their good qualities and their human defec,s,
and in accounting for the actual events OF
a terrible civil war, l was forced, like every
commander of an army. to account for
actual results. If ever in my life at any
time I have done injustice to any persons
whomsoever (Which l deny), l will cheer
fully submit the matter 10 an umpire and
abide by his judgment. I have made this
proposition again and again, aud will re-
new it publicly at our next army meeting
These meetings are composed Of the very
men who knew and felt the causes referred
to, and composed the rigbtfnl tribunal for
the matter set forth 10 the third and las.
specifications.
l admit the right Of Fl. V. Boynton, or
any citizen to prefer these or any charges,
and that l am always amenable 10 q court
martial, and l am glad he has reduced his
complaints to a tangible form. He has no
right, however. to impose upon the Uni,ed
States the heavy cost of a military trial, Of
witnesses from a distance, and necessary
attorneys fees. I regard his premature
publication Of these matters of scandal az
in the line of his profession. and meant pur-
posely TO avoid the o, ly trial which i. right
and proper, viz. In one of the many civil
tribunals which exist in the district Of COL
umbia for this very purpose.
l beg, therefore, that you will understand
that l am abundantly ready to anewer before
any court; that, when . month ago, this
Boynton publicly threatened me with a suit,
l employed as my attorney the Hon. Matt
H. Carpenter, who is ready to answer in my
name at any and all times. Your obedient
servant.
w. I. SHERMAN, General.
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