National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-19
statesmen may
BOYNTON rs. SHERMAN.
. v.B." Rises to Personal Explanation

Oh. w. b." Rises to u Personal Explanation.
WAsHINGroN, January II, 1880.
TO he Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR: You published In your issue of this
date an extract from Western newspaper
purportiug to give certain uttcrances of the
General of the Army of the United States in
regard to myself. | confess that was unable
to believe that charges 50 false and unfounded
could have been made, that language 80 coarse
and indecent could have been used by the in-
cunbent of this exalted office. l am now,
however, advised that after reading the origi-
nal publication, General Sherman adopts the
language rs substantially that used by him to
the interviewer.
The fact that, In his desire to attack ono
who, having compared tho assertions in his
memoirs" with the official records and ex-
posed many discrepancies, General Sherman
was willing to join hands with newspaper
which in the past has edtorally invaded tho
sanctity of his own household and grossly at
tackled Mrs. Sherman, that noble aud devoted
Christian woman, and also denounced his
Memoirs" as u book of self.putlery," fur
nishcs a standard by which to measure his
feelings over certain facts which have at last
been established In regard 10 military move
meuts OF which he enormously wrote.
Charity suggests that some allowance should
be made for the modification and irritation
naturally resulting from the knowledge of
the fact that General Grant in his quiet and
modest way has recently ended a discussion
which has lasted since the Memoirs frst made
thoir appearance, by rightfnlly assuming to
himself the credit Of originating the March
| to the Sea-" and the campaigns up tho Cum
berland and the Tennessee, General Sherman
ha 'ing wrongfully appropriated to himself
| the credit of this march, and mistakenly con-
fcrred upon General Haleck the credit of
these campaigns. These uuobtrusve but most
! forcblo expressions of General Grant doubt
less caused the keeuest modification to Gcn-
eral Sherman, because the former indorsed the
general accuracy of the Memoirs, and gen
erousy sought to cover oven these grave
errors with the mantle of trLe friendshi by
alludng to them as "a few mistakes"
But after every allowance has been made
for all this-serious as it is for General Shcr-
mans reputation as u writer Of military his
| tory-it falls far short of justifying him In
such au assault as he has seen fit to make upon
| one who has participated against him in the
discussion which has al last brought out the
truth In regard to these important campaigns.
While it is possible for writer to uncou.
sciously reveal himself correctly through
the language with which he clothes his
thoughts, q military historian cannot cstab.
lish his claims to brilliant conceptions, on end
the controversies over disputed points of great
military movements by such language as that
now chosen by the General Of tho Army.
am well aware that such charges rs Cen
eral Sherman makes cannot be disposed of by
simple denals. therefore ask the privilege
OF saying, through your journal, to General
sherman and 80 many of the public rs take an
interest in the matter, that | will select n
tribunal and form of action watch, without
lnhicting any personal indignity, will afford
him ample opportunity to establish the truth
of his charges, Or if lie fail, will exhibit him
to all the world us Il reckless slanderer.
III. V. BOYNTON.