Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-22
Wafrhnan d yunrnaL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE %, 1881.
General Sherman Reviews jeff. Davis.

In responding to the toast, " The Army and the
Navy" General Sherman made characteristic
speech which is particularly interesting for its ef-
fective handling Of jefferson Davis attempt to
prolong the war by his order to General Johnston
In May, 1864. Davis charges against General |
Sherman are also treated very much as the general
fought the rebels
Comrades Of The Army Of dbe Potomac u prom |
ised last year my personal and valued friend,
General Joseph r. Hawley to attend this particu-
lar meeting in which he seems to have special
interest think first knew him as a brigader
at wilmington, North Carolina, just about the
close of the civil war Of 1861, when had good
deal to think about; still he made an impression
on me, and that impression has deepened with
time feel a special interest in the younger Off
GERS like those of our volunteers, who are likely
to survive us veterans and may write our epi-
taphs. do not profess to be ambitious at this
epoch of time, but certainly do sympathze with
Hamlet in his dying appeal to his old comrade:
"Horato, am dead;
Thou livest report and my cause Alright
To the uDsatsned."
| am now called on to reply to the stereotyped
and somewhat personal toast of 1.-THE Army and
Navy OF the United States," the twin services
whose members have sworn to defend and main
tain the honor of our flag on land and on sea, and
who for century have done this faithfully and
well, with an ambition and courage which have
added lustre to the renown Of the whole country
We stand now among the most favored nations of
the earth, II not the first. As people we main
tain the nucleus Of an army and navy, mere
germ to typify the life and spirit of the body
which on an occasion like that which gave birth
to the army of the Potomac must certainly admit
OF infinite increase and even this nucleus is not
permitted to remain in idleness in time OF the
most profound peace. Work, work everlasting,
seems to be the lot of Americans. Ships, though
built of wood and feeble in power compared with
the huge iron ships OF other nations, display our
flag everywhere over the broad waters of the
earth while the army, split up into different COM
panies, and even squads is to-day the skirmish
line along the frontier Of civilization, preparing
the way for the emigrant, guarding the pastures
of the cattle which are fast replacing the buffalo,
the elk and antelope of the vast interior of our
continent and in building roads, bridges and mil
itary posts. There are few idlers in the army Of
the United States All are employed save the
| sick and wounded, and that small fraction, which
exists under all governments, who live on the
| reputation and influence Of their mothers, cous-
| ms sisters and aunts." These favored ones may
| flourish for time but, like such gentry in the
past they will be swept away by the first blast Of
| war, when the more manly element will as al
ways, leap to the front. | entertain the highest
possible opinion Of army societies like this which
resulted from our civil war 1t is not true that
they keep alive the animosities of that war, but
on the contrary, the social amenities here prac
tced are calculated to smooth wars wrinkled
| visage and to develop the kindlier phases of hu.
man character and above all value are the OBJ
servations of the living actors here spoken and
recorded before tribunal which can separate
pretensions from practice, and thus preserve tht
results OF an experience which may be Of inestm
able value in the next war | remember vel
the public apathy which Immediately preceded
the Mexican war and the civil war. Many O
us had become so weary Of waiting for promo
ton, for action, that we resigned our com
missions and engaged in civil pursuits, ant
even as late as March, 1861 il any one spok,
openly of civil war he was laughed at TO
his folly; and when war did actually com
no people on earth were less prepared 70
for it than those of the United States. Onl,
twenty years have passed since that dread epoch
and sometimes fear our people are becoming Sc
engrosse ed in their pursuit of wealth that they ar
liable to forget the lessons OF that war. To b,
sure we possess most valuable records in the OF
fetal reports not yet complete, and in the man
histories biographies, memoirs, recolections, etc
Of the principal actors and for one hail the las
addition to our stock OF knowledge in Badeau'
military History of General Grant" and Of MI
Davis " Rise and Fall of the Southern Confedei
acy." These are now fair subjects Of crticisI
and comment, and / believe that the cause G
truth demands that every witness shall recor
his honest opinions OF such important matters.
did not have the privilege of sharing in the opel
ations of the army of the Potomac, but ] hav
been over the ground, and was personally a,
quanted with nearly all your army corps and d
vision commanders, and say publicly and en-
phatically that Davis to the contrary notwith
standing, approve of General Grants movemer
from Washington to Richmond by land instead {
by water War is an awful game, and demand
death and destruction. A certain amount
fighting, of killing had to be done. and the banl
Of the Rapidan and Mattapony were goo
places for it as those of the James and Appomato,
So far as am capable of judging, General Badea
has told his story Of the terrible battles from I'll
Wilderness to Appomatox Courthouse clearly an
we'll know that heart-burnings are generate
by illusions to personal traits of character, but
do not see how otherwise General Badeau coul
have accounted for actual results. l surely ro'
from the perusal OF his volume with higher est
mate of the great army of the Potomac than
had before, and am now better prepared to uni
with you in celebrating its perseverance,
mighty courage and heroism. To have yo'
names inscribed on its rolls ia an honor that yol
children will value more than you do As to NJ
Davis "Rise and Fall Of the Southern Confede
acy," confess have not seen the volume, on
the copious extracts in the New York Herald
June 3, 1881, and hardly know whether to tre
them seriously or jocosely. 1t WAS not expect'
that he would feel kindly to those who awaSen
him 80 rudely from his dream Of empire but sure
In stating facts beyond the reach of his vision
understanding he ought to have approximated 4
truth even as to his enemies Assuming the gu
tations published in the Herald as authentic
wish to say that it was lucky for Mr.. Davis tn
General Johnston in May, 1864, did not obey
orders and assume the offensive from Dalton
the north side of the Tennessee river. One won
suppose that after the experience OF both Johnst
and Hood, whose courage and skill no man d
that the aggressive campaign foreshadowed in |
several general propositions of April IL, 1864, W
the veriest nonsense. Johnston did not have
Dalton seventy thousand men, and Mr.. Da'
ought to have known it, and Johnston on the 81
was better qualified to judge than Mr.. Davis
Richmond. As to the removal OF the non-comb
D ant population from Atlanta, Mr.. Davis says IL
since Alva's atrocious cruelties in the Netherlan
in the sixteenth century, there has been nothi
In comparison for cruelty. He had right
publish such words in 1854, when extraordina
language was needed to arouse the sinking en-
5 gies of his people, as he called them, but at h
late date it is simply absurd Nota man, won
or child was harmed in that removal. Ma
Clare OF the confederate army, appointed by CT
eral Hood, and General Willard Warner of
r. staff, now residing In Tecumseh, Cherol
county, Alabama, certified TO me pontedly d
fact.
+. General Sherman here read the report OF Ma
Clare Of the confederate army, appointed TO
perintend on the part of the contsderates the
moval of the inhabitants from Atlanta, a rep
\ which contains no warrant for Davis outrage,
| charge, but states specifically that the people
der his orders were moved as comfortably
safely as possible" The report of Colonel lie d
o. federal quartermaster Of the twentieth corps,
also read by which it appears that sixteen h