The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-12
GEN. w. e. SHERMAN.
What He HAS 30 Say OF His OWN Retire.
meDe.

4 New York Herald reporter recently in
teryiewed Gen. Sherman in that city, and as
usual the old warrior was frank and outspok-
en- in his utterances. The following is an ex-
tract from the interview:
s.You have seen the statement about your
probable retirement, General? ?"
The General laughed and replied:
ssThat's all newspaper-al rumor."
'sBut If Gen. Grant should be made Cap
tain n-General?'
81 have no complaint to make" General
Sherman replied; = simply say that that is
that Congress would have to enact legislation
to define his duties and to decide who is 10
command the army, the General or the Cap
tain-General. AS it is, no one knows Wheth-
er he is TO be placed above the General or be-
low, or what the Captain Generals duties are
to be-"
'sI suppose the very title indicates that be
would be the Captain, as it were, of the gen
erals.
s'Well, it is rank unknown anywhere ex-
cept in Spain, for even in Cuba the office has
certain civil functions attached to it beside
the military duties The rank of General has
certainly been the highest thus far known in
our country-you know there have been only
three generals: General Washington, Gener-
al Grant and myself General Sherman said
this without the slightest ostentation, but with
evident feeling, and he added, as if in con-
tinuous current of thought: ssNo, have not
the slightest objection to General Grant being
retired from the service, which could only
be done BY an act Of Congress, and which
would give him three-fourths of the salary of
$13,5OO. That would prevent auch confu-
sion and complication as would arise from
this new rank Of captain general. The only
possible objection which any one in the army
could have against that would be thst as the
number Of retired officers is limited to 400 IL
would perhaps keep some one else out
ssYou cannot be retired as yet, General? z"
s'To begin with, there is no provision OF
law for the retirement of either the General
or the Lieutenant General. [ am thoroughly
independent. cant be retired by the Pres
ident unless Congress enacts some new legls-
lation; that, of course, would be different
thing. Then am not yet six.y-two. am
only sixty, and instead of having been forty
years in the service, as the law requires,
have only served thirty-tWo years-as I was
out Of service for some years after resigling
my commission as captain. So you see tha
even if the present Law was applicable to the
General of the Army cannot be retired as
yet"
s'HoW did all this talk about your probable
retirement originate, General?'
well, vas willing to make.a sacrifice for
General Schofeld, who was anxious to leave
West Point and take command Of one Of the
divisions. told him to wait Q year or two
and then would see If perhaps could not
arrange matters SO as to bring General sherl-
dan togWashington to take my place, while
I, perhaps, could travel on general inspection
duty, as Admiral Porter does. This would
have left General Sheridan's place open for
him Of course, we could not have two Gem
erals Of the Army in Washingto
and Sheridan-and under the proposed ar
there would even be three; and
so, while was willing to sacrifice myself for
The benefit of the service, simply remain at
my post now