The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-14

correspondence has taken place between
Senator Maxey and Gen. Sherman upon
the subject of Gen. Ord's recent retire
ment:
MR.. MAxEY TO GEN. SHERMAN,
limited STATES SENATE CHAMBER;
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20, lS80.-Gen.W L
SurpMAN. Commanding United States
Armv-GeneraE. / have the honor TO
coll vonr attention to the accompanying
senate bill 1922. for the relief or brig.
Cen. and Brevet Msi. Gen. Edward Y,
Ord, which has been referred by the sem
ate to the committee on military affairs,
and by that COMMITTEES TO nae Tor Ia
vestigation, and report to the committee
and I respectfully inylts your attention 50
Abs following points: How long have you
known Gen. Orc, and what is your estimate
of him as an officer and gentleman, and OF
his services to the country? What Is his
nbvsieaI condition, as well as his mental.
and what are his habits2 1t you have
personal knowledge of his condition 40 re-.
specss property, and II your reply should
be that he is o poor man. then state. 1t you
can. what the special demands have been
upon his purse and how long have these
special demands sxistedP
In calling your special attention to these
points. I beg not TO be understood as
desiring limit upon your reply, but shaii
be much gratifed to have 1t as fun az you
deem proper TO make 1t. very respect
fully. .. %. mA1Ef'
of the senate military committee and sub
COMMITTEES In charge.
GEN. sHERMAN's ANSWER.
FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL, MADISON
SQUARE, New YORK, Dec. 81. 1886
Hon. S. b. Maxey, United States Senator,
Washington.-Hy Dear Sir: am here
for few days, as you can well under
stand, subject to constant lnterruptlonsi
as you doubtless want an early answer to
your questions / will give them somewhat
catsgoricaily: 20
/. How long have known Gen. Ord
Answer. Since June, 1886.
What ia nv estimate of him as an
officer and gentleman and of his services
to his country? Answer. It would need
q volume TO record all this. See Cullom q
.sHistory of the West Point Graduates.
Glass of 1884" He has been q proml-
nent actor in every war since l839-Flori-
da, Mexico, Rogue river, Oregon, the
civil war, etc., always on duty st the most
exposed points; wounded many times,
never sick or absent. He has had all the
hard knocks of service, and never on soft
or fancy duty. He has always been called
on when hard duty was expected, and
never finched, He was corps command
er, and at the close of the war commander
in-chief of the Army of the james; and l
have always understood; that bis skl!lta',
hard march the night before was one OF
the causes of Lees surrender. His habits
haYe always been good. and he Is the
impersonifcation of honesty aud fidelity
to the government
8. What is bis physical condition. as
we'll as mental, and what his habits
Answer. AS young man he was noted
for his physical endurance, and what be
has endured since was enough to have
killed dozen ordinary men. When | saw
him, last, about two years ago, be was the
same hard man, and | inter he is stIll
unusually strong for his years. nov 81.
His mental strength is the same as eyer,
as eVinced By his orders, his written letters
and accounts.
4. inspecting my personal knowledge
Of his condition as to money. property.
etc. ? Answer. | know of my own know
ledge that he has always. since 1910, con
tTibuted largely to the care of his father,
mother, and to the education of sister.
Since about 1855, when he married IN
San Francisco, he has been charged with
the expense of large family, L think
seven or eight children, their education
and preparation for life. He has been
ordered about vary often at heavy personal
expense; never attempted any speculation
in property, even in the temptation OF
California in 1889 never engaged 10
any lucrative business to supplement his
small pay as lieutenant or captain, and |
am informed to day had pot laid up the
money needed to bring his family from
San Antonio to Washington city, his home
in 1885, which ne then left boy. He
well knew he was subject to be retired
during 1880. but hoped and begged for
promotion to major general first, so as to
have the advantage of the increased pay.
He is pure and thorough officer, but
singulsrly unified to embark in any civil
occupatian l hope your bill will be
passed quickly, that our great and rich
country may soon be relieved of the i'm
putation of turning out to charity SO
worthy a public servant. and one who has
helped TO establish our national fame.
with great respect, w, I. SHERMAN.