The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-23
OUR MILITARY CHIEFS.
Brief Talks with Generals Sherman, SIooum
and Schofield.


and Schofield.
Gath's New York Letter.
Being in General Sherman's office at Washing
ton the past week, after the exercises OF the
Army of the Potomac were over-it was near
midnight-General Slocum, of Brooklyn, came
in, who has rented sherinan's residence for his
approaching congressional term. Said Sherman
in reply to a question from me;
81 need not have retired from active service.
but thought 1t right and fraternal 10 let Sherl.
dan come in at an age corresponding to mine
when L took the generalcy, and let him have an
equal term OF the office"
Conversation ensuing, soeum said: "For lend
ing and inspiring an army III battle, do not sup
pose Sheridan had his equal in this country-nO.
not in the world. But, Sherman, don't believe
lanta, when you got ready 10 break loose, and
plotted almost mathematcally the points you
meant 10 reach day after day, and the acts you
meant to do from point to point"
Said to General Sherman: "How is 1t that
the Western armies can raise 80 much moro
money for monuments, etc, than the Easternf
am told they have now the money nearly
ready to put up an equestrian statue of Garfield,
as well as the one they possess Of Thomas.
CHATS our army" said Sherman, "the Army
OF the Cumberland. tell you why 1t Is my led
They all act and work together, men and Of
fcers. Their army reunions are attended by the
generals. The large fish and the little fish swim
together on occasions Here is good, large at
tendance of the Army of the Potomac, but where
are their general ofheers-McClellaD, Franklin,
Hancock and the rest? The Western army never
stood on ceremony. or wanted to know what
people would say"
Washington, what town in Illinois he spent his
youth in.
"Freeport," he said.
"rhen yOu may have known the Guiteau fam
ilyq"
II did They were very respectable people.
The only one of feeble queer wits this
Charley, who killed Garfield, went TO school
with some of the older persons OF that family.
Mrs. ScOville was very sweet, interesting wo-
Cor liz hare am
and afterward married that girl The brother OF
Charles, the assassin was John, and no was u
well-balanced man. The family was conspicu-
Gus i'll churches and charitable bodies"
Said to General Schotied: You knew Gen.
erri Nathaniel Lyon well2"
eyes, was his chief OF stan at Wilson's creek,
where he was killed"
"Give me, II you will an idea OF his char
acter."
the remarkable prestige he had obtained when
he died. He very intense He hated men
who differed with him on political questions.
He blood-thirsty. The administrative ele-
ments of character were not well balanced IL
him, though his zeal was extraordinary. AS to
his bravery, he had it in excess. do not think
the campaign he made showed ability to plan
campaigns AS you intimate, General Lyon
came in the class of John Brown and the military
zealots rather than in the line of sktllfui COM
manders."
Resuning upon General schofield, asked
him about General Franz Sigel.
Isl gel had commanded an army at one time in
Europe" he said, "the army of the German Re-
public Confederation, and had fought against
disciplined troops. We conceded much TO hun
as the beginning. But lie did nothing whatever
in Missouri to justify the extravagant reputa-
ti0n he had gotten The plans at Wilson g creek,
where Lyon lost his life, were his rather than
Lyons, and they were not good. 1 suspect that
he was praised by his German friends
in expectation OF performances they
believed hun capable Of, and of
whose fulhllment we saw nothing. After we
retreated from Springfield to Rolla. Sigel
commanded in Lyons place awhile, without
such real warrant and finally Sturgis became
indignant at the assumption, and demanded
that Sgel be subordinate to him Sigel proposed
to leave 1t to vote of the officers. There's
objection to that said stGrgis, with tho
strength OF character you might expect from
such n man; you might get a majority. aud then
might have to order some OF your majority to
be shot"
General Schoted said TO me that william To-
cumseh Sherman had more genius than any man
he ever knew. IL consisted IN Intellectual
sources to find something to say and something
to do He had been nearly around the world,
and TO everything In this country but never was
Mt loss for some new observation or speech, In
action he was the same, and could find moro
routes to do anything by than anybody else.
His mind was Workshop never suspended. and
he was louded to the muzZe with moral courage.
General SchOfield said OF Mcclellan that 1t was
phenomenal how he retained at all times, und6t
all changes of opinion and all apses OF time, the
affection of the Army OF the Potomac.