National Republican., 1883-06-20

more discussion about it--St. Louis is the
place"
Tho general proceeded to say that there
were many reasons for their attachment to st.
Louis A special motive with Mrs. Sherman
was that they have two children buried in
Calvary cemetery there, aud many warm
and devoted friends thoro. He had been
identified, more or less, with st, Louis since
lSI3 He had been thoroughly identified
with the Lucascs and Turner's, two of the
oldest families in st. Louis In 1858 he was
the active partner OF the banking house of
Lucas, Turner & Co. in San Francisco. He
had bought property in that part of the city
now known as Stoddard addition early in
tho fifties, .and still owns some Of it. He had
returned TO st. Louis just on the eve of the
war and accepted the presidency of the
Filth Street railway. All this time he had
maintained cordial relations with tho people,
and there were scores of houses where he
would be just as welcome as he would be in
his own home
"oh, Ges,' said the general, 81 have always
felt at home in St. Louis, and feel at home
in San Francisco; I've got scores of friends
there. was forty y.sixer, and all the old resi-
dents know me-" Then the general went into
discussion of the many good friends he had,
and his curious relations with them before,
during, and after the war. He showed let
ter just received from Col. ID. +. Boyd, prosi-
dent Of the military school at Greenwood
station, Virginia. Boyd was professor of Lam
guages in the Military academy of Louis
Jana when Sherman was super
intcndent and after the war sue
ceedcd to the superintendency himself. Boyd
won't into the confederate army, and while
Sherman's army was below Nicksburg was
captured and put in the Natchez jail The
general was going down the river, and stopped
at Natchez and went to see Boyd, who was in
Jail and very dirty. Sherman had him re-
leased, and took him to New Orleans, where
he was exchanged. He offered Boyd money,
but Boyd declined. In 1867 he paid Boyd
visit in Louisiana, and they had kept up a
correspondence ever since. The letter shown
10 the reporter WAS one expressing tho sense
of the southern people in favor of the gen
oral remaining at the head Of the army, and
offering TO send numerously signed petitions
TO congress If IL would do any good ut
wouldn't do auy good, however," said the
general, because congress does not meet till
December, and will surrender the office to
Sheridan In November. / had jusranswered
Boyd's letter to that effect when you came
in"
The general referred to tho illness Of his
brother-in-law, Charles Ewing, in feeling
terms. Mrs. Sherman was greatly distressed
over it.
In spite Of his good humor, the old COM
mander managed TO get in few licks on
people he doesn't like. Ho was disposed to
lnuulBo III llIhue on bno newspapers anu
certain newspaper men. Now" said he,
there's this fellow Whitelaw Reid, of the
Tribune; ne's a trcacherous cuss, He can
write moro lies to the column than any news
paper man in America. He runs like a
scared wolf, too. At the battle of Shiloh,
after the repulse Of the first day, he started
10 the rear and never stopped running till
he got to Cincinnati. He sent of u lot of lies
TO his paper, saying that our whole army had
been beaten and cut to pieces, aud was aston
ished to learn afterward that it was just the
other way. And there's McCullagh, of the
Globe. Democrat. He's a treacherous fellow.
He used to worm secrets out of army officers
and give them away. He's got brains, but
tell you I'd hato to hang my coat on his
rack"
When Gen. Sherman was asked il there
was anything which had been left undone
which he wanted done before leaving the
army he replied, in general terms, that there
were many things which he would like to
have accomplished but could not. There was
nothing, however, at this time 10 which he
wished to mako particular reference. The
standing army was inadequate for the heavy
burden imposed upon it. There WAS only a
handful of men TO guard vast extent of ter
ritory, much of it hostile. His views in favor
of an increase of the regular army had been
well known for years. The weakness of the
army had greatly retarded the sottlemeat and
development OF the fertile territory in the
northwest and southwest boundaries.
AS the reporter was making his ddios the
general said, "You'd better not write any
thing about me now. It's too early. Wait
till go out in November and thon you can
write me up-or down, don't give a
which" In the cause of faithful history thu
reporter must admit that the dash represents
tho exact phrase which, according to Weem's g.
Gen. Washington used at the battle of Mon
mouth.
In view Of the retirement OF such a re.
nowned soldier from the active service of his
country, bird's.eye view of Gen. sherman q
eventful career will not be out Of time or
place here. Upon coming out of the West
Point academy young Sherman was, in 1876
assigned TO duty as first lieutenant Of COM
pany G, Sd artillery, then at Fort Moultre.
After short service there he was transferred
to tho recruiting Office at Pittsburg. The
Mexican war had just begun, and tho young
subaltern chafed under the idea that so many
of his brother officers were in active war win
ming fame while he was here doomed Ia
tho peaceful and ignoble pursuit OF
raising recruits. But all his efforts to be sent
to Mexico proved unavailing, and at his own
solicitation he was assigned to company +,
which was then preparing to 60 to the newly
discovered Eldorado on tho Pacific coast. He
remained in California, following the joint
calling Of soldier and surveyor until Decem-
Der. 1S40, when no was sent back to the states
by Gen. Smith with dispatches to the War de.
partment Within a few months after his
arrival in Washington he was married to Miss
Ellen Boyle Ewing, daughter of Thomas
Ewing, then secretary of the interior. After
brief honeymoon at Lancaster, Ohio, he was
sent to jefferson barracks ST. Louis, and
shortly afterward to New Orleans, as pur
chasing agent for the army.
Becoming convinced that there would bt
no more war in this country during his lift
time, he resigned his lieutenancy Sept. d
1853, and returned to California as the resi-
dent and active partner in the banking firm
of Lucas, Turner q Co., where he rename
until the bank suspended in May, 1855. Re
turning to tho states he received the appoint
ment Of superintendent of the Louisiana
Seminary of Learning, military academy
and took charge In the autumn Of 1859. II
the early part Of 1861, when war seemed in
evtable, he resigned his position Though
pronounced union man he was resolved n
that time to Z" lot the politicians fight it out,
and, according to his own memoirs he haC
about concluded to take no part in th,
struggle. In February ho won't :,
st. Louis and took the presidenc,
OF the Fifth Street railway. Bu
the pressure was too great for him to keep on
OF the army and in May he accepted the col
onecy Of the 18th regular infantry, with or
ders to report at Washington, After u shor
service on inspection duty he was assigned Il
brigade of five regiments at Fort Corcoran
opposite Georgetown, and few days there
after at Bull Run participated in his frs
fight. On the tweuty-fourth of August h,
wa, assigned TO the department of the Cum
bcrland. IL was here that he met with