National Republican., 1883-07-03
rncuMsEn,s GRAND ROUNDS.

Gen. Sherman, on His Last Omcinl Tour,
Visits Fort sneiling-He Declines to be
Interviowed--A Reception In the EVEN
ing.
Pioneer Pres.
Con Sherman, who is making his final Off
cial tour of inspection as general of the army,
of the forts in tho northwest, and along the
northern frontier, reached Fort Smelling yes
terday. He arrived in st. Paul yesterday
morning on tho train from Duluth at 7:l5,
having made lake trip to the last
named point on the steamer Nyack.
The veteran general was accompanied
by Col. Tidball, his aid-de-camp, and
by Chief Justice Waite and Judge
Gray, of the supreme court Lieut. A. b.
Johnson, of Con. Terry's staff was ut the
union depot with q four-n-hand, to meet tho
distinguished party, and upon their arrival
they were driven direct to Fort Smelling. A
salute of seventeen guns greeted Old Tecum-
sch as the carriages rolled up on TO the
plateau The battalion, including tho four
companies Of infantry, and the light battery
was drawn up In line at tho lower post to
receive the army commander, and was pre- .
sented by Col. Blunt. The troops then es-
corted the party to Gen. Terry's residence
whore they were mot ut tho door by Gen J
Terry and his entire staff. This concluded
the formalities of reception. Tho party took
breakfast, and after that went out to
look over the post. Great improvements
have been made since Con. Shermans last
visit which was In 1880, including the erec-
| tion of all the buildings at tho department
headquarters, tree planting, fence building,
and the laying out and grading of tho grounds.
| The old commander was very much pleased
| with this, and thought he had never seon
Fort Smelling looking more beautiful. About
| noon Chief Justice Waite and Judge Gray
| went to Minneapolis for tho purpoao of visit
| ing the -four mills there. Gen. Sho' man did
! not take the trip with them, but stayed be-
hind and looked over the headquarters build.
ings and drove out with Gen. Terry over the
| grounds
The reporter, knowing that Gen. Sherman
always had something interesting 10 say to
| tho newspaper men, called upon him soon
| after he had returned from his drive. Tho
| general was writing letters. In response to
the modest request of tho reporter for an in
| tcrview he looked up from his work and re.
Piled somewhat bluntly,"I certainly will
not talk"
Couldn't you tell me something about
your future"
"No; I've got through talking with you
boys. I'll say something, and you'll go to
work and twist it all around SO that can't
recognize 1t when sec il i'll next mornings
paper. It's just the same from tho Atlantic
to the Pacific. You're % nuisanCe-I don't
mean anything personally-but you inter-
viewers generally. There's a subect-take "a
seat and make yourself comfortable-the IS
a subject that I'll give my opinion on If you
want il. This interviewing business has got
to become n worse evil than the pest-.the
cholera OF the smallpox; why they are no.
where. It's the dread of every public man
in Washington"
"Then you won't even tell me about -
"No Pm out of public life now, and my
opinions are worth no more than anybody
elses If you want to print an interview
Just go and cut out few pages out of your
catechism and print them. They'll answer
the purpose just as we'll as any questions and
answers between you and me-just exactly
as well-and be good deal more interest
ing"
And the veteran resumed his writing, after
again inviting his unweloome visitor to take
a seat. He was not angry; only o little bit
emphatic.
Gcn Sherman has already announced his
intention of relinquishing the command of
the army to Gen. S eridan next November
and taking up his residence in st. Louis, No.
His actual retirement will not, however, take
place until February 8, 1884, upon which date
he will BIO ga years OF ago. His status from
November until February will be that of an
officer awaiting orders, or who has secured
leave of absence. Under the recent act OF
congress, tho general will retain his full pay
and emoluments after he goes upon the re-
tired list,
special train on the Milwaukee and st.
Paul road, leaving the Minneapolis depot ut
7:30 o'clock last evening, took to Fort
Smelling tho members of George N. Morgan
post and members of Gen. Sherman's army on
the great march to the sea- who wished to
greet their old commander once more pre-
vious to his retirement from military life. A
number of ladies accompanied the soldiers
and the train returned shortly after 1880
IN.
This morning Gen. Sherman will depart
for Fort Ellis, accompanied by the other
members Of the party. Col. Dodge, of the
11th infantry, formerly Gen. Sherman's aid
has been detailed to go with the party as
escort,