Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-26
ANECDOTES OF GENERAL SHERMAN.

Many good anecdotes of Sherman were
current during the war. Some of them.
he once said, when they were brought to
his notice, had been told OF every General
since Hannibal. Here is one of unques-
tionable authenticity, which shows his sa-
gacity in dealing with the population of
conquered towns After he occupied
Memphis, the people kept the churches,
schools and places of business closed, go
that, save for the movements of the
soldiers, the place looked like city of the
dead. He issued an order directing that
the stores and shops should be opened dur
ing business hours, the schools resume
their courses, and the churches hold their
customary services. Among the people
who called at his headquarters to prot .st
against this order, or to ask for eXplsna-
tions, was the clergyman of an E episcopal
church, who said that the ritual of his De
nomination contained 4 prayer for the
President, which, under the circum-
stances embarrassed him. "Whom do
you regard as your President?' asked
Sherman, bluntly. 1--WE look upon
Mr.. Davis as our President" replied
the minister. every well pray for
jeff. Davis if you wish. He needs your
prayers badly. 1t will take a great deal
of praying to save him" Then I will
not be compelled to pray for Mr.. Lin
coin - "Oh, no. He's good man, and
don't need your prayers. You may pray
for him if you feel like it, but there's
no compulsion." answered Sherman, in
stantly divining that the worthy clergyman
wanted to pose as martyr before bis
parishiopers, and had hoped that he would
be ordered to use the prayer for the Presi-
dent of the United States. The next Sun
day the prescribed prayer was so modified
by the preacher as to leave out ell mention
of the President, and to refer only to "all
in authority"
General Joseph L Johnston, who COM
manded the Confederate forces engaged in
resisting the advance upon Atlanta, once
narrated the following incident, which well
illustrated the impression Sherman had
made upon the minds OF the Southern
soldiery at that time as q commander Of
resources and ready expedients. johnson
stood on kenesaw Mountain watching with
his glass the movements Of his enemY's
wagon trains on the great plain to the
northward. A staff officer came riding
up with the news that the rebel cavalry
had got in the rear OF Snerman's army and
had burned number OF railroad bridges
The officer had been forced to make de-
tour of two days to get around the Union
army. Scarcely had he finished speaking
when whistle was heard, and moving
train appeared in tle distance, showing
that Sherman had already rebuilt the
bridges and reopened his communications.
Walking past group of soldiers louDging
in the shade, a few minutes later, the
General overheard them discussing Sher-
mans chances of success. Said one of
them Well make it a Moscow campaign
and destroy his whole army" How can
you make it Moscow campaign without
any snow" asked his less enthusi-
astic comrade. a. mean that we
will cut his communications, destroy
everything, and starve him ont. We
will burn all the bridges" 1" Don't
you know he carries duplicate bridges
along with him ?" well, we'll blow up
the big tunnel" ooh, hell" exclaimed
the ether man, with look of disgust
'you don't know old Tecumseh Sherman.
He's got duplicate tunnel too !"-[E. V.
Smalley, in the January Century.