Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-01-30
IN ShERMAk'S S HAND
He Denies Writing That if C. 2.
Smith Had Lived
GEN. GRANT HAD BEEN UNKNOWN
In History After DOnsIsOn and James B,
Frye Shows the Words in
Sherman's Writing.

NEw York, January 29.-The Evening
Post will print new letter from General ).
B. Fry 10 the editor OF The North American
Review relative TO the controversy between
General Sherman and General Fry as TO
the formers remarks comparing Grant
with General c. +. Smith at the time Of
Donelson. 1t closes with copy of let
ter written by Gen Sherman last Septem-
Der, in which the erilicisai phrase is 10 be
found
"3O EAST SIXTY. THIRD STREET,
Naw YcrE CITY, Jan. %, 1856
To tie Eliio, Of the NorM I,Drrirm
Rerirw:
"SlR--In an article called An acqusint-
ance with Grant, published in your De
cember number, | quoted General Sher-
man as having said since Grants death
that had c. F. Smith lived Grant would
have disappeared TO history after Doneson'
| got this speculative opinion from the
highest officer in thc army ard think
ing il would illustrate and lcrd
interest to the general proposition assert
ed coucerniug the effect ol chance upon
the soI.irr ca;ecr. 60 not Ste that tie
speculation is injurious TO General Grant,
General Sheimnn, or ANY body eIte Ger
rrnl Sherman, however, made II the sat
jrct OF spoudeuca wuh You IN cor
sequence If which you discussed my s:Hte-
meut in your January uUmb.r aud an.
bounced thu, General sherman had called
upon you TO repu1iGts the sentiment nltrl.
buted 10 Tim. This WAS tolloHed by
ALErTER FROM GEN. SHERMAN
to the Rev. George Morrison, dated Janua.
ry IL, Published IA the daily papers OF the
lG.h in which the General says "lt ls vi.
,rrly impossible that ! could have written
or spoken the words 10 qpored in the De
cenbe: number Of the North Amerlca Re-
view. end that could have written the
positive expression that had &. +. Smith
lived General Grant would have disappear
I'd from history, is on i'm mpo.sioihry; uad.
iDg. Il am confident III good time We shall
learn on what authorit, or hear3ay this
publication is based.
The issue between General Sherman
aud myself rs to whether or not | quoted
hin correctly in your February number
Tor an carly copy Of which | thank you
Gen. egys, coupled with much personal
nbuse of me that | invented the quotation
Tor the purpose Of questioning It, ahd that
l. when cornerc1 will dodge the issue. In
view Of the foregoing facts ! need make no
apology to the public lOf feeling called up
on to establish
THE VALIDITY OF THE QUOTATION
| made. General Sherman himself ls ny
authority. The remark that had &. +.
| Smith lived Grant woald have DISAPPEARED
TO history after Douelsou was written with
the Generals hand over his signature word
for word As gave it, That there may be
no rround for misunderstanding concern
irg the language used and the connection
in which it was employed, | append ycr,
batim paragraph from paragraph IN
GENERAL smERu,X's HANDWRITING
deted September 9Th, lSSi, rs intimated
in General Sherraan's letter 10 Mr.. Morn.
scr, there is O marked difference between
npeculatny what might had General
Grant gone 10 the rear and G. +. Smith
fought the battle Of Shiloh; what might
have been had Washington accepted his
warrant in the English Navy" and the
positive expression that had &. +. Smith
/ lived General Grant would have disnp.
pearcd from history 1t is not
my promise 10 explain the re-
lation between the two. Either,
however, would serve the purpose with
which quoted General Sherman, namely,
to Illustrate the general proposition mat
"chauce is an important factor i'll the race
for glory BY citing the implied opinion
of General Grant, especial treud that 1t
was true
/ AT PARTICULAR sTAGEo or GRANTS CAREER
Perhaps ought 10 add that the letter from
which quoted was shown me on account
OF its supposed historical value and with
no reference to the expression qIoted Oh;
serving the iitne3s of that expression to the
subiect on which ! was engaged, Having
the consent ofthe person TO whom the letter
WAS addressed to make the relation,
did not hesitate to 60. The correspon
deuce of which the letter is part, WAS
between the officials, Col. H. ~ Scott and
Gen. Sherman, upon popular SUBJECT
that Implied no secrecy whatever, ant The
repudiation Of my quotation was No dou5
surprise to CJl Scott Us it WAS ~ me
Please publish this note in tho next mum
her of The North American R,y:ew, ana
on account OF the character and authority
OF the denial, use the fac simie plate here
with Tor printing the extract from Grnern
Sherman's letter
Yours truly,
LA%s5 Il. fRTE.