Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-11
The Generals Dispute About a
Phrase.
He not only Said but Wrote that
Grant Would Have Disap-
peared to History Had
Gen. G.. f. Smith
Lived.
Sherman and Fry.

NEW YORK, Jan. % The Evening
Post prints new letter from Gen.
J. B. Fry to the editor of the North
American Review relative to the con-
troversy between Gen. Sherman and
Gen. Fry as to the formers remark,
comparing Grant to Gen. G. f. Smith
at the time of Donelson. 1t closes
with copy of a letter written by
Gen. Sherman last September, in
which the criticised phrase is to be
found:
$50 EAST SIXTY-THIRD STREET. NEW
YORK CITY, Jan. 29.-ro the Editor
of the North American Review.-Sir
In an article called AN Acquaintance
with Grant, published in your De
cember number, I quoted Gen. Sheri-
dan as having said since Grants
death, Had G.. T. Smith lived Grant
would have disappeared from history
after Donelson.' I cited this specula-
tive opinion from the highest officer
in the army, thinking it would illus
trate and lend interest to the general
proposition asserted concerning the
effect of chance upon the soldiers
case. do not see that the specula-
ton is injurious to Gen. Grant,
Gen. Sherman or anybody else.
Gen. Sherman, however, made it the
subject Of a correspondence with you
in consequence OF which you dis
cussed my statement in your January
number and announced that Gen.
Sherman had called upon you to re-
pudiate the statement attributed to
him. This was followed by letter
from Gen Sherman to the Rev Geo.
Morrison, dated Jan. IL, published in
the daily papers of the 10Th, III which
the general says: II is utterly i'm
possible that ] could have written or
spoken the words as quoted in the De-
cember humber of the North AReri
can Review and that I could have
written the positive expression that
had @. T. Smith lived Gen. Grant
would have disappeared from history.
I am confident in good time we shall
learn on what authority or hearsay
this publication is based The Issue
between Gen. Sherman and me
is whether oc not [ quoted
him correctly in your Feb
ruary number, for an early copy
of which I thank you. Gen.
Sherman says, coupled with much
personal abuse Of nae, that invented
the quotation for the purpose of ques-
tioning it, and that [, when cornered
will dcdge the issue. In view of the
foregoing facts I need make no apollo
gy to the public for feeling called up
on to establish the validity of the quo
tation I made. Gen Sherman him
self is my authority. The remark that
had G. T. Smith lived, Grant would
have disappeared to history after
Donelson, was written with the gem
erals hand over his signature, word for
ground for misunderstanding concern
ing the language used and the con-
word as gave it. That there may be no
nection in which it was employed, l
append verbatim paragraph from
letter In Gen. Sherman's hand writing
dated Sept. 6. 1886. AS intimated In
Gen. Sherman's letter to Mr.. Morrison
there is a marked difference between
specializing what might have been
had Gen. Grant gone to the rear and
@. T. Smith fought the battle of Shi-
loh; what might have been had Wash
ington accepted his warrant In the
English navy, and the positive express
sion that had O. f. Saith lived Gen.
Grant would have disappeared from
history. It is not my province to ex-
plain the relation between the two.
Either, however, would serve the pur-
pose VITA which ] quoted Gen. Sheri-
dan, namely, TO illustrate the generals
proposition that chance is an Import
ant factor in the race for glory, by
citing the implied opinion of Gen.
Grants especial friend that it was true
at particular stage of Gen. Grants
career. Perhaps I ought to add
the letter from which / quoted
was shown NE on account of its
supposed historical valve, and refer
ence to the expression | quoted.
Observing the fitness of that express
sion to the subject on which was
engaged, and with having the consent
of the person to whom the letter was
addressed to make the caution, l did
not hesitate to do so. The cores
pondence is between two officials
Col. r. n. Scott and Gen. Sherman
upon a popular subject that implied
10 secrecy whatever, and the repudia-
ton Of my question was no doubt a
surprise to Col. Scott, as it was to me.
Please publish this note in the next
number Of The North Amesican Re
view, and, on account of the charac
ter and authority of the denial, use
the fac smile plate herewith for print
ing the extract from Gen. Sherman's
letter. Yours truly,
JAMES B Fry
1912 GARRISON AVENUE ST LOUIS,
Mo-, Sept 6 1885 Col. r. n Scott,
War Records, Washington, D. c.
DEAR SCOTT: Now as to
Halleck, and Grant. I had the high
est possible opinion Of Halleck's
knowledge and power, and never
blamed him for mistrusting Grants
ability. Had .. T. Smith lived Grant
would have disappeared to history af
ter Donelsou. Smith was a strong,
vigorous, nervous man when [ re-
ported to him IN person at Fl Henry.
With great respect, your
friend. "W. Z. SHERMAN.
KEY TO THE CONTROVERSY.
The North American Review for