The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-28

government of the United States President and Con-
gress have been guilty of the most cruel act of in
Justice with which history in the future will deal
The government called to its military service 10
lS6l5 two millions of It's best and showed them
by detachments against organized rebellion. News
paper correspondents suttlers straggers and refu-
every man who went TO hight had right
to expect that the government would protect
his fair fame as dear to him as life; and yet we are
history is still gropng in the dull obscure facts of
1852. tSee Series l, Vol. XII, Part 81
Now if year of war takes twenty years to record
how long will four years take9 Eighty years. con-
tend, and have contended with European officers of
worldwide fame that the military profession of Amer
oa was not responsible for the Loose t prel
was not till after both Gettysburg and
vicksburg that the war professionally began Then
our men had learned in the dearest school on earth
visions and corps which could be handled pro-
fessionally and it was then that we, as
professional soldiers could 'S rghsfpy be held ED
point shall endeavor to make in my Memoirs. but
never refecting on You personally officially hold
proprating IS 6oo ss5 odo etc., for the war rec
ords the annual appropriation should have been
$1,000, 600 in 1865, So 00O, 900 in 1867 and after
so that by 1870 the work should have been done The
Germans were less than six years in completing their
official records
Now. as to Haieck Grant: had the highest posi-
BILE opinion of Halleck's knowledge and power, and
never blamed him for mistrusting Grants ability
Had c. F. Smith lived Grant would have disappeared
to history after Donelson: Smith was strong
in person at Fort Henry. / saw him again at
Savannah, his steamboat 'Tgress.' I believe
de threatened to arrest me if did not prevent Col
Tom Worthington coming to bore him. l saw him
after he skinned his leg in sprnging into yaw boat
andI believe well believe that three years ago
lived in Washnaton, that when General Smith re-
ported to General Halleck by reason of this mere
accident he could not mount horse,
and that was the reason that General Grant
then left behind at Fort Henry ordered forward
to Savannah and Pittsburg Landing to resume his
command. General Smiths adjutant-general. I: J.
Newsham, is still living in Edwardsyille Ill,
and he insists that after the Generals
Of letters and tetegrams which sent to
Mrs. G. +. Smith. These will turn up. The same or
similar of the facts aye reported by Badeau on page
1O8, Vol l. and believe he possesses the letter of
Gen. Robert Allen. from which he quotes at length.
am certain that Halleck told much, and that AL
len did also. Haleck and Grant are now dead
but Allen lives in London. has prepared
much for publication but his last letter
to me, within the year. ntmates he will publish
but his manuscript will remain, and the truth will
come out l believe the fact as firmly as believe
that Mr.. Lincoln made his executive order Of July
III, 1852, assigning General Halleck to the com.
ma nd; of all land forces as Gsneralin ef;
act by the then condition of affairs. and
that he Halleck) having willing and colnpe..
tent in his Judgment to command the three armies Of
disposition, he could of affairs at the
West, and most properly obeyed the executive
order OF President Lincoln to 90 East. Grant
therefore, called back to Corinth by virtue of his
commission; not by selection, and simply resumed
command of all the troops left in the District of West
Tennessee. On the 23d of june 1862. I
myself saw General Grant en- route from Corinth
to Memphis, ninetysix miles. had long
talk with him. He ordered there and made the
ride by land without escort other than his order
hes and clerks. He ordered back to Cor
NTH, July IL. by way of Columbus, be-
cause Halleck ordered to Washington, the
motive for which was the condition of affairs with
Mcclellan in Virginia From the 21st of February.
1862, till July IL, 1862, five long, bitter
months, Grant was under cloud, but
this tested and strengthened the qualities
which were in him, and which produced such
fruits. I don't blame Mr. Lincoln Halieck
Buell., anybody, but do believe we now, after
twenty, years, should know of the exact truth
than we seem to possess.
With great respect. your friend
w. T.. SHERMAN.
Then follow the letters from Sherman toMor
rison, Fry to Colonel Scott and Sherman to
Scott, heretofore published