The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-02-04

NEwEoKk. n. y, January g.
The Ersnfng Post will print b new
letter from Gen. J. b. Frye 70 she
editor Of the North das-feuH ReUisiD,
relative % the controversy between
Gen. Sherman and Gen. Frye. s. 70
the formers remark comparing tffant
with Gen Q. +. Smith ~ the tiu.e Of
Fort D0nelson. II closes with q copy
Of the letter written by General Sher-
man last September, IN which the
criticized phrase - to be found.
NEW YOhK, January -, 1886.
To ne Editor Of he North American
ReUielg.
BIR--In an article called "An &c
quaintanee with Grant published ia
your December number, / quoted
General sherman IS having since
Grants death. said that ''had c. F.
smith lived, Grant wOuld have disap-
peared % history Hfter Donelson." !
cited this speculative opinion from
the highest officer in the army think
ing ID would illustrate aud lend fu-
teTest 20 the general proposition as
serted concerning the effect Of chance
upon q soldiers career. / do not see
that speculation L. Injurious 10 Grant.
General Sherman o. anybody else.
General sherman, however. made my
citation Of II the subject Of correspOn-
dence with you. in consequence which
you discussed my statement In your
January number, and Announced that
General Sherman had called upon
you 10 repudiate the sentiment attri-
buted 20 him. This was followed
by q letter from General sherman 10
the Rev. George Morrison. dated -,
and published IN the daily papers Of
the 6th., la which the General ssys:
ut Is utterly impossible that you
have written or spoken the words a.
quoted IN The December Number Of
the North american heuietC. That
you could have written the positive
expression that had General Smith
lived. General Grant would have dis
appeared from history, Is an impOssl-
bility.g Adding. Il am confident
that ia good time we shall learn on
what authority or hearsay this publ
cation is based. The issue between
General Sherman and myself, Is
whether or not quoted him correct
". In your February number Gener-
al Sherman says, coupled with much
the quotation for the purpose Of ques-
tiOning il, " aud that when eorneFsd I
will dodge the issue" In view Of the
foregoing facts / need make no apollo
" to the public for feeling called up
on 10 establish the validity Of the quo
tation / made. General sherman
himself Is my authority. The remark
that had Z. +. smith lived, Grant
would have disappeared from history
after DOnelsOn,n was written IN the
Generals hand over his signature,
word for word as l gave IL Then,
that there may be no ground for mis-
understanding concerning the Ian
guage used and the connection Ia
which IL was employed, / append q
verbal paragraph from a letter in
Sherman's handwriting, dated Sep
TENDER q, 1885. As intimated In Gener-
al Sherman's letter 10 Morrison, there
Is q marked difference between speeu-
lating on what might have been, had
the general gone 10 the rear and Z. +.
smith fought she battle ofShilOh, what
might have been bad Washington &C.
cepted his warrant In the English
navy, and the positive expression that
had C. r. Smith lived General Grant
would have disappeared from history.
II is not my province 10 explain the
relation between the Two; either,
however, would serve the purpose
with which I quoted General Sher-
man, nam elyaiO illustrate the general
proposition that chance is an impOr-
taBt factor in the race OF glory, by
citing the implied opinion OF General
Grants especial friend, that IL was
true at q particular stage Of Grants
career. Perhaps 1 ought to add that
the order from which 1 quoted was
shown me on account Of It's supposed
historical value. and with no refer
ence 10 the expression 1 quoted. OBJ
serving the fitness OF that expression
10 the subject on which / was engag-
ed, and having the consent OF the
person 20 whom the letter was adj
dressed, to make the citation, I did
not hesitate TO do so. The cOrrespOn-
dence, of which the letter is part, was
between two ofiicers-Col. r. n.
scott and General Sherman--upOn q
popular subject, that implied no score
cy whatever, and the publication Of
my quotation was no doubt a surprise
TO Colonel Scott, as well as 20 me.
Please publish this note In the next
number. Of the North american Re
uic,C, and on account Of the character
aud authority of the denial, use the
fac sinlic plate used for printing the
extract FROM General Sherman's let
ter. Yours truly,
JAMES b. FRYE,
9l2 Garrison Ave.
ST. LOUIs, September Is. 1885.
To Colonel h. " Scott, va Records,
lYdShiHgf0h. d. c.
DEAR ScOTT:-NOw az TO Halleck
and Grant, had tue highest possible
opinion Of Hailsk's knowledge Hnd
powers and never blamed him by mis-
trusting Grants ability. Had e. +.
smith lived, Grant would have disap-
peared 10 history after Donaldson.
smith was a strong, nervOusand vigOr-
Gus man, when / reported to him in
person at Fl. Henry.
With greatest respect, Your friend
w. 7. SHERMBN.