Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-08-09
GEN. SHERMAN.
PERSONAL GOSSIP AND STORY
ABOUT OLD TECUMSEH.

How He Looks, Acts and Talks-The Story
of His Insanity and How 1t Arose-His
Trouble with Andrew johnson - His
First Command.
Especial Correspondence.l
WASHINGTON, July 19.-I saw Gen.
William Tecumseh Sherman here in Wash
ington not long ago. What lively, kind
hearted old fellow he is, and how the peo-
pie like him! He was, while he was COM
mander of the army, the most popular
man in Washington, as well as one of the
most active. He moved about the Capitol
with short, quick, nervous step, always
had cigar in his mouth and always
another in his pocket for friend When
Gen. Sherman smokes he smokes all over,
so to speak. He seems to be disguised
with his cigar, and sucks in it's nicotine
as though it was the hardest thing in the
world to get it to draw He brushes off
the ashes with quick, nervous gesture,
and throws away the cigar when it is only
half smoked. He uses the weed fully as
much as any man in the army.
He is not at first glance an extraordi-
nary looking man. this greatest of the
war generals now living. In crowd, if
you did not know him, you might find
many finer looking and many better
dressed than he AS to dress, he seems
to care nothing for it. He always wears
good clothes, but there is no pompositv
about him, and hiS slouch hat is always
pulled out, not in, and he never wears it
on the side of his head, as do some of the
| younger officers.
| 1t is said that he has an aversion to new
| clothes, and that he has never been seen
| in complete new suit. He has an eX-
traordinary head. 1t is big and full at
the top, and seems to slope too quickly to-
ward the neck. His brain is too big for
| his body, at least it would be so if the lat
| ter had not been developed into a bundle
| of iron tissues by the hardest of physical
exertions. During his march to the sea
he generally slept on The ground without
a tent, and the earlier part of his
military career gave him a consti-
tuition which lasts him well in his
| old age. His face is rough and it has an
expression something like that of his
brother Johns. His mouth is firm and
decisive and he has pair of restless blue
eyes, The shape of his head was much
discussed at tho time it was alleged he
was a lunatic. This was when he told
Simon Cameron and Lorenzo Thomas that
it would take 100000 men to drive the
rebels out of Kentucky. These two gen.
tlemen laughed at the idea, and would
not accept his advice concerning Ken
tucky. Sherman then asked to be re-
ieved. He was ordered elsewhere and
Buell. took his place. This was on Nov.
30, 1861, and on the same night the re-
port that he was crazy was sent out by
correspondent of one Of the New York
papers, l think his name was Knox It
was kind of spite work on the part of
this correspondent. While Sherman was
still in bad humor over the above inter-
view Knox came to him and said that he
belonged to the press and that he wanted
a pass to the south. Sherman was not
fond of newspaper men in those days and
he told Knox he could not pass. Knox
grew angry and replied that Secretary
Cameron was in the city and that he could
get pass from him. Sherman was natu-
rally enraged. He ordered Knox out of
the country. He told him he would give
him just two hours to leave and if he
found him in his lines after that he would
hang him as spy. Knox left at once
and went to Cincinnati and there circu-
lated the report that the general was
crazy. 1t was first printed, think, in
Cincinnati and from thence went broad
cast over the country. The correspond
ent afterward wanted to be admitted to
the army, but l am told Sherman posi-
lively refused to sanction it. He was not
fond of having outsiders in his ranks at any
time, and l remember hearing the story
how he sat down, SO to speak, on one of
the struggling congressman who went out
from Washington to see the engagement
at Bull Run. Sherman was in command
of a brigade at that time. He was look
ing over the field without glass when a
man in citizens dress stepped up and
offered him his field glass. Sherman
turned and eyed the man over. "Who
are you, sir?" said he.
"My name is Owen Lovejoy," replied
the clerical looking man. 81 am a mem
Der Of congress from Illinois,"
"a member Of congress?' retorted sher-
man, witheringly. "a member of con.
gress? Well, should like to know what
member of congress is doing here. Get
out of my lines, sir! get out of my linesl"
And he made him-get out and sent him
trates how little regard Sherman had
AOA PoOAlC OpAIA1OA' LII tuOSO COA.
gressmen had much to do with making
generals, and Lovejoy, for eight years a
congressman, had considerable influence.
**x
Gen. Sherman's family is missed here
in social way, and the general was the
life of many a dinner table. He lived
very nicely here in three st -ry brick on
Fifteenth street little below Chamber
lain's club rooms and very near the White
House, Wormley's hotel and the Riggs.
Here he had an Office in the basement
where you could find him at odd hours
working away. At the war department
he was, perhaps, the most busy man in
the great building. He seemed to be
always going at lightning speed. In
Sherman's eyes the department clerk was
as good as the long winded United States
senator, and if he were in a good humor the
clerk would be just as well received. If he
were in bad humor-and this was by
no means uncommon-both had better
keep away. This quality of Sherman's
has tended much to the good of the army.
Military men, especially of the lower
orders, are inclined to pomp and snobbery.
Sherman's blunt, off hand ways, his plain.
practical ideas, and his bold way of call
ing spade spade has done much to
foster common sense among the military
men here.
Ia