The sun., 1890-01-05
OLD TECUMSEH'S MAPS.
HE SPENDS MUCH TIME GOING OYER
THEN EVERY DAT


People All Over the Country Look TO Hin
aa n Sure Burenu OF War 1nformRtIon-
The Victim OF AwTully Mean Thert.
Persons who daily pass Gen. William
Tecumseh Sherman's home ut rs West Sew
enty first street, right around the.corner from
the Ninth avenue elevated rail way. have grown
accustomed TO see the tall and grizzled war
veteran sitting at broad desk in his cosoy
office in the front basement. turning the loavos
of huge scrap books, and studying the details
OF the maps that are pasted in these big books.
Tho General wears Mt such times n curious
pair OF tortoise shell spectacles with great
broad rims, and pufls away contentedly at the
mild brand of cigar of which he is very fond.
Heans OF letters lie on tho desk beside him,
and his private clerk. Mr.. Barrett. seated at
another desk In the corner, busles himself ar
ranging other correspondence
The maps In the huge book on the table arc
the identical ones used by the General In his
operations In the South during the rebellion
Many OF them were pencil sketches which were
made BY officers under his command In battle
days and all are marked with crosses and
lined with red ink and have marginal COM
ments. Part Of every week-dayt morning is
regularly given up by tho General to the study
OF these old maps. He knows them all so we'll
that. with eyes shut he can lay his finger upon
points that mark the ocat on OF battles or
strategic marches. and he chattiy tells over
again. good paturedy and with no trace OF tho
old-time bitterness OF rebellion days. the story
OF the bait es or tho marches as he traces them
with his fingers
He was busy tracing in this way large map
OF North and South Carolina ono mornings Q
week ago. when visitor who dropped into the
Office asked him why he made 1t u custom to 20
over the maps 30 aften.
To nj linn pny ta - . nn.z
replied cheerily. Hardly day passes that 1
do not receive one or more letters asking me
questions about those old war operations. The
letters come from all parts Of the country, and
contain all sorts OF inquiries. Some of them are
1mpertlnent; more are amusing, and some are
decidedly novel and interesting. A great many
points are referred to mo by letter for decision,
because friendly waEcrs have been made upon
the subject Such bets are usually made in
disputes about the location OF a corps during
a march. or about events that preceded or fol-
lowed battle. l am always glad to answer
INQUIRIES sent to me in proper spirit, because
oblge m, friends.
To-day looked over the North and South
sbsurdity fpI Of a pHbshSd story tHMt my bro,her her
John had sent men to kelsh county, South
Carolina, TO dig up treasure hurled there dur
Ing my march to the sea in 1865. This story
came from North Carolina, anu was to the
effect that between Sl0OQO0 and t200000 Of
Lynch's Creek alb Iut Is miles from Camden.l
l turned 10 the maps and proved that did not
no occasion to bury treasure anyhow. and,
what is more. all the peop Q in that part OF the
eounlry ~ passed @ through we're too Door to
The old General turned the scrap book pages
quickly after that. displaying with lively zest
laid his hand upon little pencil sketch about
AKA, inches in measqrement, pasted in lower
handwriting the pencilled inscription: Me-
Pherson handed me this sketch few moments
sSS1e ne tE %D sn G nnd
he had sat down by the roadside to discuss
the tn plan Of approach from from Decatur to Az.
Tor moving to he left ins cad Of the right.
While the two were chatting he Confederates
came out IRON the hills at the left upon the
hurried to their respective posts OF duty Gen.
hcPhersuns 3 dead body was brought from that
few hours later.
The veteran showei many other maps and
autograph memoranda connected with famous
OF the army and t,ngic Incidents
briskly over TO n tirepr iron vault built in
the northern wall Of the office. Its iron, door
stood alar. revealing, some books and boxes
lled with correspondence ranged on shelves.
. Here" he said. between the nuffs OF his cigar.
ated during the war. They are my n"c camp blot
ers and headquarters reports and my letters
rom lrrsiren5 Linc.In End other noted @ per-
Gen. sherman regnrds the maps as being,
,erhaps. the most valuable part o. his co,lec:
ion OF war relics: There are over two hundret
Il them OF all sizes. He says that he knows
pst what they are worth: but he Yil not allow
Ioweyer. that he VaIues them at more than
10000, for that sum was offered or them some
ime ago and the offer was not accepted. The
ieneral has resolved in his own mind upon q
ertain m Opposition o. the historical !, matsrlal.
nan ls vii ling to let anybody see his maps.
rovided he can give legitimate reason
Or wish ing to examine them. Applications for
'tter every day. and hardly Jay passes that
here are not one or more callers NJ the Gene
lls "tfice to ook the mans over and to take
from them. All that is reGuiredto
ecure an examination OF the collection is q
'tter from some responsible person introduce
lg the visitor Gen. sherman will often per-
laps His clerk Is present to extend this favor
hen the Gene al himself is not at home.
Strictness in requiring credentials from VS-
ander by u mean larceny of the valuable
riginal maps OF his war memoirs some little
me ago lie granted the privilege Of examin-
dered friend, but found later on that bis
'nfldence had been abused and that the
ap~ had been carried of IN bunch. Search
a. made all over the country without avail
he missing original maps were TOUR times
10 size OF the reproductions published with
10 memoirs. and were mounted on linen:
q originals left. 1t Is a puzzle 10 him why
lybody should have stolen the 'riginals;
" Their pecnniaiy value was practically
ON my control. Nobody could dispose OF
en- for gain after the fact That they were
oen properly was known. Therefore. why
lat's one OF the mysteries canhot solve"
tie hopes that the thief will repent his mean.
'sS some time. and send the maps back. but
hasn't much fath in II.