New-York tribune., 1891-03-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
AN HOUR WITH GENERAL SHERMAN
HIS COURTESY AND FRANKNEss-GREETlNG AN
OLD VETERAN.


To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. I had heard General sherman at the famous
dinner given many years ago, at the ot Nlchoias
Hotel where General Grant, Henry Waid Beecher
Lawrence Barrett and Joseph Howard jr'' aiso aoc
memorable speeches, but l never came IN personal
contact with the hero Of the March 10 the Se" u'
tbe summer of 1852 when he made too BRIEF visit
a, T,rilicbt Park i'm the Catskis. lie had been
,avinr at the Mountain House, / think, and rode
over with two ladies of his family to call upon some
friends In the Park, so that hau al opportunity
of talking freely with HIM My previous Impressions
were all upset by this experience ihsVeHu Vi ,ie
hard featured GRIM martinez depicted In MS photo
graphs loquacous, opinlonaod anu oFcr-Oea'lhs'
wbom had expected to see, the great General I'M
,r.ssed me os almost handsome with line, courtly,
dignl1ed bearing, alable, unpreentious hhu-hear'ed
and without the slightest trace OF vanity OF eso'is
watched him critically during MS ehure stay anu
wos unable TO detect any sign OF selfconsclousness
lie seemed as natural, warmhearted ana as simple
as a child lie greeted everybody WIN coruiaiity'
and made Ms ALI feel at ease In his company.
There WAS a group OF carpenters-all native Amer
icans-wOrkinG upon y new cottage near Dy' VINO
were naturally anxious TO see the "eheIa eSpeclaiS
AS some of them had served In the war. lie "ehs
over TO meet them in the frankest manner
and when an old veteran, some seventy years oil age
said TO him. I'm glad to sec you, General sher-
man RESPONDED In his hearty manner. Il know you're
clad 10 ,ce me and I'm glad TO see you too, and he
shook hands with the delighted workman In true
Democratic fashion
nj, remarkable vigor was shown by the 0uctnes'
with which he mounted a steep stairway leading To
cottace Oh a hillside The excrton did not alicct
him in the least and he seemed the youngest and
most alert Of the party. When ohered some fcHesh-
ment on the piazza, he raised his glass and gancng
arorpd said. "Gentlemen, in the famous words Of
John Phcnx l impair my own health by drinking
yours While seated there. he told many lmer-
esting anecdotes Of famous men whom hc h'u met
Lincoln Grant, Won MOltke Bismarck and others.
He did not mOnopOze the conversation ana Only
spoke of his experience in response to aucstionS'
one Of the gentlemen present had been connected with
the United states sanitary Commission and his fact
suggested come OF the topics touched upon kei-
crcncc was made To the horrors Of war and the DIM
crn nos. ion Of COMMANDER who has to order an
assault which he knows will lead to great sacticc
of life. sherman replied that such matters become
a necessity, and part of the soldiers business
however trying Personal feelings cannot be con
sidcrcd on such occasions.
4, we Ief. the cottage he turned and looked
around SAYING with Characteristic laugh. How are
III. points of the compass here am an old cam
p,.,er and like to know the exact locaton Of places
where have been entertained. thai can find them
again.
was anxious that my boy. who was of fishing
should see the erJ of the at the imp csS onaoc age
Of youth and he fortunately came up jus' then VIII
son OF Mace ahan, the famous war correspondent IN
the Halkans. sherman lad known the lhiter IN
imatriy having travelled 200 miles In Ms COMPANY
during his Russian journey lie eIeetu D'.h u'g :
i'm a fatncry fashion. and at my request gave c4cn
Of them visiting card a memenio OF the meeting
Presently / vcntured 10 say .., ..oooo,,ton y,
"Gcncrai, taese youngsters nave 40 Ind IN
a commander dong any }IihH- Dut PI",t,.If a rtrg4l
fun uniform Vu nery stccd. or lending 'ihrseN
sword IN nana ANA a3G cn'9g WdG 'V% Ton e 0 ue@ You
ever did any actual fighting Ike 'a'ir ad ~ Ha"o''
"'' ebrrTar I,ncbed good naturally. and patiing tho
hoy ON the hc1d aid that he usually away from
the uacH o. 'g GeI.onaS s in f' it, lie and his stan
we're under fire AID he noticed one man on the OtSI
side who seemed 10 be in plain view. ana VINO VA
pcpDcrng them aS ilat a. ne coun ioui I a,T ~, w. a
Acting up0n Il sudden impulse sherman tuIHr i. - d
Union solder staniins & near rG oy, y;na a and
that said sherman. was tho only time ever 'n"'
Eeicrtncc being made to his Russian visit. he r.
atod an account of grand reception Wnch ne a, ~
charming ladies. who spoke hnsilsh ana NV h
him to call at th,ir residence: j" MS uIs.S, on. -
| man could not ind any card or scrap ~ paper 70
set down his address, so he galanty "iOe " Oh HIS
| white glove , .. .ro
| c5ud have remembered II otherwise , -,
4.a 70 rdrSca s haaG a n.% c hero Groye OF With IL
! companion,. leaving delightful impression upon al
hut thcv nirtIi, the defender Of the Republic as he
appeared In familiar Intercourse toward thr COG M 4l
da,iL received a noc written in his neat chiroSraphy
ap,0gi7iug fr hs failure - atieud ne annual di,r
| NJ the Twilight Club. T. which ne ha been cSp"chF
irvit.l There is a certain qualun"-s In the ahrcva
| lions AID -jatsly sweep in -" seHatr', Wm,h sH-
| crlt, WashingOn's letter.. 1t Is m"1ei OF easy
| cOurt"-y: ,--,..
| Dear sir: thank Won for your krd rrncmbrln,"
an4 Invitation for the Sth Inst ot y1ur I"iisl ,lnp.
! Washington and Pha.. from whcr ! have Just ~
/ turned. nv fac'o;um has committed me 10 mo >
| compliment, f. Yr brother. am slrcrr,y y.lrs,
! "WN. ]. NifltHNN'
! forget such matter. Int General sherman Wa
punctillous in the pcrf1rmance ~ the tn.i,c-i dHij
New-York March 1, 1901