Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-03-26
SOME SHERMAN TRAITS.
SOME AMUSING STORIES OF
THE GENERAL.
He Was Kind Hearted, Honest and Plain,
but Sometimes Blunt Spoken and
Irascible to an Extreme
His Younger Days.

told of him. He was noted for his
approachableness; no man ever made
his rank less felt, and he had intimate
friends in every walk in life. A num-
Der of stories are told illustrating his
rough and ready manner of conducting
business and his quickness OF repartee.
Shortly after the outbreak OF the re-
bellion Sherman was sent to Washing
ton, where he was placed in charge OF
number of new levies all three
months men. Their ideas in regard
to discipline were as misty as they |
were liberal, and it was very hard to
convince the officers and men that they |
could not do exactly as they pleased.
It happened that the term of enlist
ment of several regiments ran out, but
they were not discharged. This the
men regarded as great hardship and
many walked off without asking per-
mission of any one and betook them
selves to their homes.
One morning as Colonel Sherman
was crossing Long Bridge he met ma
ior under his command in full uniform
walking toward the city. He asked
him why he was absent from his post,
and the major replied that the time for
which he had enlisted had expired and
that he meant to go home. Sherman
saw that strong measures were neces-
sary and said: If you don't at once
go back to your regiment l will shoot
you." The major stood not on the
order of his going, but retired with
speed. On the following day there was
divisional review, and Sherman was
sitting on his horse near President Lin
coins carriage, when the officer with
,, whom he had had the encounter ap-
preached, and desired to make COM
plant to the president. Il wish to
, complain of Colonel Sherman, he said,
j, Yesterday started to go to the city,
and he told me that he would shoot
!, me if did not return to camp" Lean
. ing over the carriage and speaking in
' a whisper that was perfectly audible to
all in the vicinity, Mr.. Lincoln said:
!. my friend, if were in your place, and
: if Sherman said that to me, | would
= not try to leave camp, for he looks just
= like man who would keep his word. y
y The major retired in confusion amidst
. shouts of laughter from the by-standers,
y and there were no more attempts at
- irregular departures made in Sher-
;, mans command.
- Sherman was never respecter Of
~ rank, and at times spoke his mind free
ly in regard to the value of general OH
GERS. On one occasion, while covering
Vicksburg, he was short OF transporta
ton and had made several acquisitions
One day when he was looking fol-
quartermaster' supplies, three briga
der generals arrived in his camp
Sherman burst out: Il did not wan
brigadier generals. The president car
make them at the rate of one every five
minutes. What l want is mules, /
they will send me the mules they cal
keep the brigadiers.
Although the opposite of a martinez
Sherman was always intolerant O
i civilian interference in military affairs
and this not infrequently brough
about a clash between him and thu
authorities at Washington. One OF tn
most noted of these was when Charlie
A. Dana was sent to the army befor
Vicksburg to inform the president o
its condition. Sherman deeply resent
ed the interference of Mr.. Dana, an
christened him The Authorized Spy,
name by which he was afterwar
on known throughout the army. In spit
ns of the personal feeling between then
~. Dana reported that Sherman's sta
Vi was the ablest and most useful in til
~. army.
no The officers of the old army WI
ee' were stationed in California and II
/" far west during the years immed
ore ately succeeding the Mexican war al
ui- loud in their praises of Sherman's il
tegrity and stainless honor. In none
~ matters he was chivalrous to the vcrt
,th of being quixotic, He resigned h
~ commission in the army to take chars
ich of the California branch of the bankir
ON firm OF Lucas, Turner & Co., OF
va Louis. Many of the officers sent hi
ms ms their savings to invest in accordin
Zoo with his own Judgment. As
on CHANGED, when the California bran
III of Lucas, Turner & Co. was abolish
OF property in San Francisco was We
was low and the investments made by She
the WOW co.. his fr;oras were ,,rnrot;toh
rus He had invested their funds as he h
his own, and had refused to accept a
uo, compensation. But he insisted
ana making good the losses incurred,
EN- though by so doing he reduced hi
AN self to poverty,
u Perhaps Sherman never forgot
iel' great practical joke which Gene
lge' Howard unconsciously played up
oy him back in the days when the uni
rles army was resting nnon its ar.ns
ID it ColSshoro,gh Sherman Maid n vi
zen N Howardis font where neither w
cca, nor anything more invigorating tt
lard cold water was kept. Dr. John Moo
ntry the medical director, also dropped i
lch- Towards tent. Here was man Sh
nus man could depend upon in an eme
[nut orcy lilo tbis sherman gave Mo
lille = ,.,;,L v,hor Howard,s bacL was n,