New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-15
"REMINISCENCES or HIS LIFE.
TALKS WITH GENERALS SWAYNE AND
SLOCUM AND OTHERS.

HIS GREAT WORK FOR A TRANSCoNT1NENTAh
RAILRoAD-A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR
OF LOUISIANA IN 1861.
General Wager Swayne gave Tribune reporter
The following "reminiscences Of General sherman's con
nection with the making of the first ranscontnehtaI
railroad
AS long aro as 1919 General Sherman wrote a
letter 10 his brother John Sherman, which the latter
pubUshcd in gThe National Intelligencer. advocating
The construction of a railroad across the continent
and he was all untnng friend of the road from tha'
time until its completion, in the summer OF 1863
He told me that if at the time of writing thf'
letter TO his brother John he could have secured the
immediate construction of railroad across the con
tnent BY signing contract to lay down his own me-
he should have done ii, he thought
In his memoir, he gives account OF carrying
from Sonoms, Cal, to Sacramento, to the cohhahuins
officer of the United States forces there. an order 10
make survey OF the Feather River, as to ascertain
NE feasibility Of constructing railroad through Ilo
galley OF that stream. That was the first survey ever
node with a view TO the construction OF uansconu-
mental road and while the General does not say so Ill
his memoirs. l have from his own lips that the I'M
pulse and the conception were his own, ana ne pro
nrod the signature to the order OF the commanding
general by personal solicitation. go
" When at the close of the war. General Granville
~ DodCe was called from the Army, being then sun
in service TO charge OF the construction oi Vno
Union Pacific road, General sherman not only sdN9
him leave cordially but lie also Spontaneously promised
him all possible assistance, and General DouPe nas
testified in an elaborate paper that he does n0t sec
how he could have built The road eTCe9' from % Gem c
cra Sherman, the Indians were then power On '''
In the summer of $500 twenty years after his hrst
letter on the subject General sherman STOOD III tio
War Department and heard the strokes rom an o ~
ic hell which announced the successive blows 81 w w
hammer on the last spike in the construction vi my
rad ti and % %G he i e as he himself put it, If
The Lord might come for him then
~h.n the War of the Rebellion broke out "eher'h
sherman had resigned from the Army and was super
,.,ndcnt Of the Louisiana state Military Academy.
i .hc library at West Point there is letter which ne
,,,,a IN the Governor Of Louisiana. Colonel hendnX'
for many wears professor at West Point and now re-
fired has Photographic copy Of the letter. II Ieaos
Us follows: .
Louisiana State Seminary Of Training and
Military Academy,
Alexandria January IS, 1861.
OHcal.
Governor Thomas OMoore.
Sir: As / occupy a quasi military position under the
law, OF this State deem proper TO acQuaint you that
accepted such position when Louisiana wa state IN inc
Union and when the motto % this seminary "a' sVIou
Fl, marble over the main door, by the Ebe7ity OF me
General Government The Union este pcfpstua''
Recent events foeshadow great change and 1t becomes
AL men to choose. II Louisians "lIhula"' from u'e
Federal Union propose to MAINTAIN III! dllHia,'0 " u"
I'D Constitution a. long fragment Of survives; ana
INV lonpar ,v here would be in every sense OF the
word. ,. .o
In that event. l beg you will send or appoint some
arthorizd AGENT to charge Of the arms ana Muo
Of war belonging the state, or ADVISE he "i"' us
position should be made OF them
And furthermore. president OF inc boau o' "epoi'
yors beg YOU take immediate steps 10 rele%'e NE az
suuerntcndcn the the state determines 70 seVeue
fo on no earthly account Will do any act or tlnh any
thought hostile TO or ia defamation OF the Old Government
of The United states. With great RESPECT your I!ciu
and servant W. + "ii'''-i-N-,
said General Horatio C. King: The announcement
n General sherman's death is great shock u me, as
have had a st1osg hope that he would pull 'rOu5i.
regard it one Of the greatest p:NeSeS oi ~ ' 80
that / have been favored with the close frehiNhp oi
General sherman. He was the most interesting con-
VerSatonalist nave ever me-; ana I' l1nu .. 1a
have met him at many army reunions ana on. - In
annual duties as secretary OF the SoCieA W. We -, ~ a.!
reunion shall never forget te ir>t address ne ili%'
at Of our meetings ned III r!niadoPha Oh Hrd
envy Oh i tents stsc'cd arms piles of Shot and
oi Sal Ins,n hV William Winter the a>scEblage
caIIeJ for General sherman lie male cutie ienethy
and patriotic OF hand address, IN whch ne coGn'eeu
fcnddrre,s toward the south Lot us II" sald 'I!,
Give and forget-providcd they will do the sane AT
that time there considerable lc~1 or lcSHcG aPpI
hnrsi"" among politicians that -. South might try
nnci1i ions In another war. In this connection he
aid we cherish only feelings of charity, o. NIu
of % to%a and } 'oTce G the " @ d. the
same Pat if they will not pointhg 70 we Wi,hcc
;rba eject was electric and am it was at lest
i've Minutes before The applause and enthusiasm aba
Cd Then he added i see You understand yOui
business, But am out Of practice now, ana an
coins TO be a pcaceatle man from inns une OF; y,
the BANQUET he responded 10 the toast to the Regi
Army and made earnest appeal IN It's tehhi
stronglv criticlsing the parsmony OF The Govern
,rert toward IT, small force, which, by the way, al
ny. rorv limo was occupied in an Indian war.
General sherman has ieit OF iate years mat NE
s.renrth was too strongly taxed ~ the incess1n
socjai demands upon him. He never could REFUSE
HE old western associates. but had some dincutt'
q, no,S,,ade him that he had az many friend, IN The
Army OF inc Potomac and that he really belonged moi
60 section OF the Grand Army bu' the Whole army
sara-oca springs. in 1857. he gave me most laugh
abS scoring FOR NY persistence ] cannot % hetie
.ban Give he entire extinct from s speech n tNl
b.nouet He said By the law Of our land. WIKI!
is the only king worship applause. WAS Turned
out 10 grass 0aughtcr). and was told that could
snend tle rest Of my DAYS in peace ana retirement
sought refuge in the city OF 81. Louis where nave
many many friends and which city love very much
found but little peace there. But read ! thhN lI
Dr. Johnson. that peace ana quiet cold only he ha'
In a great city in the fOrestln Natures WlGeHes>
/ therefore sought il in NcwIOrk city. daughter
then read in wilhelm Meister. ~ Gocihe, 'Idt on
The heights lies reDOSe. ! have chosen Occur cc Lion
lake I'm Idaho: and you don't know where IL Is. Bu;
friend here your secretary, HoratiO C. King initiates
a new doctrine that because ] happen q lie a SIR
vivor | suppose OF the httest must fullJ all tho
Offices Of eli my dead comrades, Therefore must come
20 20 West Point. must go to Chicago. ! must
70 to Detroit. must 90 wherever an
army band meets because I am the only survivor
Where comes the peace Ny friends. come with
full heart. God knowe. ! love you all because you
foutht for the common flag. AppIatse., Some year,
SoQneviie; he got peace ana quiet. He asked fol