The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-02-26
IN M EMORIAM.
An ELOQUENT Tribute to the Late Gen
w. T. Sherman.
A Large Audience at the First NJ. E..
Church Last Night.-The Address of
Chas. III. Dowd.

o A. M, attended IN DOuy, seats Delng
reserved for their accommodation. Ser.
doxology. The city band, which had
kindly offered their services, next render
ed a selection,
Rev. DR.. Muller in few we'll chosen re-
marks introduced the orator of the even
ing, Chas. II. Dowd, of Portland, Oregon,
who was an old comrade and personally
acquainted with Gen. Sherman. He spoke
as tollows:
Gentlemen, ladies and comrades of
Ohio-It has been n custom since time
immemorial to hold memorial services
and II is for that purpose we are gathered
here tonight. william Tecumseh Sher.
man was born in Lancaster, Ohio, "a de-
scendant of one of the early settlers of
the Massachusetts, colony and was born
Feb. 8, 1920. The death of his father when
but nine years old left the widowed moth
er many cares and as o result he was
adopted when but nine years old by Sena-
tor Tom Ewing, of Lancaster. When 16
years of age he was appointed by MIR.
Poinself, secretary of war, to West Point,
through the efforts of Senator Ewing. He
entered upon his life and studies with
great earnestness, and in 1910 he gradual
ed the sixth of his class. He was ap-
pointed Junior Second Lieutenant in the
Third Artillery.
At the academy he was not considered
good soldier, for at no time was he select
ed for any office, but was a private through
the four years, for then as now neatness
i'm dress and form, with a strict conformity
to the rules were the qualifications requir-
ed for office and it is to be supposed he
was not found to excel in them. In his
work and study he ranked among the besl
and out of a class of forty-three he passed
out as number six.
Sherman's first service was at Ft. Pierce
Florida, under Lieutenant Taylor, Com
pany A, Third Artillery against the Semi
noles. He was promoted to First Lieuten-
ant in 1871, and reported at st. Augustine
in June. Soon after the regiment was or
dered to exchange from the Gulf points
to those of the Atlantic, extending from
Savannah to North Carolina. Here he was
stationed at Fort Moultree, in Charleston
Harbor, where he remained from 1912 to
1916, his duties being mostly that of camp
life and garrison, but here were opportu-
mites offered in the line of duty, ana dur
ing these four years he visited kenesay
Mountain and over the very ground where
afterwards in 1868 and 1864 he had to con-
duct vast armies and fight great bait les:
Was this accidental or was II the hand of
the Almighty leading him on?
In 1916 upon the breaking out OF the war
with Mexico he was sent to Pittsburg and
given charge of a recruiting otlice, but in
response to his own request for active SER
vice in the field he was ordered to Califor-
MA He sailed in the slow ship Lexington
for California which after voyage of
nearly 200 days arrived in the harbor of
Monteracy Jan. 26, 1917. Fremont had al
ready reached there with his battalion of
volunteers, Sherman was detailed by
Gen. Kearney to do duty in connection
with the settlement of the rights of gov
ernmeut under military rule, as California
had really no government, but was IN
state of chaos and confusion, In 1858
Sherman seeing no early chance of early
Ia, in a t0np1
commission and became manager of the
branch bank of Lucas, Turner and Com
pany at San Francisco where he was en-
gagged with moderate success for some
years. Here ] first met Captain Sherman
while he was in control of this house. His
manner of business was singularly care
ful and thorough and every transaction of
his bank career was marked with steady
and sterling upTightnesS and honesty.
Nothing was too small for his careful in
vestigation and thought and when i'll 1856
and 1857 the largest and most important
monetary transaction became necessary
his nerve and will saved San Francisco
and the State of California from serious
financial disaster.
He formed and organized in 1858 the
California Artillery, drilled its officers and
men. From 1857 to 1853 Sherman practic-
ed law, in Leavenworth, Kansas, having
previously been admitted to the bar. In
1859 he was elected superintendent of the
Louisiana Seminary of Learning and Mil
itary Academy. The Presidential election
was now coming on and civil war was
threatened. November came and with il
the election of Abraham Lincoln. 1t was
hoped by the leaders of the south that
Sherman would be with their cause.
Overtures of flattering nature were
made him but his sterling patriotism and
his grand faith in the Federal union never
faltered for an instant. Sherman went to
4
the authorities that actual war was upon
them. He had lived in the south and
knew the counsels of the seceders. En-
ployment was sought for him as chief
clerk of the War Department-that failed.
Then the effort was made to gain the ap-
pointment as Quartermaster General in
place of Joseph e. Johnson who had re-
signed the place in order that he might
Join the army of his seeded States.
Neither place was assigned to Sherman.
When Sumpter fell the ex-captain was
directed to go to Ohio and raise regiment
of three month men. He did not go. His
opportunity came May IA, 1861, when he
was reappointed to the regular army with
the rank of Colonel, and on the 18th be
was made Brigadier General of Volunteers
and commanded a brigade in the first
battle of Bull Run, July 2l, 1861. In Octo-
ber he was appointed to the Department OF
the Cumberland but afterwards took
charge of a camp of instruction in St.
Louis till February 1862.
His great military career had begun. He
was engaged in numerous battles from
that time to his memorable march to the
sea, In the middle of November 1864 he
begun his famous march to the sea. Cut
ting loose from all his supplies, relying en-.
| tirely upon his own strength and ability
| he started with $4,000 men to cut the con-
| federacy in two, an instance without par
allel. He had numerous engagements on
| the march until on March 26th, 1865, the
confederate army under Joseph E. John
| son surrendered at Durham station, South
| Carolina, Sherman's advance to Rich
mond and Washington, from April 28th
| to May oath ended his southern march of
more than 1900 miles.
The brilliancy of his various achieve
ments is suggested by his rapid promo
| ion and the results he was enabled to
| accomplish. The march to the sea will
| live in song and story as one of the brill
| liant and romantic movements of Ameri-
can warfare. The personal dash and
daring of Sherman makes him figure for
| all men to admire, and all Americans to
love. To use the words OF General Grant,
fisherman is not only great soldier, but
great man. He is one of the very great
men of our country's history. He is an
orator who had but few superiors. As q
| writer he was among the first. As gen.
eral knew of no man l would put above
him. Above all, he had fine character,
| so frank, SO sincere, so outspoken, SO gen.
uine, there is not a false hue in Sher-
man."
Sherman's farewell to his troops at the
conclusion of the war shows something OF
the temper and feeling of the man. In
the conclusion he says: "As long as the
enemy was defiant, nor mountains, nor
rivers, nor swamps, nor hunger, nor cold