The Indianapolis journal., 1891-02-20
SERGEANT WILLIE SHERMAN.
General Sherman's Expressions of sorros
Over the Death OF His Son.

General sherman's Expressions of sorrow
Over the Death OF His Son.
Boston Transcript
Ex-President Hayes. in speaking of Gem
Sherman's personal qualities, said he was
at times wonderfully pathetic in his ex-
instanced General Sherman's account
and the only one of the Generals
sons that showed any .predilection for the
boys illness and death is to be found in
General Sherman's memoirs. and his letter
to the officers and men of the Thirteenth
Infantry is given below. IL should be pre-
missed that Sherman's first commission
after the outbreak of the rebellion was as
colonel of the thirteenth United States In
fantry. battalion of this regiment con-
stituted his headquarters guard during the
Flcksburg campaign. Willie Sherman was
adopted by the battalion as sergeant
and turned out at drills and guard mount
ings with q zeal that amused and delighted
his father as much as il did the soldiers.
The little sergeant died of typhoid fever at
Memphis Oct. 8, 1863 and was given a mill
tary funeral. the battalion acting as escort
Immediately after the funeral General
Sherman wrote the following letter:
GAYoso HOUSE, MEMPHIS, TESN.,l
Oct IA, 1s63-Midnight.
Can't o. c. Smith. Commanding Battalion Thir-
teenth United States Regulars
My Dear Friend-I cannot sleep TO night tiu
record an expression OF the deep feelings OF my
heart to you and 20 the % Officers $ and soldiers Oh
child. / realize that you all feel for my family
the attachment OF kindred, and assure you or
Consistent with sense OF duty to my profes-
sion and Office, could not leave my post, and
sent for the family 10 come 20 me In that fatal
and behold the result. The child that bore my
name. and in whose future i reposed with more
confidence than did in my own plan OF life,
M oaf n ma "A
distant land, with a weeping mother, brother
and sisters clustered about him For myself 1
ask no sympathy. On, on must go, TO meet
soldiers fate, or TO live 60 see Our country rise
superior TO all factions TIL its nag is ad0red and
respected by ourselves and by all the powers OF
But Willie was. or thought he was, q sergeant
in the Thirteenth. nave seen his eye brighten.
his heart beat, as he beheld the battalion under
arms, and asked il they were not real soldiers.
Child as he was, he had the enthusiasm, the pure
love of truth, honor and country which should
God only knows why he should die thus young.
He is dead but will not be forgotten TIL those
who knew him I'm life have followed him to that
Please convey to the battalion my heart-feIt
thanks and assure each and all that IL In after
years they cali on me or mine and mention that
they were of the Thirteenth regulars when Willie
was a sergeant they will have q key To the alec-
tions of my family that will open all IL has that
VIII share with them our last blanket our last
W. T. SHERMAN, Msjor-eeneral
Long afterward, IN the spring of 1867, We
had his body disinterred and brought 20 st.
Louis, where he is now buried in beauti-
full spot in Calvary Cemetery, by the side
of another child, Charles, who was born AZ
Lancaster, in the summer OF 1864. died
early. and was buried at Notre Dame. Ind
His body was transferred st the same time
to the same spot. Over Willie's grave is
erected beautiful marble monument. do
signed and executed by the officers and SOL
diers of that battalion which claimed him
as a sergeant and comrade.