New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-22
SHERMAN AND CHASE.
AN INTERVIEW AT BEAUFORT.
MR.. CHAsE's DAUGHTER RECALLS THE SCENE
-sHERMAN's IND1GNATIoN


as saw them in my childish days. the mournful
,idiucs came that General sherman, too has
ionod thc oreot majority. and that the last hero
of that illustrious trio-Grant, Sherman and Shcr
dan-who led the Union forces to victory and saved
orr country from dsmemherment and dishOnor
has foupht his last Sight, and for the first
timp in his life succumbcd to a greater power.
General Shcrman's name will forever stand unique
in bistory. rs the very exponent. the true type
and tho highest conception of soldier y young
officer in speaking of him the day after his death
EXPRESSED the sentiments Of the entire Army, and
not only OF the Army, but Of the whole country,
when he said Sherman was the ideal soldier
and almost the one unique American in having had
no ambition whatever beyond his own profession.
and the performance of his duty as military
commander" Satisfied with his own position
as gentleman Of family and culture, ne abS1-
utely felt no wish for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Of any kind his work done he was content to
retire 10 private life Of simplicity and honor,
with no desire for wealth or political prcicrmcnt.
The temptation to use his great name TO further
schemes of earthly advantage never entered his
direct mind.
In the year 1865 II was my good fortune 10
see this rugged hero of many battles shortly after
he arrived on the Atlantic coast, after his famous
march to the sea. That ! should have been on
the shores of North Carolina at that time with my
father happened in this way
Shortly after Mr.. JohnsOn's Inauguration,
Chief Justice Chase decided TO visit the Southern
States. including particularly his proposed
circuit las he had concluded 10 take Chief Justice
Tancy's court duties as his own. lie wished also
10 sep for himself the condition Of the South and
to Judge of the feeling and disposition of the
In nr4ln
TO facilitate the plans a revenue cutter was put
at his disposal by the Secretary of the Treasury.
As the accommodations were very small Mr..
Chasc's party consisted only Of Mr.. Nhtchw
Reid; a revenue officer. who was TO examine the
condition Of the Southern ports. and put them in
working order: Mr. Kcllcn, an old Ohio friend
of my father and Dr. Fuller, an eminent divine.
who had formerly been large slave owner in
South Carolina. hut who had been obliged TO
leave his plantations on account of his Union
craftsmanship 4 day or two before thcr sailed
I was surprised and delighted beyond measure by
being suddenly asked by my father if | should
like TO 90 with him. You cannot take any maid, y
he said, and YOU will have very limited accom-
modatious." but, as may he imagined. such CON
sidcrations became. under the circumstances. mere
bagaiclcs And thus il was that became one
Of the party. and saw Tie General, as have said,
AT beaufort. where his vessel lay ut anchor in
the harnor on account Of stress Of weather. An
earnest message from him brought over 10 my
father on our arrival by Colonel Audcnrcid. the
chief Of staff. and begging for an immediate inter
view, decided Mr. Chase 10 60 over 10 the
Generals ship at once without ceremony rs
usual. he took me with him, and VIC all got into
The GIG and were rowed across to the other vessel
The General waiting for MS eagerly At the
gangway, and with hardly greeting 10 the others,
so anxious was he to have his say he took
my fathers arm and hurried him over 10 IN"
cabin. while followed. simply because did NOT
know where else 70 90. Now. Governor, he
said excitcdly, using the old Ohio title. what
does all this mean" On his table lay a whole
file Of Northern papers full OF criticisms and
irritating comments on his arrangement with
General Johnston. If Mr. Lincoln had lived
| should never have been insutcd I'm this fashion ,
We neither Of us ale the kind TO kick an enemy
after he is conquered he went on. becoming
more and more excited His face red with
Indignation as he strobe mp and down the cabin
like an enraged lion. stopping now and then 10
pound the table as he emphasized some point, and
then resuming his hurried walk again.
DO you know what they call me here" he
said bringing his fist down with a thump on the
pile Of papers which sent them flying. They al
most dub me traitor because | have tried 10 bring
peace into the cOuntrv-I. who have brought n vic
toriouS army through the very heart Of the South
] tell you, Governor. there are some things that
hit a man hard What do they know in Wash
ington? How can they tell, shut up in their
rooms and Offices The people here want peace
and. for Heavens sake. let them have il! DO
they want to keep on fighting there in Washing
ton row that the war is over?'
Ny father tried TO put in calming word or two
in the midst Of this burst Of fiery indignation:
but he was too Saxon and generous himself not
10 Synpnthize with the Generals POSITION" fight
your enemy, and. after conqucring let the recon
ciliaton be prompt and without reservation was
tie feeling Of both men, and Mr. Chase later on
was also, despite his lifc's record, Judged hardly
and greatly misunderstood for almost identical
causes
Il will tell you," went on the General. Just
what Mr. Lincoln said to me when | asked him
point blank if he wished me 10 capture JcT Davis
or let him escape and you will see by this what
his feeling about Keeping up luminosity was
Well said the President, i will tell you how
feel about it. ! knew an old temperance lecturer
once who, according TO his conviction, enoined
total abstinence and never touched liquor himself
Once after a long ride, in which he had been
a friends house for n cup Of hot coffee. Let me
put in just drop OF brandy said his host. IL
may save you an illness NO. said the teetotaer
i couldnt think Of it-but' he added rather
softly, If you can put in drop unbcknownst t.
me might feel grateful OF course. General
We must oppose the escape Of JEFF Davis: but if
he could slip Of unbeknownst it would not hurt
the country
So you see" went the General that is
all | had 10 go by. and the only directions |
received the South may well rue the day when
those fanatics murdered the President. for they
killed their best friend
And So said General Sherman. after an in
tcrval of calm I'm which he had been tcllin,
Mr. Lincons story, rising. from his seat. aeain
flushing red with wrath and strdng up and down
again in his impetuosty and excitement, when
| have no letter and try 10 follow ont the spirit
Of my instructions this is what ! get from Stanton