Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-04-20


spirit of Cromwell and
the Covenanter was the motive power Of his
action. His principle of war was to use up
and consume the resources of the enemy.
The destruction of Atlanta and the devas-
tating march through Georgia and the Car
Olinas were upon Puritan lines. The enc
mics of his country were as much to his
mind the enemies of the Lord as were the
Cavaliers of Prince Rupert to Cromwell and
his IrOnSideS. He was by nature the most
genial, lovable, and companionabIe of men,
but the mailed hand and merciless purpose
followed any attack on the things he held
sacred.
His father died suddenly, leaving his
widow with little means and a family of
eleven children. The bench and bar felt
that the boys were the wards Of the pro-
fession. Thomas Ewing saw the future
general in this quick, nervous, Intelligent
pugnacious boy with his Indian warrior
name, and appointed him to the West Point
Military Academy. He stood sixth in his
class, and was its most original and attract
i've member
Sherman had been brought up and
trained in the school of Hamilton, of Web
ster, and of Henry Clay. His Bible was the
Constitution He had Imagination, but no
sentiment; passion, but no pathos. BeIiev-
ing slavery to have guarantees in the Con-
stitution, he would have unsheathed his
sword as readily against a John Brown raid
His imagination led him to glorify and
idealize the republic Its grandeur, its
growth, and its possibilities captured and
possessed his heart and mind.
This intense nationalist and accom-
plished soldier was selected by the State Of
Louisiana to be the superintendent and
organizer of its State Military School. He
was 1T the head Of a university which was
fitting youth fer careers in civil life, and
training them, il needs be, to fight for
their country. Suddenly the truth burst
upon his frank nature. He held an hon
orable. congenial lucrative, and perma-
nent position. The future if he abandoned
his place, was dark and doubtful, but the
Union was in danger and he did not hest
taUe moment His letter of esignatiOn TO
the Governor of Louisiana reads like a
bugle-call Of patriotism.
The Confederate army had concentrated
at Manassas, threatening Washington.
There were few West Point officers availa-
BILE, and Capt Sherman was commissioned
a Colonel and given command of "a brigade
at Bull Run. Holding in hand all there was
Of his brigade which had not stamp sded
exposing himself with reckless courage, and
keeping q sembIan,e Of discipline which
did much to prevent pursuit by the victori-
Gus enemy. Col. Sherman rode into Wash
ingtOn to so freely acknowledge the faults
on the field, and SO vigorously denOunce
the utterly inadequate preparations for
civil war. that he again fell into disrepute,
was again assailcd S mailman, and BAN
ished to the West But Ohio never lost
confidence in him, and demanded and Sc
cured his appointment in the long list Of
Brigadier Generals
Then, for the glory of the American
army and the incalculabe advantage Of
the Union cause, came the opportunity for
the most brilliant soldier and magnetic
commander IN our annals. The control of
the Mississippi, the allegiance of the bor-
der States. and the existence of the West
ern army were in gravest peril at Shiloh.
Sherman was at the front on those two
desperate days. holding his men by his per-
sonal example and presence He was as
much the inspiration of the fight as the
white plume of Henry of Navarro at Ivry.
Though wounded he still led, and though
three horses were shot under him he
mounted the fourth.
Sherman's March to the Sea, like the re-