The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-07
CAREER AFTER THE WAR.


Politics He Always Carefully Avoided-His
Kindness aud High Sense Of Honor.
AFTER the war General Sherman quietly
resumed the employments of peace By
the election of General Grant a. President
he became genera, but he had little to do
and chafed for want of employment. He
became deeply interested In the Grand
Army of the Republic and the Loyal
Legion. He attended their meetings and
speeches to soldiers. and thus developed
talent for speaking This was natural, for
he was always an interesting talker, but
do not remember his ever making,a speech
before the war. In his later years. while
residing In this city. he spoke often and
well on many subjects. Politics ho careful
ly avoided. He was urged TO accept q NOM
ination for President. but he would not
listen to it. When haG inclination that
way he demonstrated:
''Why John. they will kill you; thoy
killed Harrison; they killed Taylor, and
Lincoln, and Garfield, and will kill you.'
1T was useless to tell him that some PEG.
pie were killed in war and that tho presi-
dency was not necessarily fatal. To him
political life had no pleasing aspect. hut
all forms of social life. conversation, trav-
ell. theater. cards without gambling, which
he abhorred. dancing. lectures. reading.
literary and scientific pursuits, all forms
of study and amusement. gave him pleas
ure and occupation. His whole life since
his retirement was under the public gaze.
and when at the age OF seventy one. after q
brief illness, he died in this city, its whole
Ia Ill., AL Il
his. funeral train. and a countless multitude
In every city, town and hamlet on the long
road to ST. Louis expressed their sorrow and
sympathy.
And here / might add that there are
certain traits and characteristics of Gen.
sherman uDon which / can and ought to
speak with greater knowledge and conf
dence than Of his military career. He was
distin Ruished. hrst OF all. from his early
boyhOod for his love and veneration for,
and obedience to. hiemother. There never
was a time since his appointment as cadet
to his death that he did not insist upon
sharing with her his modest pay, and gave
to her most respectful homage and duty.
Ii is hardly necessary to this presence TO
refer to his devotion to his wife, Ellen
Ewing Sherman. They were born in neigh
boring households. reared from childhood
in the same family. early attached and
pledged to each other. married when no
reached the grade of captain. shared in af-
lection and respect the Joys and sorrows of
life and paid the Inst debt 10 nature with
in n few months of each othor. The Same
affection and care was bestowed OH his
children.
Ills RESPECT FOR WOMEN.
General Sherman always paid the most
respectful attention to women in every
rank and condition of life-the widow and
orphan. the young and the old. While he
was often stern and abrupt TO men he was
Il Ei ind 90
received from them the homage they would
pay to q brother. His friendship for Grant
have already alluded to. but it extended
in lesser degree to all his comrades. espe-
cially those ut West Point. No good SOL
der in his command feared TO approach
him To demand Justice, and every one re-
ceived il if in bis power to grant II. He
shared with them the hardships of the
march and the camp. and he was content
with the same rations given TO them.
Simple in his habits, easy of approach,
considerable of their comfort, he was popu-
lar with his soldiers, even when exacting
In his discipline. The name of Uncle Billy
given to him by them Was the highest evil
dence of their affections.
HE was the most unselfsh man l ever
knew. lie did not seek for high rank, and
often expressed doubts of his fitness for
high command. He became a warm ad-
mirer of Abraham Lincoln as the war
progressed. and moro than once expressed
TO linn desire for subordinate duty. He
never asked for promotion. but accepted il
when gwen. His letters to me are full of
urgent request for the promotion of officers
who rendered distinguished services, but
never for his own. When the bill for the
retirement of officers at the age of sixty
three was pending. he was excepted from
It's operations. He teIegraphed me- insist
Ing that no exception should be made in
his favor. that General Sheridan should
have the promotion and rank of general
which he had fairly earned. This was
granted. bnt Congress. with great kindness
continued to General sherman the full pay
OF general when he was placed on the re-
tired LIST.
I'm his business relations he was Lound
by scrupulous sense of honor and
duty: never knew Of him doing any thing
which tho most exacting could say was
dishonorablc, violation of duty or right
could name many instances OF this trnit
which Will not. but one OF two cases will
suffice. When n banker in California sew
eral of his old army friends especially
from the South, trusted him with their
savings for investment He invested their
money IN good faith in what were con-
sidered the very safest investment In Cali,
fornia. but when Page. Bacon n Co. and
nearly every banker of san Francisco
failed in 1855 all securities were dis
bonored. and many oil them became worth
less. General Sherman. though not re-