New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-10

The New-Yorlt Commandcry OF the Loyal
Legion must account itself fortunate at hay
ing been the means Of cliciting from Senator
John sherman his story of the life OF his
brother. the General. 4 more vivid and fas-
chatting picture of the inner life and character
Of a great soldier has rarely been drawn. The
Senator, while moved by the natural impulse
Of sincere affection 10 display conspcuouSy
the admirable traits observed by the General 5
intimatcs, has really assisted in the formation
Of ulster estimate Of his public services The
motive for some of his most important acts has
never been generally understood, and there
still exist detractors both here and abroad,
whose obscuring prejudice this authoritative
testimony is exactly fitted to illuminate
The General was himself such a prolific
letter-wIiter, and his published memoirs and
magazine articles discussed 50 many phases of
his military career that no family records are
likely to add much TO our knowledge Of lis
historical details. \ Wcll-knoWn critic under
took in n recent article to prove that General
Sherman was not in the highest SENSE a
soldier. and that his greatest success deserved
notice chiefly ms a sequel of his own failures
The letters cited by the Senator emphasize the
those who might have been considered his
rivals, and disclose anew the intrinsic modcsty
Of his own pretensions General sherman"
says his brother, always regarded his march
from Memphis to Chattanooga, and the battle
of Chattanooga, aS among the most important
incidents of his life" and the present attack on
his military renown should find rcfutation in
this cminenty conservative and modest state
ment.
It's recital of picturesque personal traits and
incidents constitutes, however, the main charm
of the Senator's story. His memories Of the
" red headed boy of nine, the letter writing
West Pointer and frontier lieutenant, and the
hardworkng business man, reveal the work
ings of character consistently ardent, faithful
and honorable. The picture of General Shcr-
man and General Thomas, who visited the Sen
ator at village on the banks of the Potomac,
discussing war probabilities with map Of the
United States spread before them on the floor
and already agreeing that Richmond, Chata-
nooga and Nashville were the great strategic
points is unique and noteworthy while the an
ecdotes about the only cry of cxulation" the
Generals brother ever heard him utter and his
humorous rcmonstrance at Johns Presidential
inclinations are delightfully."- characteristic
Those who remember his fccitous and ready
addresses toward the end Of his life will be sur
prised to learn that his brother docs not re-
member his ever making a speech before the
War. Gle was the most unscliiSh man | ever
knewn continues the Senator, and certain
Southerners who still regard him as a blood
thirsty and arrogant ogre may abac their
rancor on reading of his scrupulously honorable
business conduct, his generosity toward brother
officers named for promotion, and his unfail-
ing courtesy to women.
On the whole, this sympathetic narrative
offers far more than "A vndcation Of the Gen
erals protest that he was at heart kindly
man. Ii shows again that he was not only a
true patriot and endowed with wonderful
power of intuition in the face Of momcntous
crises but that in the minutest details of daily
conduct he was good man and true" acting
impulsively, perhaps, but always as he believed
to be right, and therefore incapable of weak
ness or meanness in larger matters. War. he