Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-07
A BROTHERS TRIBUTE.
Hon. John Sherman Tells His Recol-
lectionS Of His Brother,
GALLANT GEN. WM. 7. SHERMAN.
He Was Not a Partisan, Nor Was BE In!srs<tsf
in the Slave Question, But Entered he War
Purely From Patriotic Prinaplss-His
Great Respect for All Women.

New York. April 6.--Senaior Sherman
responded 10 the toast Tho Memory ok I
General w. T. Sherman AZ the banquet I
OF the Union Legion at New York iAsti
night, as follows:
III is no easy task for me TO respond 70 /,
your toast In honor OF General sherman
did not fully appreciate this when 80 J
cepted the invitation OF your commander,}
General Swayne. He and l often In
the freedom Of personal freldsl ~ and
Intercourse have talked OF the traits and,
CHARACTERISTICS OF leading acts in your civil
arand especially OF General sherman To-
whom each Of US was bound by the strone-l
est ties he by intimate association. by the
warm friendship tha. had existed between
his father and mine, aud by the closer ues
OF comradshipin war. and by the natural \
ties of brothers associated during all our
lives in the most intimate confidence and
affection.
II is ono thing to talk with a personal
friend about incidents In the life or man
Of such varied adventure and experiences ~
General Sherman, but II is quite another
thing TO present 10 an audience. even 10 his
comrades, however partial they may DO,
the just measure OF praise due TO hts mcs,- 4
ory, without seeming 10 derogate from tho
equal or higher praise due 20 bis associates
AS 10 the merits and services or Gen.
Sherman as a soldier am not an impartial
Judge. His standing as such will rcst
mainly upon tho opinions OF his comrades
and the official record OF events now being
gathered into volumes too numerous and
large 10 be read except by the compiler
and proof reader. All n " s.
some personal iucidents hhd tfNftI<1<.uttftt~
tive OF mis- life from boyhood 70 old ago.
In speaking OF his war career Senator
Sherman said he seemed TO have reached Ia
his adventurous career haven OF rest
when without any fault Of his own, he was
compelled 10 choose his side In the great
tragedy of the civil war.
He had no pride in or hate for any section
and he belonged TO no political party He
had cherished friends on both parties and
in all sections. When, therefore, he was
compelled 70 choose his side Of the civil
war, isit any wonder that he was on the
side OF the Unions Secession would de-
stroy the Union. and therefore he was OPP
posed 10 secession.
IL is certain he did not enter into the
military service on account Of slavery. He
acknowledged no foalty 10 any party, and
like General Grant, he voted for President
but once and then acknowleded he had
made a mistake. He he had an idoa. too
common among the graduates OF We6t
Point, that there was something Inherently
wrong In politics.
The motive that led him into the war was
his intense patriotism. This was the most
striking trait of his character. The e--1is
OF slavery, the dictates OF party, and tho
hope OF promotion had no influep with
him.
The seizure OF the arms and arsenals OF I,
the United States. at Baton Rogue. on tho
10th Of January, 1851, the forced surrender
OF Capt. Haskins's company OF artillery,
the transfer OF some OF the arms 20 tie
Military Academy la charge Of General
Sherman, making him the receiver OF
stolen goods, and those goods the property
OF the United States, fired his blood, ,aroBs-
cd his patriotism and forced him TO falfe
his stand
knew full we'll that this charge was
false. and understood better than any one
else his strong opinions ss 10 the nature OF
the war and how easily his frank and open
but true declarations could be used as an
evidence OF timidity or even insanity.
Though then engaged In recruiting n
brigade, / went 70 Louisville and found him
cool and self.possessed, but very willing 70
be relieved from the command and 10 turn
over his forces 20 General Buell..
Politics he carefully avoided. lie was
urged 70 accept a nomination for President.
but he would not listen 10 H. When had
an inclination that way be demonstrated;
"Why John, they will Kill you, they killed.
Harrison: they killed Taylor and Lincoln (
and Garfield and will kill you.r
His whole life since bis retirement was Z
under the public gaze, and wben a. the ago.
Of II, after a brief illness, he died In tbisi
city, its whole population 10 silence and +.
sadness watched bis funeral train, and ~.
countless multitude 10 every city, town and
hamlet on the long road 70 81. Louis ex,#
pressed their sorrow and sympathy.
General Sherman always paid the no
respectful attention 10 women in every MIx| E
and condition OF life; the widow ap4 -
orphan, the young and the old. WIi3 ~
was often stern and abrupt 70 mcux ~ ~
always kind and gentle 70 women, - ~ 4
received from them the homage they He1l4<
pay 10 brother.
He shared with his soldiers the har11&jbs
OF the march and the camp, srt ~ w19 ron
tent with the same rations ef7eo - fo>D.
Simple In his habits, easy Of npDrpanh,
considerate Of their comfor, be Wos popu- :
lar with his soldiers, even wb1n cxEctinz
I'm this discipline. The nafns Of "Uncis
Billy" given 10 him by them, was the high
est evidence Of their affection.
He was tho most unscihsh man ever
knew He did not seek for high rank.
and offer expressed doubts Of bis fitness
for high command.
He became a warm sdmirer Of Abrahxn :
Lincoln as the war progressed, and move
than once expressed 10 him desire for
subordinaee duty. He never asked Tor