The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-11

The Chattanooga Times discusses the
statement that when Gen. SHERMAN and
Secretary STANTON met upon the grand
stand on the occasion of the final review OF
the Union troops in Washington. the Sec.
rotary "proffered his hand to the General
who. however. passed on without noticing
either the hand or its owner"
With regard to our recent contradiction
Of this untrue story. the Times points out
the fact that the disputed version is support.
ed by the subjoined passage in Gen. SHER-
MANS Memoirs. volume II. and page 81:
Then. turning into the gate of tho Presidential
grounds we left our horses with orderles and went
upon tho stand. whore found Mrs SHERMAN with her
father and SON. Passing them. shook hands with the
President Gen GRASr and each member OF the Cabinet
As approached Mr. STANTON he offered hand but
l declined 1t publicly. and the fact was universally
noticed"
We are acquainted with this passage in
Gen. SHERMAN's Memoirs. and also with
his statement on a preceding page. declar-
ing that he had previously made up his
mind to aifront STANTON:
AS Mr.. STANTON made no friendly advances. and
offered word OF explanation apology flor the War
Departments published disapprova OF sHsHNAS's ar
rangements with nJonSNoSl declined Gen. GRANTS
-
trary, resolve TO resent what considered insult
as publicly as 1t was made
Likewise in Gen. GRANTS Memoirs, page
534 tho alleged incident is narrated in the
following language:
"suuEx.S witnessed this review from the grand
stand. which was occupied by the President and his
Cabinet. Here he SHERMAN showed his resentment
for the crue! nnL harsh treatment that had unneces
sarily been injected upon him by the Secretary OF War
by refusing to take his extended hand
Notwithstanding these published state
mcnts. II is strictly true that Mr.. STANTON
did not offer his hand to Cen SHERMAN. and
therefore that Gen. SHERMAN did not have
an opportunity to refuse the extended hand
of the Secretary of War. Whatever hostile
feeling existed between the two was mani
tested by equal reserve upon either side
when they were brought face to face.
Gen. GRANTS Memoirs were written long
after Gen. SHERMANs, and Gen. GRANTS
version Of the incident was perhaps based
on SHERMAN testimony rather than on dis
tinct personal recollection. Gen. SHEER
MANS own Memoirs were not published
until about ten years after tho affair;
six years after STATIONS death. Mean
while. various and untrue reports of what
occurred on the reviewing stand had gained
circulation, and had found ready acceptance
and belief among the partisans Of Gen. SHEER
MAN Gen. SHERMAN states that his mind
had been excited Just previously to the re-
view, hy the War Departments rebuke of
his attempt 10 raise the military authority
above The civil in the negotiations with
the captivating Confrderates: and excited
to such II degree of luminosity against Mr..
STANTON that he had resolved to insult the
Secretary in public That may be. 1t may
be that he went upon the reviewing stand
with the intention OF insulting the Secre-
tary. 1t may even be that he fancied he
saw some movement on the part OF STAN
TON which his excited mind Interpreted as
a friendly advance affordiug him an oppor-
tunity to perpetrate the contemplated af-
front; and that his memory dwelt after
ward on that mistaken construction OF Mr..
STATIONS bearing which was satisfactory
to his vanity and hatred.
However that may be, the fact remains
that Secretary STANTON did not offer his
hand to Gen. SHERMAN on that reviewing
stand. This statement is based not only
on our own attentive observation. but also
on the distinct testimony of another In
terested eyewitness who stood near to 10th
gentlemen at the time; ~ well - on Sso-