The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-20
Pennsylvania last night. At WiIkesbarre
snow was hurled through the air by forty.
mlle-an-ho gale.
Col. A. X. Mcclure Supplements and Cor
reefs Father sherman's story.

Col. A. K Mcclure Supplements and Cor
reefs Father sherman's story.
Philadelphia Times.
Father Thomas Sherman SON of the late
General Sherman, recently delivered q
lecture In st. Louis. in which he gave de-
tailed account of General Shermans re-
moval from his command In Kentucky, and
later he supplemented the statements
of his lecture by an interview for
the newspapers. assuming 10 explain
the Misrepresentation under which his
father was removed. Although the de-
voted son of General Sherman Father
Thomas Sherman had not carefully studied
the history of his fathers removal from
his Kentucky command. lie tells how his
mother and her brother, tho late Thomas
Ewing. appealed to President Lincoln after
Sherman had been removed. and how, on
the following day, by direction OF the
PRESIDENT, with the concurrence OF General
Halieck, Sherman AS restored to his COM
mand in Kentucky.
The chief error Of Father Thomas Sher-
man Is In saying that his father had been
restored TO his command In Kentucky. he
never was restored TO that command after
ne had been removed from it on the 23d OF
December, ISL. He was appointed TO the
command on the Sth of October, 1861 and
when, In response TO q request from the
War Department., he stated that 6O.OO0
operations in Kentucky. and that
100000 men would be necessary for
offensive operations to suppress the
rebellion in the Southwest and open the
Mississippi river.it was assumed in military
circles In Washington that he was de-
mented, and incapable of holding so lmpor-
tant military command. General Halleck,
then In command of the military division
In which Sherman was operating. IN let
ter TO General Mcclellan, then commander.
in-cbief. SAID: 81 am satisfied that General
Sherman's physical and mental system is
so completely broken by labor and care as
TO render HIM for the present unfit for duty.
Perhaps few weeks rest may restore him."
After holding the command in Kentucky
for little more than two months Sherman
was relieved of it and ordered to report to
Benton Barracks. St Louis, where he was
assigned to the duties of military instruc-
tor. 1t was so generally accepted at the
time that he was somewhat unbalanced in
mind that the Cincinnati Commercial, the
leading administration organ of Sher-
mans own State. not only announced bis
insanity, but commented on it editorially.
IL remains an andisputed fact in
history, however, that the chief reason
assigned for the belief in tseneraie Sher-
mans insanity was his call for 0.OOO TROOPS.
to defend Kentucky and for 200. 900 to make
al aggressive campaign against the Con-
federates In the Southwest, and it is now
an undlsputed fact of history that 1t aid
require fully 10000 men to defend Ken
tucky and that quite 100000 men were
necessary to open the Mississippi and con.
quer the rebellion in the Southwest. Gen.
Sherman was. therefore, adjudged insane
solely because he was wiser than the
political and military authorities of his
day.
The vital error in Father Sherman's state
ment is in his assumption that his father
had been restored to his command. From
the time that he was relieved in Kentucky
in the latter part of December. 1861. he con.
tinued al the ST. Louis Barracks as military
instructor until the 18th of February. 1S62.
He was first ordered from st. Louis to take
command of the post at Paducah. KY.
where he remained util the 10th of March,
and was not permitted to take
the field until after the capture
Forts Henry and Donelson and
the city of Nashville. Ii was General Grant
who was instrumental in having General
Sherman placed In command of division
to join Grant for the Shiloh campaign. and
the skill and courage Sherman exhibited
during the first day at Shiloh made Grant
appreciate him IS the best of all his lieu
tenants. and from that day until the close
of the war he ranked second only to
Grant as the military chieftain OF the
army. Such is. in brief. the history of Sher.
mans. removal from his Kentucky COM
mand, and his reinstatement to a subOrdi.
nate command at the opening of the Shiloh
campaign.