Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-06-05

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Among some unpublished letters by
Gen. Sherman in "McClnre's" is a cor.
respondence which he had with a young
lady who. while a school girl. got into
correspondence with an officer OF the
regular army. Although this was sim
ply friendly, her father put IN end 10
Il. Some time later. the young lady,
DESTROYS 10 know whether her corre-
spondent was a victim OF the Custer
massacre. addressed a letter TO Gen.
Sherman on the subject, to which he
replied. She then wrote to the general.
telling him OF the nature OF the corre-
s~pondence. In a few days General
Sherman answered as follows;
Headquarters Army Of the United
States. Washington. ID. C., May IL, 1879.
Miss -. My Dear Young Lady: Your
letter OF the 18th conylnces me
that you are a good girl. with a pure
heart and soul-one OF the most pre-
cious things on earth-and that you
should nurse a tender passion, unseen.
nnknt wn 10 its object. is not right. You
may conide in me. because ! am not
only a father and grandfather. but
stand In the relation OF father to the
whole army.
Lieut.. - is unmarried. OF a rood
military record. excellent habits and
respected by his army associates. / do
not recall him personally to memory.
but enc OF his brother officers wal here
this morning. OF WON | inquired. with
out his dreaming OF my reason. He is
at Fort -. Cal, a lonely place.
where he must dream OF Just such a
girl as ! suppose you 10 he. He must
be about - years oId-a little too
old for you--but still with q good long
life yet before him: and 10 in your
dreams you think OF him. ANA are will
Ing TO renew your old acquaintance.
tell me SO In the purest confidence OF
a child. and ] can let him know. with
out In the least compromising your
maiden delicacy. that he ought-now
that you are no longer a girl. hut n
woman, capable and qualified 10 Judge
OF her W heart and interests. and
that he Is at liberty-to seek OF your
father the right to renew a correspond
ence which was broken of most prom
erly by him. In my Judgment this may
be done. and II may release two worthy
souls from a thraldom which neither
can break without the meditation OF a
prudent friend.
To me you can write with absolute
confidence. Truly yours. w. T. Sher-
man.
To this the young lady replied 1--WE
days later, namely, on May ed, in a
letter which is no longer preserved. and
thereupon General Sherman wrote her
again, as follows:
Headquarters Army OF the United
States. Washington. ID. c.. May 20. 1879.
Miss -:
My Dear Young Lady: Yours of the
22d lie received. and | viii write to
-, without In the remotest degree
compromising your dignity or maiden
modesty. Your feelings are pure and
natural. and you need have no uneasi-
ness at all. Let me know all he facts.
and I will be the friend OF all. Tell me
your age. and. II possible. send me pho
tograph: so that on hearing from -
I may advise you.
Il ia not fair that he should be alone
away out In the mountains II Califor-
MIA when a pure young girl is treasur-
Ing the memory OF his former kind
ness, II not signing for some response
TO the appeal of a loving heart. It Is
not right-there should he some con-
c~lnsion. THAT sweet hope that lies
buried TO human eyes" must have some
realization or be suppressed. With you
Il may be the love OF u vision. and who