Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-05-18
Gen. sherman as n Match Maker.


Among some unpublished letters by
Gen. Sherman in "McClurc'S" is cor
respondence which he had with 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 an end TO
it. Some time later, the young lady,
DESTROYS TO know whether her CORE
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 CORE
spondence. In few days General
Sherman answered as follows:
Headquarters Army of the United
States, Washington, d. c., May II, 1879.
Miss -. My Dear Young Lady: Your
letter of the 18th convinces me
that you are a good girl, with pure
heart and soul-one of the most pre-
cious things on earth-and that you
should nurse n tender passion. unseen,
unknt wn to its object, is not right. You
may conflde in me, because l am not
only father and grandfather, bet
stand in the relation Of father to the
whole army.
Lieut.. -- is unmarried, of good
military record, excellent habits and
respected by his army associates. do
not recall him personally to memory,
but enc of his brother officers was 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 CT just such c
girl as ! suppose you to be. He must
be about - years Cld-a little too
old for you-but still with a good long
life yet before him; and if In your
dreams you think of him, and are will
ing to renew your old acquaintance,
tell me so IN the purest confidence Of
a child, and i can let him know, with
out in the least compromising your
maiden delicacy, that he ought-now
that you arc no longer a girl, but
woman, capable and qualified to Judge
Of her own heart and interests, and
that he is at liberty--to seek of your
father the right to renew a correspond
ence which was broken off most prop
crly 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
prudent friend.
To me you can write with absolute
confidence. Truly yours, w. T. Sher-
man.
To this the young lady replied five
days later. namely. on May ed, in
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 is received, and l will 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 the facts.
and will be the friend of all. Tell me
your age, and. if possible, send me pho
tograph; so that on hearing from -
| may advise you.
IL is not fair that he should be alone
away out in the mountains OF Califor-
mia when pure young girl is trcasur-
ing the memory of his former kind
ness, if not signing for some response
to the appeal of q loving heart. 1t is
not right-there should be some con-
clusion. THAT sweet hope that lies
buried TO human eyes" must have some
realization or be suppressed. With you
It may be the love OF vision, and who