Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-15
Before and After the Famous Ba

and consider only the Young Tecunseh
Sherman coming straight from the per
turbations of Louisiana, just arrived
Washington, in the early summer of 1901,
before Bull Run had been fought and lost.
There is no perspective from this angle all
we see is a hot blooded headstrong young
West Pointer bursting with energy and
loyal ideas, full of expectancy but getting
cold reception at the hands of the authorl-
ties.
At this time Washington swarning
with soldiers, officers, and politicians of
every description. l had just arrived there,
ambitious young Colonel, with my Maine ET9
regiment. All sorts of opinions about the d.
war were current, but the strongest was AEk3
that it would not last long nor amount to ~
much. 49,
Sherman had come straight from Alex
andria, Louisiana, to Washington, and W.
naturally went to his brother John, the MI
posite to this brother in most of his char ca
aCteristics. John Sherman quiet in
manner, and always reticent, while Tecum-
sch was OutspOken and exceedingly i'm
pulsve. He was astonished that the poll
tlcians in Washington when he arrived there
were 50 apathetic, still believing, as most of
them did, that the storm then upon
would soon be over. John Sherman felt sure
of it, and that the administration by little care
and few judicious measures would be able to
weather the storm and come out strong in the end
Tecurnseh derided all this. Secession he cried
in his loud, clear voice, is already accomplished
fact. Your arsenals are taken; your forts in
the hands OF the seceSSlonlStS; and nothing but
active war of the most vigorous kind will put down
the opposition" He was especially indignant that
Mr.. Lincoln should call out only seventy five thou
sand men for only three months. 1t in this mood
that he exclaimed to his brother John and his
friends Do you expect to put down this rebellion
with squirt gum"
John and Tecumseh together went to see the
President, to whom Tecumseh expressed himself
without reserve. He knew the Southern leaders;
he knew what they were planning and how
nestly intense and resolved they He blurte ed
out his opinions roughly, without picking his words.
Mr. Lincoln listened carefully; but he found Tecum-
sch too fiery for his at that time. He told him
so; and Sherman left the White House disappointed.
Went Back to ST. Louis
HE at went to St. Louis and plunged into
IL other business bitter enough in his feelings and
in his talk He was offered by Simon Cameron the
chief clerkship of the War Department This he
abruptly declined. Give something he said
that is consonant with my age, my experience
and my rank X in the army. His West Point mate
George H. Thomas, already a Colonel in the
Second Cavalry, and he would not accept position
OF less prominence.
The secession movement, like great food kept
gaining in volume and in force. New regiments
were raised by us, and levees were soon called
Sherman at last offered and accepted the
colonelcy of one of these regiments in the
regular army, namely the Thirteenth Infantry He
threw up his business, fastened to Washington
received his coveted commission and was sure that
he would be back Missouri to fill up the ranks
OF his new organization; but, No." said General
Scott Z" want you here. At present | shall make
you inspector my staff and send YOU out to
look after different portions of my scattered forces
Not little chagrined and disappointed, Sherman
aided e-camp to General Winfield Scott the man
whom he venerated more than any other in the
army
This was June 10, near the time was marching
my brigade into Virginia Meanwhile Senator
Sherman could not help being mbued with the ex-
cltement then current among all loyal men. He
Patterson, with the assimilated rank of Lieutenant
Colonel without pay. 1t not long before he