The Washington herald., 1914-12-27


preparations for a movement were at
once begun. Col Orlando N. Poe, the
Federal chief engineer, marked out a
line Of defenses for the city. and the
troops and negroes were at work upon
them nifty years ago today.
Sherman. with his many arduous
duties. still found time to write frequent
letters home to his wife. Now, after a
lapse Of a half century. they show the
true Sherman-that under the rough
cloak OF the soldier there was a heart
of kindness full of love and feeling for
those who had been left alone at home.
This Is Christmas Day" one letter
began. "and I hope truly anu really that
you and the little ones may enjoy II in
the full knowledge that ! am all safe
after our long march.
Il am at this moment In an elegant
chamber Of the house OF a gentleman
named Green. My bedroom has a bath
and dressing room attached which look
out Of proportion to my poor baggage.
My clothing is good yet and 1 can
even afford a white shirt II would
amuse you to see the negroes: they flock
TO me. old and young. they pray and
shout and mix up my name with that OF
Moses and Simon and other Scriptural
ones as well as .Abram Linkom.' the
great Messiah Of Dis Jubilee"
On January he wrote: Il have not yet
had one word from you since you knew
OF my having reached the coast; and
only know OF the death Of our little boy
Cborn the previous spring. by the New
York papers of December -. / suppose
you feel his loss far more than do be-
cause I never saw him, but all the chill
drtn seemed to be SO attached to him
that you may be so grieved at his death
you cannot write to me.
Il know by the same source that you
are now at South Bend in Mr.. CSchuyler)
Colfax's house. II must be very COLI up
there. II is really cold here, though the
sun shines warm and the trees have
green leaves. OF course no snow, but
ice formed in the cutters and on the
pond.
II see that the State of Ohio talks of
making me a present Of home, etc.
CThis present was never received) For
myself, / would accept nothing, but for
you and the children / would be willing,
especially IL such a present were ac-
companied, as in Farragut's place. with
bonds enough to give interest to pay
taxes. My pay would not enable me to
pay taxes on property"
Adverse to War.
Three days later he wrote: Il have
written several times to you and to the
children. Yesterday ] got your letter of
December 3. and realize the despair and
anguish through which you have passed
in the pain and sickness Of the little
baby | never saw All spoke Of him as
so bright and fair that / had hoped he
would be spared to US to I'LL the great
void in our hearts left by Willy "a son
who died in 1881. but II is otherwise de-
creed and we must submit
Il have seen death in such quantity
and in such forms that it no longer
startles me. but with you il is different.
and It's well that, like the Spaniards,
YOU realize the fact that our little baby
has passed from the troubles OF life to
a better existence
Turning to his prospective campalgn
in South Carolina, Sherman wrote: IL
is pretty hard on me that 1 am COM
peIled to make these blows whicn are
necessarily trying to me, but II seems
tfevoIved- on me and cannot pc aNoloeo
IL the honors proffered and rendered me
from all quarters are Of any value they
will accrue TO YOU and the children
John writes that / am in everybody
mouth and that even he Is known as my
brother, and that all the Shermans are
now feted as relatives of me. surely
Won and the children will not be over
looked by those who profess to honor
me I do think that in the several grand
epochs Of this war my name viii nave
a prominent part, and not least amone
them will be the determination 1 took az
Atlanta to destroy that place and marcn
on this city, while Thomas, my heuten'
ant shoulu dispose of Hood The idea,
the execution and strategy are all good
and will in time be understood.
- don't know that you comprehend
tn. magnitude of the thing, but you car
see the importance attached to 1t II
England. where the critics stand ready
10 turn against any American genera
who makes a mistake or fails IN III
erecution. In my case they had time tc
commit themselves to the conclusion tha'
N. succeeded / would be a great gen
eraI. but II failed 1 would be set dowr
as a fool