Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-27
Today in
Washington History
By DONALD A. CRAIG.

May -, 1884 letter from Gen.
Sherman to S. NJ. Bowman, criticiZing
the War Department, first published in
the New York World, was republished
in the newspapers here today, and Gre
/ ated great stir in official circles. Here
! is the letter as it appeared in The Eve
ming Star this afternoon:
CAMP NEAR ALEXANDRIA, Va,
May 10.
Dear Bowman:
Il am just arrived. All my army will
be in today. I have been lost to the
world in the woods for some time. Yet
on arriving at the settlements found
had made quite a stir among the
people at home, and that the most
sinister motives had been ascribed to
me.
II have made frequent official re-
ports of my official action in all public
matters, and all of them have been
carefully suppressed, while the most
ridiculous nonsense has been industri-
ouSly spread abroad through the news
papers. Well, you know what impor-
that have been too long fighting with
real rebels, with musketS in their hands,
to be scared by mere non-combatants,
no matter how high their civil rank or
station.
1T is amusing to observe how brave
and firm some men become when all
danger is past. have noticed on fields
OF battle brave men never insult the
captured or mutilate the dead, but
To- ri M
recall the act, but Shakespeare records
how poor Falstaff, the prince of towards
and wit, rising from a figured death,
stabbed dead Percy and carried the car
caSS aloft in triumph to prove his valor.
so when the rebellion in our land is
dead many FalStaffs appear to brandish
the evidence Of their valor and seek to
win applause and to appropriate honors
for deeds never done.
And as to myself I ask no popu-
larity, no reward. But dare the War
Department to publish my official let
tiers and reports. I assert that my off,
cial reports have been purposely sup
pressed, while all the power Of the press
has been Indignantly turned against
me.
st do want peace and security and
the return to law and justice from
Maine to the Rio Grande, and If it does
state reasons beyond my comprehen-
sion. 1t may be thought strange that
one who has no fame but as a soldier
should have been so careful to try to
restore the civil power of the Govern
ment and the peaceful jurisdiction of
the courts, but it Is difficult to discover
in that fact any just cause of offense
to an enlightened and free people But
when men choose to SANDER and injure
others they can easily invent the facts
for the purpose when the proposed VIC
tim Is far away, engaged in public
service of their own bidding.
But there is consolation in knowing
that though the truth lies in the bottom
of well the Yankees have persever-
ance enough to get to the bottom.
Yours truly,
(Signed) wv. T. SHERMAN"
The Star says editorially that Sher-
man may write such letters without
shaking public confidence in the wis
dom and propriety of President John
sons act in setting aside his virtual
surrender of all achieved by the services
and sufferings of our gallant armies
throughout the recent war" The editor
adds that although Gen. Sherman Is a
gallant and successful commander in
the field" he lacks q balance wheel of
common sense"