Year: 1862


high repute. AS to the intense feeling a.
gainst Generals Grant and Prentiss,-could
anything be more base than that? Gran
just fresh from the victory of DonelsOn, more
rich in fruits than was Saratoga, Yorktown
or anT other one fought on this continent. j;
yet held up to the people Of Ohio, his native
State, as one who, in the opinion Of the in.
telligent coward, is worthy to be shot; and
Prentiss, now absent and prisoner, unable
10 meet your wicked and malicious shafts
also condemned to death. Shame on you
ard | know tell you an unpleasant truth
when assure you neither he nor his mer
but on tine contrary, were prepared in time
to receive the shock of battle more terr BILE
than any the annals of American history,
have heretofore recorded. He met it man
fully and well, Tor hours bore up against the
superior host, fell back slowly and in order
till he met the reserves under Wallace and
Hurlbut, and fought till near P. M, when
he was completely enveloped and made pris,
oner. Well do l remember the line after
line Of steady troops displaying the bloody
banner OF the South, aud to me the more
familiar Pelican flag of Louisiana, bearing
down on Prentiss, who was to my left and
rear, and how, though busy enough with my
own appropriate part, l felt for his danger
and dispatched my Aid, Major Sanger, to
give him notice. My Aid found him in ad
vance of his camps fighting well, but the
shock was too great, and he was borne back
step by ster till made prisoner, six hours af.
ter your surprised informants had sought
refuge under the steep banks OF the Tennes-
see. ...


So much for the history Of events you did
behold and yet pretend to comment on. You
came to Shiloh on a mission OF mercy after
danger and before a new one arose. You
tarried few day, but cannot learn from
my Ohio ColonelS how you dispensed your
charitable trust That is none of my busi-
ness, but | do know you abused your oppor-
tunity and caught up vague. foolish camp ru
mors from the region Of the steamboat landing
instead Of seeking for truth where alone you
did know it could be found, among the thou
sands Of brave Ohio men who were in nv
camp, and who can still boast OF never hav.
ing seen the Tennessee river since the
day we diSembarked. You then return
to your State and in obscure printed slips cir
culate libels and falsehoods against men
whose vocation and distance made 1t highly
improbable that you could ever be held to
an account. You knew that we were IN the
presence Of fierce, bold and determined en-
emy, with hundreds of miles of ambush be-
fore US from which few stray shots would
relieve you of your victims. You knew that
our men were raw and undisciplined, and
that all our time was taken up in organization
drill and discipline, leaving US no time to
meet your malicious slanders and resent you.
insults. The hour of reckoning seemed
therefore, distant and uncertain. You have
had your day, bat the retreat of the enemy
and day of comparative rest has given me
leisure to write this for your benefit. Grant
and Hurlbut and Prentiss still live, and will
in due season pay their respects also.


Ii you have no respect for the honor ant
reputation OF the Generals who lead the ar.
mics of your country you should have some
regard to the honor and welfare of the coun
try itself. If your paper could have had it


intended effect OF destroying the confdeDc,
OF the Executive, the army and the people il
their Generals, it would have produced abso
lutte and utter disorganization. 1t not onll
placed courage and cowardice, stubborn anc
enduring valor and ignominious flight upon
the same base, but it holds up to public favol
those who deserted their colors, and teaches
them to add insubordination to cowardce.
Such an army as your military morale would
produce could not be commanded by any
General who hoped to win reputation or who
had reputation to lose. Our whole force, i
imbued with your notions, would be driver
across the Ohio in less than month, and
even you would be disturbed in your quiet
study where you now, in perfect safety. write
libes against the Generals who organize our
armies and with them fight and win battles
for our country. --s...


lam, &c,


(Signed) w. T. SHERMAN,


Major General Of Volunteers.