Year: 1865

The following article from the New Or
leans Times was written by distinguished
exc officer of Kentucky, who served with
great galantry under Gen. Sherman.


There are periods in the history of all men
when the turbulence of passion stiles the
voice of reason and silences for time the
whisperings of friendship and gratitude. -
The applause Of the past comes but as a
faint echo amid the clamor of popular in
dignation; and those who were loudest in
their Inscriptions Of praise suddenly became
the noisest in their denunciations and abuse.
History is full Of examples of ingratitude,
and the experience of the world continues
| to bear testimony to the fact that


| Mans inhumanity to man,


| Make countless thousands mourn.


More than four years ago, Maj. Gen. W.
L. Sherman resigned the charge Of mill
tary institute near Alexandria, and left the
State of Louisiana rather than advocate Sc
cession or bear arms against his country
! Among the first to draw his sword in defense
of the Government, the records mention
his participation in the ever memorable bat
tie of Bull Run. Coming to Kentucky, a
few months later, we find him leading u
gallant band to the famous hill of Muldrow,
standing as wall Of fire between the in
vaders and the fair homes of the kentuck-
ians he came to defend Here it was that
private interview was paraded in the
papers, and the noble chieftain charged with
insanity, because he expressed the opinion
that two hundred thousand men would be
necessary to the suppression of the rebellion
in the Valley of the Mississippi--a predic-
verified. Still later, he rallied the broken
| oolpp,nx upOu thn onuuiporv fold nf Sbiloh
and won impershable honor by his deeds of
daring. Wounded, he refused to leave the
field Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post,
Raymond, Champion Hills, Eicksburg,
Jackson, Meridian, Lookout Mountain,
Peach Tree Greek, Atlanta, Savannah,
Charleston and Raleigh, are prominent
among the names that deserved place among
the records of his deeds. 1t needs no enum-
Grafton of his acts to bring to remembrance
his illustrious services, for they are known
wherever heroism is admired or civilization
extends. Erase from our banner the in
scription of his deeds, and half its glory
will have departed. A few days since and
all the world was vocal with his praise
Now that he is charged with having COM
mitted an error ofjudgment, all the venom
of an infuriated press, radical in its spirit
and vindictive in its temper, is heaped up
on him. Subordinates in official position,
jealous of his ability and envious of his rep
utation, will doubtless join hands with. the
vast tribe of petty politicians who fear his
popularity with the people, in adding to the
torrent of abuse they would fain heap upon
him, hoping to crush his indomitable spirit
and tarnish his good name. 1t is too late
to accomplish this. Jealousy and malice
may thrust forth their venom; but like the
viper, they may cease, for they ''gnaw n
fe


Wise men tell us that "he who will not
reason is bigOt; he who cannot is fool. y
Actuated by the loftiest patriotism, and yet
inspired by heart teeming with beneyo-
lence and humanity, he may be excused for
granting magnanimous terms to fallen foe.
Cowards only would do otherwise. The
brave man is ever generous-the tyrant and
poltroon never. 1t is not to be expected
that the 'freside soldier or the sunshine
patriot" will be satisfied with less than the
utter degradation of the people we have con-
auered, for they are the men who, when the
desolation of war has swept over the land,
and thousands of our best men have fallen
in defense of the country, would fain blight
the reputation of noble leader who has
given the best days of his life to the service
of his country. He was no political gen
eral, no parlor soldier. Washington city
was stranger to him, for the field was his
home and a tent his habitation. The soldier
in the front battle-scarred and begrimed,
was his best friend. His unconquerable
will and matchless mind nerved his arm and
led him on to victory. Heis charged at this
late day with favoring the cause of the re-
bellion. Possibly he may have erred but
; if so, it was an error prompted by mag
nanmity and goodness of heart-a love Of
his whole country, and not desire to do
otherwise than temper justice with mercy.
The quality of the mercy is not strained;


II tdrOppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath II is twice blessed
II blssses him that gives and him that takes:


IT'S mightiest in the mightiest; II becomes


The throned monarch better than his crown.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power
The attribute to awe and majesty,


Wherein doth sit the dread and fear OF kings,


But mercy Is above this sceptred sway;


II is enthroned in the hearts of kings.


1t is an attribute to God himself;


And earthly power doth then show likest God
When mercy seasons justice.


This is no plea for those who haye brought
this trouble upon the country, Nay, LEI
them receive that punishment which the
enormity of their offenses Justify. But thai
General Sherman acted as he thought bes