Year: 1875

We print full review of what prom


ises to be one of the most striking books
Of the war. General Sherman is so ori-
ginal and fresh that whatever he says
or does will command attention. lie has
always possessed the courage Of his opin-
ions. Wherever We see his figure in our
history We have occasion 10 respect him
as a man who means what he says; who
goes to his work with a manly and sin
cere purpose. 1t docs not surprise us TO
see Sherman, in the eyes Of foregn critics
as the most striking figure of our war,
sharing probably with Lee and Stone
wall jackson the most enduring fame.
Grant surpassed him in rank. Sheridan


will probably be regarded as a more
brilliant soldier. Thomas has fame
that grows as surely and firmly as granite.
But Sherman has in a higher degree
than any of our great Generals certain
qualities that are not generally possessed
by military men. We are so accustomed
10 hear that Marlborough could not spell,
that Wellington was profoundly ignor-
ant, that Suwarrow was bear and
Blucher an ignorant blAckguard, that
even Napoleon was faulty in grammar,
we associate Othello's summing up Of
the soldierly quality so frequently with
all soldiers, that it is a surprise to find
a General who is a writer of no mean
degree and an orator. Sherman shows
that he can WELD the pen rs well rs the
sword. His style is a. much his own a.
that of Caesar or Napoleon. 1t is win
ming style. We see gifted man telling
his life in a plain, artless fashion, but
with trenchant rhetoric. Whenever
an opinion is demanded he gives it. His
picture of the early days in California is
as graphic as a chapter from Sir Walter
Scott. Now and then there are criticisms
upon his contemporaries which will pro
woke comment; but plainly enough,
Sherman means what he says. This is
the value of the work. We are glad the
General has written il. In many cases
it throws new light upon the rebellion.
Only by such light can the full measure
of that momentous time he taken. And
whatever criticism may be made upon
the book, we honor the General for hav-
ing given us so graphic and Just a histo-
ry Of events in which he himself was so
illusirions and successful an actor
General Sherman is regarded as the
greatest soldier of our war by foreign
critics. or rather, he shares that honor
with Lee. At home his reputation is
steadily growing. The country has been
wayward in its treatment of him. At
first he was suspected of disloyalty, be


cause be did not take extreme views on
the slavery question. Then he was re-
garded as a crazy man, because he in
sisted upon army to hold Kentucky


Then the country became rnpturously in
love with him, because of the capture oi
Atlanta and the march to the sea. Then
came another frenzy of anger and suspi.
cIon and intimations that he might sell
ont to Jefferson Davis, because ne made
truce with Joseph Z. Johnston on the
basis of mis- conversation with Mr.. Lin.
coin. When the war ended we came tc
look upon Sherman az an interesting
slightly eccentric, brilliant man, who
wrote well and made good speeches, with
executive qualities, and who, during the
war, was the brilliant exponent of the
sounder views of the wise and silent
| Grant. Some interest has been attracted
/ to his opinions and character by the be.
/ lief that he has become soured with
Washington, the Cabinet and General
Grant. There has been an idea that per.
haps he would be an available candidate
for the Presidency on the Conservative
ticket. He has had difficulties with the


War Department, the Secretary Of which


was one of his colonels in the Atlantis
campaign. His retirement TO St. Loui,
is understood TO have been a desire tC
withdraw from the malarial social and
political Influences of Washington. Al


this time his fame has been growing


He has not been made responsible foi


the misfortunes and errors of the admin


istration. He has none Of the BURDEN


Of politics. Party acrimony has spare,


him. In the meantime the public opin


ion Of foreign Nations has been throw


ing a new lustre upon his name. Witt


all our indie sJendence of thought we are


keenly alive to the judgment of othei


Nation. Since the war foreign critic


have been steadily advancing him to tn,


first place in the roll of generals. Hi


Atlanta campaign and his march to tn,


sea are regarded as among the finest con


ceptions in modern military history