FORT CORCORAN, August
19, 1861.
. . . Among my regiments are three who claim to have been
enlisted only for three months, but the Secretary of War has decided they are
in for two years. In each of the regiments there has been a kind of mutiny, not
open and decided, but a determination to do no duty.
Yesterday, Sunday, I had two companies of regular cavalry
and one of artillery ready to attack one of these regiments. For some hours I
thought I would have to give an order to fire, but they did not like the
artillery and have gone to duty; but I think this is a bad class of men to
depend on to fight. They may eat their rations and go on parade, but when
danger comes they will be sure to show the white feather.
Still, they are now in a state of subjection. I went over to
Washington on this business some days ago, saw the President and General Scott;
at the table of the latter I met Robert Anderson for the first time. I only had
a few words with him, but on Saturday he sent for me to meet him at Willard's.
There I found Senator Johnson, a Mr. Maynard, and two or three other members of
Congress from Kentucky and Tennessee. One of them, Senator Johnson I think,
premised by saying that it was the determination of the government to send
assistance to the Union men of Kentucky and Tennessee; that there were large
numbers of them who merely needed arms, money and organization; that Anderson
was the proper general to organize and lead the movement; but that his health
was liable at any moment to fail him, and the President had agreed that he
might select any three of the Brigadiers to go with him; that he had at once
asked for me, and two others, Burnside and Thomas, which was conceded; that
when McClellan heard I was asked for he did not want to spare me, as he thought
there remained imminent danger of an attack here. Then Anderson said he would
prefer to wait a few days till things assumed a more settled shape — say seven
to ten days, at the expiration of which time I should be relieved, and ordered
to Kentucky. I have said or done nothing one way or other, but in about seven
days I will, if nothing threatening happens, apply for relief that I may stop
at Lancaster to see you, for a day or so. I expect to go to Louisville and
thence through East Kentucky and Tennessee, to see myself the state of the country,
and if possible, to organize resistance to the southern Confederacy. It is a
matter of great importance and upon it may hang the existence of the present
government.
Most assuredly events have favored the southern Confederacy,
and instead of making friends, the administration seems to have lost ground,
not only in the South and Middle States, but also in the North. The clamor for
discharge on every possible frivolous pretext has been a severe blow to the
army and may be to the country. I hear that the new enlistments drag. This
every reasonable person must have apprehended from the foolish cry first
raised, a mere impulse sure to be followed by reaction. . . .
SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 217-8. A full copy of this letter can
be found in the William
T Sherman Family papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA),
Notre Dame, IN 46556, Folder CSHR 1/139.
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