WASHINGTON, Feb. 15,
1862.
Dear Brother:
. . . . . . . . . .
I was infinitely rejoiced to see in this morning's paper the
announcement that you were to command at Cairo. I sincerely hope it is true. If
so, you will have a noble opportunity to answer those who have belied you. Take
my advice, be hopeful, cheerful, polite to everybody, even a newspaper
reporter. They are in the main, clever, intelligent men, a little too pressing
in their vocation.
Above all things, be hopeful and push ahead. Active, bold,
prompt, vigorous action is now demanded. McClellan is dead in the estimation of
even military men. . . .
Do not the cheers with which our gun-boats were received in
Tennessee and Alabama show you what I have always contended, that this
rebellion is a political one, managed by “Southern gentlemen” and not grounded
in the universal assent of the people? Johnson has now more adherents in
Tennessee than Jeff. Davis. Let our leading army officers who have been
educated to defend the nation catch the spirit of our people, a generous,
hopeful, self-sacrificing spirit. Let them go ahead and you will find
the Union restored and strengthened by its trials. . . .
Affectionately yours,
JOHN SHERMAN
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The
Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837
to 1891, p. 140
No comments:
Post a Comment