MANSFIELD, OHIO, Sept. 23rd, 1862.
Dear Brother:
The rapid change in our military condition in Kentucky drew
to Cincinnati an immense body of irregular forces as well as a large number of
the new regiments. I went there with the intention, if advisable, to go to
Memphis, but all thought it wrong for me to venture. . . .
Since the date of your letter the condition of affairs has
changed very much for the worse. The sudden over running of Kentucky, the
surrender of Murfreesville, the battle of Richmond, the long and unaccountable
delay of Buell, have all combined to make a gloomy feeling here, but do not
affect the resolution to fight this war to a successful conclusion. We are now
anxiously awaiting further movements in Kentucky by Buell. If he fails it is
manifest a year is lost and our new levies will have to commence the war in the
West over again. The terrible battles in Maryland and the retreat of the rebels
into Virginia give only a ray of comfort, for we lost more than we gained. The
surrender at Harper's Ferry loses us more material of war than the entire train
of rebels is worth. And even now it is uncertain whether the retreat into
Virginia is not a part of the plan of operations originally designed to carry
the war into Western Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. As one of the bad signs I
regret to notice so many quarrels between officers. . . .
The feeling among the people is general that the regular
officers are indisposed to treat with decent civility those who, like most of
the great military men of history, are educated in the field rather than in the
school. And it is feared that habits of education and association make them
feel indifferent of the success of the war — fighting rather from a pride of
duty than from an earnest conviction that the rebellion must be put down with
energy. Since Halleck went to Washington every movement is left to him
absolutely. No interference or even advice is tendered. He has chosen his own
officers, and if he fails I see nothing left but for the people to resort to
such desperate means as the French and English did in their revolutions.
I am rejoiced that you have been able to keep out of the
adversities that have befallen us. Your course in Memphis is judicious. Your
speech I can heartily endorse. I hope you can maintain yourself at Memphis
until relieved, and I have no doubt you will fill an honorable place in the
history of our times. By the way, I received within a day or two a letter from
a gentleman of the highest political status containing this passage: “Within
the last few days I heard an officer say he heard your brother the General,
abuse you roundly at Corinth as one of the blank abolitionists who had brought
on the war, and that he was ashamed to own you as a brother.” I have no doubt the officer said this but I
knew you did not, and so contradicted it with decided emphasis. I only repeat
it now to show you how persistently efforts are being made to separate the
class of high regular officers to which you belong from civilians. Whenever
that separation is effected all important commands will gradually be
transferred to such officers as Banks, Sigel, Morgan, Nelson, and to such
regular officers as show a sympathy with the Radical faction as Hunter, Fremont
and Doubleday. I earnestly deprecate all such tendencies. I want the war
conducted regularly according to the tenets of civilized warfare. I prefer
regular officers and scarcely ever criticise them and never in public, but if
the time shall come when emancipation of blacks and civilization of whites is
necessary in order to preserve the unity of this country, then I would prefer a
fanatic like John Brown to lead our armies and an abolitionist like Chase with
brains and energy to guide our counsels.
Affectionately yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The
Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837
to 1891, p. 163-5
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