CAMP NEAR VlCKSBURG,
February 22, 1863.
. . . As to my exposing myself unnecessarily, you need not
be concerned. I know better than where danger lies and where I should be.
Soldiers have a right to see and know that the man who guides them is near
enough to see with his own eyes, and that he cannot see without being seen. At
Arkansas Post the ground was nearly level and the enemy could see me, with
officers coming and going and orderlies grouped near. Of course they fired at
me, one rifled 10 pounder repeatedly, and when I was grouping the prisoners I
recognized the very gun and asked for the gunner, who proved to be a real
Paddy, and I gave him fits for aiming at me, which the fellow did not deny; but
we gave them a fair return and the account was squared. . . .
SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 239. 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 2/01.
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