Office Of St. Louis Railway Co.
May 8th, 1861.
Hon. S. Cameron,
Sec'y of War,
Dear Sir: I hold myself now, as always, prepared to serve my
country in the capacity for which I was trained. I did not and will not
volunteer for three months, because I cannot throw my family on the cold
charity of the world. But for the three years call made by the President, an
officer can prepare his command, and do good service.
I will not volunteer as a soldier, because, rightfully or
wrongfully, I feel unwilling to take a mere private's place and, having for
many years lived in California and Louisiana, the men are not well enough
acquainted with me to elect me to my appropriate place.
Should my services be needed, the records of the War
Department will enable you to designate the station in which I can render the
most service.
Yours truly,
W. T. Sherman.
SOURCES: William T. Sherman, Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, Second Edition, Revised and
Corrected, Vol. 1, p. 199-200; James Penny Boyd, The Life of General William T. Sherman, p. 50
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