LANCASTER, OHIO, December 12, 1861.
Major-General HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.:
DEAR SIR: I believe you will be frank enough to answer me if
you deem the steps I took at Sedalia as evidence of a want of mind.
They may have been the result of an excess of caution on my
part, but I do think the troops were too much strung out, and should be
concentrated, with more men left along to guard the track. The animals, cattle
especially, will be much exposed this winter.
I set a much higher measure of danger on the acts of
unfriendly inhabitants than most officers do, because I have lived in Missouri
and the South, and know that in their individual characters they will do more
acts of hostility than Northern farmers or people could bring themselves to
perpetrate. In my judgment Price's army in the aggregate is less to be feared
than when in scattered bands.
I write to you because a Cincinnati paper, whose reporter I
imprisoned in Louisville for visiting our camps after I had forbidden him leave
to go, has announced that I am insane, and alleges as a reason that at Sedalia
my acts were so mad that subordinate officers refused to obey. I know of no
order I gave that was not obeyed, except General Pope's, to advance his
division to Sedalia, which order was countermanded by you, and the fact
communicated to me.
These newspapers have us in their power, and can destroy us
as they please, and this one can destroy my usefulness by depriving me of the
confidence of officers and men.
I will be in Saint Louis next week, and will be guided by
your commands and judgment.
I am, &c.,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Brigadier-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
8 (Serial No. 8), p. 819
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