St. Louis, Dec. 17 [18
or 19], 611
Dearest Ellen,
I arrived here today at noon without interruption—saw Halleck
at once and the copy of the letter he wrote to me, and which you will see.2 My movement at Sedalia was premature, the
Same that is now going on save that I think Price should be attacked in his
camp at Osceola. Pope has been
intercepting parties of recruits bound to prices camp and is on his way back to
Sedalia. I cannot see that affairs here
are materially changed in my absence.
Charley is at the Barracks, and I suppose will be up in a day or
so. I will drop him a note, for he
complained to Hammond3 that neither I or you wrote to him.
Matters here look gloomy & unnatural.
Thomas was not on the list, but Mr. Lucas was, but got off
on some representations. He I suppose
would not like to be classified as a Secessionist lest it affect the body of
his property.
I am not yet
assigned a command and hardly know whether to push it or take it easy, leaving
Halleck time to assign me. I will try to
be more punctual in my duties to you, who really deserve a better husband than
I have been. How I envy the bawling
crowd that passes by that care not for the morrow. If I could see any end to this war, save ruin
to us all, I could occasionally feel better, but I see no hope at all. You can trust in Providence, and why he has
visited us with this terrible judgment is incomprehensible. As soon as I know my destination I will write
again.
Affectionately.
W. T. Sherman
_______________
1 Misdated. Halleck's letter to Sherman is dated December 18, 1862.
2 Major-General Henry W. Halleck to
Brigadier-General William T. Sherman, December 18, 1861.
3 Captain John Henry Hammond (1833-1890), a member
of Sherman’s staff.
SOURCES: Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's
Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p.
170-1; William
Tecumseh Sherman Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame, Indiana, Box 1, Folder 140, image #’s 02-1020 & 02-1020
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