Saturday, December 17, 2022

George Mason Graham to William T. Sherman, January 19, 1861

ALEXANDRIA, Saturday, Jan. 19, 1861.

COL. W. T. SHERMAN, Military Academy of the Independent State of Louisiana.

DEAR COLONEL: I have been so bothered and run since the receipt of your last favor of recent date that I have not been able to reply to it, and all I can do now in that way is to enclose for your perusal two letters * from our friend Sanford which express pretty well the condition into which the conservative people have been forced.

Whatever we may think and feel we must go along with our section in the contest which has been forced upon us, and in which we must take care of ourselves as best we may. For the share which designing, selfish politicians and editors have had in exciting the passions, alarming the fears, maddening the mind of the people on both sides, may God deal with them as they deserve. They have unchained winds they will be powerless to control. I did what I could to make the people sensible of this before the election, but “Crucify him! Crucify him!” was the Democratic cry, and now we must all go over the cataract together, of which I have told them. Those of us, if any here, who may survive the storm may enjoy a peaceful calm.

_______________

* These letters were not found. - ED.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 346

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