William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman,June 28, 1860

SEMINARY, June 28, 1860.

. . . Last week I dismissed summarily two cadets of good families and large connexions. One has appealed to the Board of Supervisors who may be weak enough to yield to such influence. And if they do it will severely weaken my power and influence and may shake my faith in my hold on their confidence. They meet on Saturday. This is Thursday and I will then see whether I am to govern here or be governed by the cast off boys of rich planters.

So well impressed are all gentlemen here of the necessity of some restraint on the boys, who have been indulged at home to an unlimited extent, that I doubt not they will approve my acts, but like all deliberative bodies they may take some half way course and recommend me to receive them back on their promising reformation. I will not do so unless they command me, which they have a right to do.

We will celebrate the 4th of July by a cadet oration and Declaration of Independence, etc., and our examination July 30 and 31 will be celebrated by a large attendance.

The weather has been warm but never as warm as at St. Louis or in Ohio. The summers here are long, but the proximity to the sea gives us the same air as we felt off Cuba which I think perfect. Indeed I don't object to the summers here. All are well and healthy and there is no apprehension of epidemic. These always originate in New Orleans and spread by the steamboats so that here they always have full warning and can take due precaution. Take the year all round this must be a healthy place.

The only drawbacks and they are serious are servants and marketing. All here own their slaves and there are properly speaking no servants for hire. White girls or boys will not come from New Orleans though in time they may. All groceries and meats must come from New Orleans – the grass is so poor that sheep and cattle are skeletons and milk exceedingly scarce. Goat milk will be better. This year the drought has been unbearable destroying all gardens, but the season is so long that they can plant two or three times. The soil on the river bottom is very perfect, here in the pine hills as poor as poverty itself. Still by care we can make lettuce, potatoes sweet and Irish, beans, peas and such things when the season favors. There are no market gardens; the negro slaves have small patches which they are allowed to cultivate and sell off – but these are all on the other side of the river. . .

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 222-3

William T. Sherman to George Mason Graham, March 6, 1860

STEAMBOAT HODGES, March 6, 1860.

DEAR GENERAL:

We will reach Baton Rouge by three. I will at once see Dr. Smith and Governor Moore, and then take post at the wharf boat, calculating in my mind the quickest chance of reaching Ohio — by going to New Orleans or back to Vicksburg. If I could reach the city by daylight tomorrow I could be at Lancaster next Saturday — otherwise I will be caught by Sunday at Cincinnati. I will not attempt to write you from Baton Rouge unless it be a P.S. to this letter, taking it for granted that you will hear from there from other parties.

I was a little disconcerted yesterday by two things Jarreau who has heretofore held out to me his willingness to board me and family until a house could be built, told me very frankly that his wife was unwilling, being fearful Mrs. Sherman would not be satisfied. I then tried Poussin whose house I visited and found very good, but he tells me he intends to move in very shortly. The only other chance is the house of Biossat - now occupied by McNight. It is rather in a tumble down condition good enough for summer but calculated to give an Ohio lady the horrors. Still I won't let trifles bar my present movements. If I bring my family I may come by way of New Orleans and bring up all essentials for housekeeping, relying on your hospitality till I find other accommodations. But I do think it would be well in any event to take preliminary steps to procure the lumber, lime, etc., for the two professors' houses, certain to be built. I am aware that plans, drawings, specifications and estimates should precede any purchases, but still if that saw mill could get to work at once it would facilitate everything. You may rely on my giving you the quickest possible notice of my final determination by telegraph from Ohio.

[P. S.] 8 p.m., Tuesday. Reached Baton Rouge, 4 p.m. Saw Dr. Smith. His bill amended by the House to embrace fifty-one beneficiaries – and fifteen thousand appropriated therefor. Our idea of the University all mistake. In senate the beneficiary opposed on the ground of giving our institution the character of the indigent college, but it passed by the casting vote of the lieutenant-governor, is now the law. I am perfectly willing. The Arsenal Bill will pass if reached but no appropriation will be made for the present use of arms. I expect to reach New Orleans by 6 a.m. and to start north at 7:30 to reach Cincinnati Friday, and home Saturday. On Monday maybe will again go to Cincinnati and telegraph you or Governor Moore by Wednesday or Thursday. Dr. Smith says I can have the house of Mrs. —— next Robertson's. If the telegraph announces my coming with family, I shall depend on you somewhat to help me to temporary quarters. . . .

W. T. 

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 187-9

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, March 30, 1860

ALEXANDRIA, March 30, 1860.

. . . I wrote you from Louisville and Memphis. The boat was elegant and landed me at ten o'clock Wednesday night on the wharf boat at Red River and at two o'clock same night the boat “Morning Light” came along, and Clay¹ and I embarked, reaching Alexandria yesterday at sundown. I rode him out last evening. He is, you will be pleased to hear, in fine condition well pleased with the trip and has no dread of steamboats. He had a fine opportunity to study steam engine, and is now familiar with all the parts. The cadets seemed glad to see me, and in their new uniforms they looked finely. Everything has worked well in my absence, and now I can begin to provide for the future. I shall be pretty busy next week in making up the accounts and sending the results to parents. The Board of Supervisors have only awaited my return, and will soon meet and consider and order the improvements, enlargements, etc., embracing the new professors' houses. Of course, the style and general plans of these will rest with me, and I will try and get as good houses as possible for the money. With tri-weekly mails and no telegraphs we are as much out of the world here as a hermit could desire.

I find the trees in full leaf, the dogwood in blossom, and the season about a month in advance of Ohio. The sun is agreeably warm, but the evenings are cool enough for a small fire.

The wedding of Captain Lindsey and daughter of Judge Boyce came off some time since and Miss Ann Patterson is now at the plantation, twenty-four miles off. She has visited the Seminary and two of the professors were so pleased with her, that they are going to ride up tomorrow. I shall avail myself of some opportunity to call when she comes to Alexandria. Mrs. Isaacs is to start for Washington tomorrow and I will ride in to see her for a few minutes and as it will afford me an opportunity to register this letter, I enclose a hundred dollar bank bill. I can't get any drafts on the North here now. This is a risky mode of remitting money, but I must make it. Give my love to all the children and folks at Lancaster. . .

_______________

¹ A horse brought from Ohio. - ED.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 194-5

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 17, 1860

BATON ROUGE, Feb. 17, 1860.

I wrote you day before yesterday. I dined yesterday with Governor Moore, to-day am to dine with the attorney-general and on the whole am treated with so much consideration, that I cannot mistrust the general expression of a hope that I will not leave them.

The legislature promise to build me a house, to endow the Seminary and to put all things on the best footing. They seem to think that I can accomplish great good, and as they have dealt by me so fairly I am loath to quit.

We have now pretty well agreed on a bill for the legislature which is liberal and which will easily pass. It provides six thousand dollars for a house for us, and also makes provision so that the Board can enlarge my salary. I hope by Tuesday it will pass so that I can telegraph and write to Roelofson as I agreed. Still I will defer it to the last minute so that if any contretemps should arise I can take advantage of it. Here they want me to say if they pass the bill I will stay.

I tell them whether I stay or no the provisions made for the Seminary are essential to its success. Still I do think it would be more agreeable for you here than in England. We have beautiful warm weather now, flowers and trees in bloom.

W. T.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 169-70

William T. Sherman to George Mason Graham, February 21, 1860

NEW ORLEANS, LA., Feb. 21, 1860.

DEAR GENERAL: Dr. Smith has finished his report and bill, which though a medley of old and new ideas, maybe falling within the parable of new cloth in old garments, I was forced to assent to as the best compromise. As it stands, “A Seminary of Learning and Military Academy,” possessed in fact of military organization, it may (by keeping that idea clear and distinct before you) be made to fulfill your sanguine hopes.

At all events I see no reason why it should not. The report and bill were to be printed, and as the senate had dispersed to Thursday I came down to see if I could not pick up a tailor and shoemaker — and pay up a few small bills owed here. I have paid the bills but as yet have not heard of a tailor or shoemaker willing to come. I must return to Baton Rouge to-morrow, but will in the meantime continue to look for tailors who do not seem indigenous to your otherwise fertile soil.

I have also opened communication with Mrs. Sherman, by telegraph, and she is so strongly in favor of the London project that I must decide. This is my last day of grace, and I must, as the case stands, choose the London project, but as I told you I will do all I can to give you a successor better than myself, and use any influence my acquaintance with Bragg, Colonel Taylor, and others may give to secure to the Seminary all the help that this legislature can grant. I have in my mind two gentlemen, one named Trowbridge, who married in Savannah — resigned and is now in the Coast Survey Office, who graduated head of his class some ten years ago. Also Captain Stone who is now I fear in Sonora, Mexico. I have written to Buell, advising each to apply for my vacancy, and to send credentials, which however they need not tender, as their records are perfect.

If the legislature appropriate you should have a superintendent, but if it make a shabby appropriation you could so manage this term to save the cost of that officer. I propose to hold on till you can spare me, but would like to get off about April 1, so that I could spend a few days in Ohio, before again embarking in the stormy sea of finance. I confess I make this step in doubt, and the strong preference of my family is all that turns the scale in my mind. I therefore announce to you my determination, and will give you an official document as soon as I return to the Seminary.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 179-80

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 21, 1860

 NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 21, 1860.

I write to General Graham that the day has arrived, and that as the case now stands I must choose London. I really feel sorry. General Graham's whole soul was rapt up in the success of this college, and he seems to feel that I am essential to it. Would I accept he would make up the difference from his own purse; indeed he made such an offer to the governor but I would not listen to it. The success of the institution depends on the parents of the boys.

There are many good men to replace me but none seems to be at hand. General Graham almost associated a Providence with us, the deep affection for you by his sister, the confidence in me by his dead brother, united with the accident of my application made him believe it, a special Providence; and now he sees that Providence don't control it. But enough of this. 

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 180-1

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 10, 1860

SEMINARY, February 10, 1860.

. . . I have now crossed the line¹ and suppose I must rest satisfied with the title of the “Old Man,” the “cross old schoolmaster,” but time won't wait and we must rush on in the race to eternity. . .

We have just passed through a critical week, the struggle for mastery resulting in five boys being gone. It would take a volume to record it, but I am now rid of five noisy, insubordinate boys. Fifty-one still remain, not a recitation was missed, and I am fully supported. There can be but one master.

I was prepared for this resistance but it hardly gave me a moment's concern, but since, I learn from Dr. Smith in the legislature that it is doubtful whether Governor Wickliffe's bill will pass. Since old Brown has run out, Congress organized, Texas taken strong ground against secession, the Louisiana politicians have cooled down, and they are less zealous to build up a military school. Dr. Smith wrote me to let him know the least sum we needed from the state to carry us through the year. I have notified him that Governor Wickcliffe's sum is the least, that the institution must be sustained at the start, and that proper provision must be made for the professors in the way of buildings.

I wrote to General Graham telling him the outline of the London proposition and that I expected Roelofson daily, and that if I did not see in the proceedings of the legislature some signs of providing for the institution and for me personally, I should be forced to leave. I have just received a letter from him and he seems in great distress. He has worked so long and so hard to build up this college; he is so delighted at present management and prospects, and so impressed with the belief that I alone can manage its multifarious interests, that he says while he will not stand in the light of my interest, he will not lose my services to the state.

I see by the papers that John was defeated for speaker, but is likely to be prominent in the House, but he will be more careful hereafter in signing papers before he reads them.

_______________ 

¹ Of forty years. - ED.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 158-9

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 13, 1860

SEMINARY, February 13, 1860.

I received yesterday your letter of January 31. Roelofson came Saturday, and was in a great hurry to go off. He said he must be in Cincinnati February 18 to attend to some business. I found the scheme was pretty much the same condition as it was last winter.

All admit the healthfulness of the place (the Seminary) which is inferable from the kind of ground. Indeed if you hear that I have concluded to stay here, just make up your mind to live and die here, because I am going to take the bit in my mouth, and resume my military character, and control my own affairs. Since I left New Orleans, I have felt myself oppressed by circumstances I could not control, but I begin to feel footing and will get saucy. But if I go to England I shall expect a universal panic, the repudiation of the great national debt, and a blow up generally.

I suppose I was the Jonah that blew up San Francisco, and it only took two months' residence in Wall Street to bust up New York, and I think my arrival in London will be the signal of the downfall of that mighty empire.

Here I can't do much harm, if I can't do any good; and here we have solitude and banishment enough to hide from the misfortunes of the past.

Therefore, if Louisiana will endow this college properly, and is fool enough to give me five thousand dollars a year, we will drive our tent pins and pick out a magnolia under which to sleep the long sleep. But if she don't, then England must perish, for I predict financial misfortune to the land that receives me.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 164-5

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 3, 1860

SEMINARY, Feb. 3, 1860.

I am half sick to-night—have had the trouble that I anticipated with these boys. Some of them are very good but some are ill bred and utterly without discipline. A few nights since one cadet reported another—it resulted in mutual accusations, the lie, blow, and finally the knife—fortunately it was not used. I dismissed the one with the knife instanter—the other after examination I thought equally to blame for first giving the lie.

Yesterday the friends of all parties came and after making all sorts of apologies I had to listen. Fortunately both were fine young men and no doubt the affair was one of passion and of sudden broil.

It is against the rules for cadets to use tobacco—but we know that they do use it, but this morning one did it so openly that I supposed he did it in defiance. I went to his room to see him but he was out and in the drawer of his washstand I found plenty of tobacco. I, of course, emptied it into the fireplace. Soon after the young gentleman named C—d came to me, evidently instigated by others and complained of ill treatment and soon complained of my opening his drawer, intimating that it was a breach of propriety. Of course I soon advised him that his concealment and breach of regulations well known to him was the breach of honor. He said he would not stay and after some preliminaries I shipped him. Another came with a similar complaint and I sent him off and then the matter ended. These two last were dull at books and noisy quarrelsome fellows and a good riddance. We had fifty-three now fifty one.

We have refused to receive many after the first instant and I have now an application from thirty in one school, but we think it best now to await the action of the legislature to ascertain what they propose to do for us and I also think it best to prepare some forty steady young men as a nucleus on which to build the hereafter.

The weather has been very fine for the past ten days—except one frosty day. It is now pretty warm and the grass and trees begin to indicate spring—gardens are being fixed for vegetables—here the land is too poor, and yet there are fine orchards of apples, pear, plum, peach, and fig. All say they have abundance of figs and peaches and they also boast of pears and plums. Apples and cherries not so well.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 140-2

Beautiful Scene In Washington, May 2, 1850

Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.

WASHINGTON, May 2, 1850

Last night was a glorious night for the lovers of the Union, and hundreds upon hundreds of the ‘lads of the clan’ were congregated together at the hospitable mansion of the Secretary of the Interior, on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter, Ellen B. Ewing to William T. Sherman, of the U. S. Army.  The bride and groom of course were the centre of attraction, and considering their youthfulness, and surrounded by such a numerous assembly of the magnates of the land they acted their parts with ease, simplicity and elegance.  Of the groom, I can only say, having no acquaintance, that fame speaks in the highest terms of him as a young gentleman of high toned honor and spotless integrity.  Of the Metropolitan favorite, the lady-like Ellen, I can speak by the card, and inform you that every quality that constitutes a charming woman, there is not on this broad land her superior.  Affection, pride, show, parade, are all strangers to her, and any one, rich or poor, having an unblemished reputation, is always considered by her, good society.—Her father appears to have taken uncommon pains in her education and in giving a proper direction to every act and thought.

If I wanted to adduce other evidence than that known to the world of the honesty and sterling integrity of Thomas Ewing, aye, even before the Richardson Committee, I would just point them to his daughter, brought up under his own eye as a voucher.  She strongly resembles the Secretary in mind and judgment, but is greatly ahead of him in making friends among the democracy.

The rooms above and below were crowded with ‘belles, and matrons, maids and madams.’  The President was there.  The Vice President was there.  The Cabinet were there.  Judges of the Supreme Court were there.  Senators and members were there.  Sir Henry L. Bulwer, lady and suite, with many of the Diplomatique corps, were there.  Citizens and strangers were there, and

Taylor, Clay, Cass, Benton and others,

Moved along like loving brothers.

The Bride’s cake was a ne plus ultra.—The popping of the champaigne was like the peals of artillery at Buena Vista: and the feast was all the art of Ude could make it, while Mr. and Mrs. Ewing and every member of the family made it [feel] as if they were really at home.

SOURCE:  The Lancaster Gazette, Lancaster, Ohio, Friday Morning, May 10, 1850, p. 2

William Tecumseh Sherman & Ellen Boyle Ewing’s Marriage Announcement, May 3, 1850

MARRIED,

In this city, on the evening of the first of May, by the Rev. James Ryder, President of Georgetown College, WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, U. S. Army, and ELLEN BOYLE EWING, Eldest daughter of the Hon. THOMAS EWING.

SOURCE: The Daily Republic, Washington, D. C., Friday, May 3, 1850, p. 3

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, April 3, 1862

Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.

Camp.  April 3, 1862.

Dearest Ellen,

I have really neglected writing for some days.  I don’t know why, but I daily become more and more disposed to stop writing.  There is so much writing that I am sick & tired of it & put it off on Hammond who is sick cross and troublesome.  I have plenty of aids but the writing part is not very full.  I have been pretty busy, in examining Roads & Rivers.  We have now near 60,000 men here, and Bragg has command at Corinth only 18 miles off, with 80 Regiments and more coming.  On our Part McCook, Thomas & Nelsons Divisions are coming from Nashville and are expected about Monday, this is Thursday when I Suppose we must advance to attack Corinth or some other point on the Memphis & Charleston Road.  The weather is now springlike, apples & peaches in blossom and trees beginning to leave.  Bluebirds singing and spring weather upon the hillsides.  This part of the Tennessee differs somewhat from that up at Bellefonte.  There the Alleghany Mountains still characterized the Country whereas here the hills are lower & rounded covered with oak, hickory & dogwood, not unlike the Hills down Hocking.  The people have mostly fled, abandoning their houses, and Such as remain are of a neutral tint not Knowing which side will turn up victors.  That enthusiastic love of the Union of which you read in the newspapers as a form of expression easily written, but is not true.  The poor farmers certainly do want peace, & protection, but all the wealthier classes hate us Yankees with a pure unadulterated hate.  They fear the Gunboats which throw heavy shells and are invulnerable to their rifles & shotguns, and await our coming back from the River.

I have been troubles some days by a Slight diarrhea but am well enough for work.  My Division is very raw and needs much instruction.  Brigade commanders are McDowell, Stuart, Hildebrand & Buckland.  Genl. Grant commands in chief, and we have a host of other Generals, so that I am content to be in a mixed crowd.

I don’t pretend to look ahead far and do not wish to guide events.  They are too momentous to be a subject of personal ambition.

We are constantly in the presence of the enemys pickets, but I am satisfied that they will await our coming at Corinth or some point of the Charleston Road.  If we don’t get away soon the leaves will be out and the whole country an ambush.

Our letters come very irregularly I have nothing from you for more than a week but I know you are well and happy at home and that is a great source of consolation.  My love to all

Yrs. ever

W. T. Sherman

SOURCES: William Tecumseh Sherman Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Box 1, Folder 144, image #’s 03-0046 & 03-0047; M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of General Sherman, p. 219-20; Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 170-1; 

Major-General Henry Wager Halleck to Elizabeth Hamilton Halleck, December 14, 1861

St. Louis, Dec. 14, 1861.

MY DEAR WIFE: It is Saturday night and pretty late at that. My week’s work is ended and a hard one it has been. To-morrow I shall rest, at least a part of the time. Schuyler (Hamilton), Cullum and the other members of the staff, are pretty well worked out, but I feel in better working order than when I first came here. I have often felt that my powers of labor had never been fully tested, but now I have as much as I can possibly do. The task before me is immense, but I feel that I can accomplish it. I believe I can say it without vanity that I have talent for command and administration. At least I have seen no one here who can accomplish half so much in twenty-four hours as I do. I never go to bed leaving anything of the day's business undone. Nearly all back business is cleaned up, and everything is getting straightened out and put in its place. This is very encouraging and I begin to see my way through the chaos and corruption which Fremont left behind him. Of course all his satellites abuse me in the newspapers, but this does not annoy me in the least.

I enclose a letter just received from Mrs. Sherman. How do you suppose I answered it? I could not say her husband was not crazy, for certainly he has acted insane. Not wishing to hurt her feelings by telling her what I thought, and being unwilling to say what I did not believe, I treated the whole matter as a joke, and wrote her that I would willingly take all the newspapers said against General Sherman, if he would take all they said against me, for I was certain to gain by the exchange!

SOURCE: T. F. Rodenbough, Editor, Journal of the Military Service Institution of the United States, Volume 36, Issue 135: May-June 1905, p. 554

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, December 18 or 19, 1861

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

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, February 21, 1862

Paducah, February 21, 1862

Dearest Ellen,

I have received your letter¹ from St. Louis and I cannot express to you how sorry I am to have caused you that Journey at that time.  I wrote you & telegraphed you the moment I received my orders and did all I could to advise you of my movements, but now that you are at home I trust that the fatigue is over and it is forgotten.  The news of Grants victory must have electrified the whole country.  It certainly was most opportune.  More troops are passing into Kentucky—about 10,000 have arrived today—Six Ohio Regiments without arms, and a division from Green River.  Our next move must be against Columbus.  I have written to Halleck asking as a special favor that he ordered here the four companies of my regiment.  I think he will do it.

You ask me to pardon you—the idea of your asking my pardon—I ought to get on my Knees and implore your pardon for the anxiety & Shame I have caused you.  All I hope for is a chance to recover from the Past—I had a long interview with Buckner today.  I used to Know him well and he frankly told me of many things  which I wanted to Know—He was restrained from doing what I Knew was his purpose and what he ought to have done, but he was restrained by Sidney Johnston.

We are here in the midst of mud and dirt, rains & thaw.  We expect orders every day to move somewhere but no one knows where.

I got your telegraph last night.  I had previously written to Halleck asking him to Send the Battalions of four companies to me here at Paducah from Alton, I don’t know whether he will.  I suppose a large part of the prisoners of war are at Alton and will need Guard.

Give my love to all, and I cant tell now how my thoughts dwell on our dear children & you[.]  I am very busy—

Affectionately

W. T. Sherman

_______________

¹ Not found.

SOURCE: Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 192; William Tecumseh Sherman Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Box 1, Folder 142, image #’s 03-0026 & 03-0027

Ellen Ewing Sherman to Brigadier-General William T. Sherman, April 9, 1862

Lancaster O. April 9th 1862

Yesterday, my dearest Cump, I received your letter of the 3rd inst. I feel uneasy about your having the complaint common to that latitude & to Camp life. I hope by this time you are entirely recovered from it. You must not let it go too far but if you find it becoming chronic come home & take care of yourself. I trust Halleck will soon go down and have the work commenced in desperation & finished before the hot weather & the yellow fever come on. McClellan has been playing into their hands - he is sworn to them under pain of assassination - and he has allowed things to work so as to leave our troops to be killed off by yellow fever when Summer comes on. Men high in authority are watching him & he will likely be in Fort Warren in Stone's place before long. Stone was a scape goat for him & he send Stone to prison to prevent his own treason being discovered. May vengeance fall on him! It surely will for God will have justice done us sooner or later.

I am sorry Hammond is so unwell. You had better send him up to take a rest & recruit. I have a bed room fitted up on the first floor of the house & can entertain him comfortably. The house is delightful Large pleasant halls with south windows, two parlours a sitting room, a large dining room & pantry & a few paces off, but under coveredway, a large nice kitchen with fire place. Up stairs rooms over the two parlors a small room at the end of the hall and rooms over the sitting room & dining room. All the windows have nice shutters. The rear buildings are good, the stable is very nice & I intend to keep a cow. The yard is fine & has many fruit trees & grape vines on it. So you may rest assured the children will be comfortable and happy. Rachel has been weaned & is thriving wonderfully. She is the image of Willy in appearance & disposition. She is very fond of me & I hardly know why for I do not pay much attention to her. She is so healthy & strong it does not seem necessary. You would be highly entertained could you hear Elly chatting. She is a great talker & singer. "Our flag is there" is her favorite song at present. She calls herself "Ellen Sherman" & talkes about what she is going to do "after to-morrow". She knows everything is very smart & interesting but she is still cross after Emily & frets when out of her sight long. Willy & Tommy are growing finely & Willy & Minnie are studying well with Kate Willock. Tommy is a real Yankee for calculating. Yesterday he wanted a cent to buy licquorice. I gave him five cents & told him that would get one stick & I wd give him part of it. "Five cents for one stick, said he, twenty sticks for a dollar". Kate is quite proud of him when he does go to school which is only when he feels disposed. Lizzie is very deaf again & as usual, when deaf she is full of mischief.

Mr Willock has just called & given me the first gleanings of the terrible battle Thank our merciful God you are alive but your poor hand gone - Will you come home. Telegraph me what to do. Send Hammond Mr Bowman anyone you wish here & for God's sake come yourself for awhile. In life or death   Yours ever, Ellen

SOURCE: William T. Sherman Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, Box 2, Folder 105 for the letter & Box 9, Folder 38 for the transcript.

Brigadier-General William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, April 14, 1862

Camp Shiloh, Apl. 14, 1862

Dearest Ellen,

The day before yesterday I heard Halleck had arrived at the River and upon making a short turn through the Camps I found him on board the Continental and Grant on the Tigress.  I was there ordered again to try to destroy the Memphis and Charleston Road, a thing I had twice tried and failed.  I at once ordered 100 4 Illinois Cavalry under Bowman to be embarked on board [illegible phrase] and a Brigade of Infantry Fry’s¹ on board the [illegible boat name] and White Cloud, and with two Gunboats went up the Tennessee 32 miles to Chickasaw, just at the Corner of Alabama, then I disembarked there and sent them on their errand—Bowman reached the Railroad and destroyed the Bridge and some 500 feet of trestles succeeding perfectly in the undertaking which is very important as it prevents all communication of the enemy with the East.  I tried to go up to Florence but the water would not let us pass two shoals above so I returned & Halleck was delighted.  This has been with him a chief object.  When I got down this morning he handed me the enclosed copy of one sent last night to Washington²—so at last I Stand redeemed from the vile slanders of that Cincinati paper—I am sometimes amused at these newspaper Reporters.  They keep shy of me as I have said the first one I catch will hang as a Spy.  I now have the lawful right to have a Court martial, and if I catch one of those Cincinati Newspapers in my camp I will have a Court and they will do just as I tell them.  It would afford me a real pleasure to hang one or two—I have seen a paragraph in the Cincinati Commercial about Dr. Hewit.³  He never drinks, is as moral a man and as intelligent as ever, and all his time is working for the Sick, but because he will not drop his work & listen & babble with a parcel of false humorists who came here from the various [illegible phrase] of our Country he must be stigmatized as a corrupt drunkard.  Rebellion is a sin, & of course should be punished but I feel that in these Southerners there are such qualities of Courage, bold daring and manly that though I know they are striving to subvert our Government and bring them into contempt, Still I feel personal respect for them as individuals, but for these mean contemptible slanderous and false villains who seek reputation by abuse of others—Here called off by a visit of my Kentucky friends who express to me unbounded confidence.

I have just got yours of the 9th my hand is not off⁴—it was a buckshot by a Cavalry man who got a shot at me but was almost instantly killed in return.—My shoulder is well and I am as good as ever.

For mercy’s sake never speak of McClellan as you write.  He ought to have Sent me men & officers in Kentucky but did not, but that he had any malice or intention of wrong I dont believe.  I committed a fearful mistake in Kentucky and if I recover it will be a wonderful instance.  I have made good progress here, and in time can illustrate the motives that influenced me—I know McClellan to be a man of talents & having now a well organized & disciplined army, he may by some rapid strokes achieve a name that would enable him to Crush me—Keep your own counsel, and let me work for myself on this Line.  Halleck has told me that he had ordered the 4 Cos. Of the 13 Inf. to me as soon as a certain Battalion could be spared at New Madrid.  Charley need not be impatient[.] The southern army was repulsed but not defeated.  Their Cavalry hangs about our front now—we must have one more terrible battle—we must attack—My Division is raw—some regts. behaved bad but I did the best I could with what remained, and all admit I was of good service—I noticed that when we were enveloped and death stared us all in the face my seniors in rank leaned on me—Well I am not in search of honor or fame and only count it for yours & childrens sake.

I think you will have some satisfaction and I know your father will be please that I am once more restored to favor.  Give him Hallecks letter & tell himI broke the Charleston Road[.]  Yrs.

W. T. Sherman

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¹ James B. Fry (1827-94) was Buell’s chief of staff.

² Henry W. Halleck to Edwin M. Stanton, April 13, 1862, OR I, 10: pt. 1, p. 98.

³ Dr. Henry S. Hewit (1825-73).

⁴ Sherman wash shot in the hand on April 6, 1862 during the battle of Shiloh.

SOURCE: Brooks D. Simpson, Jean V. Berlin, Editors, Sherman's Civil War: Selected Correspondence of William T. Sherman, 1860-1865, p. 203-5

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, January 24, 1860

Seminary, Jan. 24, i860.

. . . Things along here about as I expected. We have had many visitors – ladies with children, who part with them with tears and blessings, and I remark the fact that the dullest boys have the most affectionate mothers, and the most vicious boys come recommended with all the virtues of saints. Of course I promise to be a father to them all.

We now have fifty-one and the reputation of the order, system, and discipline is already spreading and I receive daily letters asking innumerable questions. The legislature also has met and the outgoing Governor Wickcliffe has recommended us to the special attention of the legislature, and a bill is already introduced to give us $25,000 a year for two years, which is as long as the legislature can appropriate. I think from appearances this bill will pass, in which case we can erect two professors' houses this summer.

This sum of money will enable us to make a splendid place of this. In addition it is also proposed to make this an arsenal of deposit, which will increase its importance and enable me to avoid all teaching which I want to do, confining myself exclusively to the supervision and management. Thus far not a soul has breathed a syllable about abolitionism to me. One or two have asked me if I were related to the gentleman of same name whose name figures so conspicuously in Congress. I of course say he is my brother, which generally amazes them because they regard him as awful bad. . .

Professor Smith and Boyd are very clever gentlemen and so are Vallas and St. Ange but these are foreigners with their peculiarities. We have also a Dr. Sevier here, of Tennessee, a rough sort of fellow but a pretty fair sort of man. . .

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 127-8

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, January 12, 1860

Seminary, Jan. 12.

. . . I have allowed more time than usual to pass without writing. Indeed I have had a good many calls upon my time not properly belonging to me. The steward was sick of sore throat that made it imprudent of him to come so I had to supervise his mess affairs. I had a parcel of lazy negroes scrubbing and cleaning, and lastly new cadets arriving and receiving their outfits. I have to do everything but teach. We have now forty cadets all at work reciting in mathematics, French, and Latin, also drilling once a day. I drill one squad, but as soon as I get a few of the best far enough advanced to help I will simply overlook. Hereafter I will have none of this to do.

Everything moves along satisfactorily, all seem pleased, and gentlemen have been here from New Orleans and other distant points who are much pleased. I have knowledge of more cadets coming, and this being the first term and being preceded by so much doubt I don't know that we have reason to be disappointed with only forty. The legislature meets next Monday, and then will begin the free discussion which will settle the fact of professors' houses and other little detailed improvements which will go far to make my position here comfortable or otherwise.

Nobody has said boo about John. Indeed I have two letters from John which I showed to General Graham who gave them to the senator from this Parish, who took them to Baton Rouge. In them John tells me he signed the Helper card without seeing it, not knowing it, but after Clark¹ introduced his resolution he would make no disclaimer. He was right, and all men acquainted with the facts will say so. Even southern men. The supervisors can't spare me. I manage their affairs to their perfect satisfaction, and all here in the parish would never think of complicating me. But the legislature may – we shall soon see. . .

_______________

¹ John B. Clark, a member of Congress from Missouri, introduced a resolution to the effect that no person who endorsed Helper's book was fit to be speaker of the House of Representatives. —  Ed.

SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 117-8

William T. Sherman to Ellen Ewing Sherman, January 4, 1860

Seminary, Jan. 4, 1860.

. . . Since my last I have been pretty busy. Last week was very cold and stormy. The snow fell one night to depth of five inches and lay all next day. On New Years however it cleared off and was bright. Monday was our opening day - was bright cold and clear. All the professors were on hand and nineteen cadets made their appearance. Since then four more. Today we begin reciting in mathematics and French. Tomorrow mathematics and Latin. These studies and drilling will occupy this year till June. There are sixteen state appointments and forty-three by the Board — fifty-nine in all, so that there are about thirty-six to come yet. Not punctual, according to southern fashsion, but partly occasioned by the severe weather of last week which has interrupted travel.

If I were to tell you of the thousand and one little things that stand in the way of doing things here you would be amused. As a sample, in New Orleans I could not find the French grammars wanted by the professor. I telegraphed to New York and got answer that they would come in time; they reached New Orleans and were sent up this river by boat, but the boat did not land them, and they have gone up to Shreveport and when they will get here we cannot guess.

The Latin professor did not get here until the Saturday before the Seminary opened, and now he has to begin instruction without text books. But I am determined they shall teach, and I cause the young men to be marched to their recitation rooms, where the professors must teach by lecture till we get our books. Even New Orleans is badly supplied with books and we must order everything from New York. Some of the hot-bloods talk of non-intercourse with New York, but that is absurd, everything but cotton and sugar must come from the North.

Professor Boyd is a young man of about twenty-five years, and a very clever gentleman. Indeed on the whole the professors are above mediocrity. The young cadets too are a very clever set of young men. Our messing arrangements are also quite complete, and things work well.

You say that ——— still thinks of coming south. I still am incredulous and shall do or say nothing to commit me till I am sure. Seven thousand five hundred dollars a year secured for two years would be better than the post I now hold, as I do not believe this Seminary without legislative aid can pay us the salaries they have agreed to do. Thus the state has compelled us to receive sixteen cadets without pay. Their board, clothing, books, etc., have to be paid for by the Seminary out of the endowment of $8,100. The actual cost of board, etc., of these sixteen will be near $4,000, leaving about the same amount out of which to pay professors salaries amounting to $12,500, or in other words we shall receive only one-third the pay stipulated for. The pay cadets pay barely enough to support themselves. Everything will depend on the legislature for this year, and the whole matter will be fully submitted to them.

Now that I have fairly got the Seminary started, a great point about which there was much doubt, I shall apply myself to this, to procure legislation that will put the college on safe financial ground. The governor and many members are highly favorable and none thus far has breathed a word against me on John's account. I was in hopes that General Graham would go down to Baton Rouge, but he says he cannot, that he has an antipathy to such business - politics and politicians being obnoxious to him as they are to me. . .

SOURCES: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 100-2