July 16, 1861
I still regard this as but the beginning of a long war, but
I hope my judgment therein is wrong, and that the people of the South may yet
see the folly of their unjust rebellion against the most mild and paternal
government ever designed for men. John will in Washington be better able to
judge of my whereabouts and you had better send letters to him. As I read them
I will tear them up, for every ounce on a march tells.
Tell Willy1 I have another war sword which he can
add to his present armory. When I come home again I will gratify his ambition
on that score, though truly I do not choose for him or Tommy2 the
military profession. It is too full of blind chances to be worthy of a first
rank among callings.
__________
1 Sherman’s oldest son.
2 A younger son.
SOURCE: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 200-1. A full copy of this letter
can be found in the William T Sherman Family
papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives (UNDA), Notre Dame, IN
46556, Folder CSHR 1/138.
