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In that event； would it not be possible for you to become a citizen of our State？ Everyone deplores your determination to leave us。 At the same time； your friends feel that you are abandoning a position that might become an object of desire to any one。
I will try to meet you in New Orleans at any time you may indicate； but it would be best for you to stop here； when； if possible； I will accompany you。 Should you do so； you will find me just above the State…House； and facing it。
Bring with you a few copies of the 〃Rules of the Seminary。〃
Yours truly；
S。 A。 Smith
Colonel W。 T。 SHERMAN。
Sir： I am instructed by the Board of Supervisors of this institution to present a copy of the resolutions adopted by them at their last meeting
〃Resolved； That the thanks of the Board of Supervisors are due； and are hereby tendered； to Colonel William T。 Sherman for the able and efficient manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the seminary during the time the institution has been under his controla period attended with unusual difficulties； requiring on the part of the superintendent to successfully overcome them a high order of administrative talent。 And the board further bear willing testimony to the valuable services that Colonel Sherman has rendered them in their efforts to establish an institution of learning in accordance with the beneficent design of the State and Federal Governments； evincing at all times a readiness to adapt himself to the ever…varying requirements of an institution of learning in its infancy； struggling to attain a position of honor and usefulness。
〃Resolved； further； That； in accepting the resignation of Colonel Sherman as Superintendent of the State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy； we tender to him assurances of our high personal regard； and our sincere regret at the occurrence of causes that render it necessary to part with so esteemed and valued a friend； as well as co…laborer in the cause of education。〃
Powhatan Clarke； Secretary of the Board。
A copy of the resolution of the Academic Board； passed at their session of April 1；1861：
〃Resolved； That in the resignation of the late superintendent； Colonel W。 T。 Sherman； the Academic Board deem it not improper to express their deep conviction of the loss the institution has sustained in being thus deprived of an able head。 They cannot fail to appreciate the manliness of character which has always marked the actions of Colonel Sherman。 While he is personally endeared to many of them as a friend； they consider it their high pleasure to tender to him in this resolution their regret on his separation； and their sincere wish for his future welfare。〃
I have given the above at some length； because； during the civil war； it was in Southern circles asserted that I was guilty of a breach of hospitality in taking up arms against the South。 They were manifestly the aggressors； and we could only defend our own by assailing them。 Yet； without any knowledge of what the future had in store for me； I took unusual precautions that the institution should not be damaged by my withdrawal。 About the 20th of February； having turned over all property；。 records； and money； on hand； to Major Smith； and taking with me the necessary documents to make the final settlement with Dr。 S。 A。 Smith； at the bank in New Orleans； where the funds of the institution were deposited to my credit； I took passage from Alexandria for that city； and arrived there； I think； on the 23d。 Dr。 Smith met me； and we went to the bank； where I turned over to him the balance； got him to audit all my accounts； certify that they were correct and just； and that there remained not one cent of balance in my hands。 I charged in my account current for my salary up to the end of February； at the rate of four thousand dollars a year； and for the five hundred dollars due me as superintendent of the Central Arsenal； all of which was due and had been fairly earned； and then I stood free and discharged of any and every obligation； honorary or business； that was due by me to the State of Louisiana； or to any corporation or individual in that State。
This business occupied two or three days； during which I staid at the St。 Louis Hotel。 I usually sat at table with Colonel and Mrs。 Bragg； and an officer who wore the uniform of the State of Louisiana； and was addressed as captain。 Bragg wore a colonel's uniform； and explained to me that he was a colonel in the State service； a colonel of artillery； and that some companies of his regiment garrisoned Forts Jackson and St。 Philip； and the arsenal at Baton Rouge。
Beauregard at the time had two sons at the Seminary of Learning。 I had given them some of my personal care at the father's request； and； wanting to tell him of their condition and progress； I went to his usual office in the Custom…House Building； and found him in the act of starting for Montgomery； Alabama。 Bragg said afterward that Beauregard had been sent for by Jefferson Davis； and that it was rumored that he had been made a brigadier…general； of which fact he seemed jealous； because in the old army Bragg was the senior。
Davis and Stephens had been inaugurated President and Vice…President of the Confederate States of America； February 18； 1860； at Montgomery； and those States only embraced the seven cotton States。 I recall a conversation at the tea…table； one evening； at the St。 Louis。 Hotel。 When Bragg was speaking of Beanregard's promotion； Mrs。 Bragg； turning to me； said； 〃You know that my husband is not a favorite with the new President。〃 My mind was resting on Mr。 Lincoln as the new President； and I said I did not know that Bragg had ever met Mr。 Lincoln； when Mrs。 Bragg said； quite pointedly； 〃I didn't mean your President； but our President。〃 I knew that Bragg hated Davis bitterly； and that he had resigned from the army in 1855； or 1856； because Davis； as Secretary of War； had ordered him； with his battery； from Jefferson Barracks； Missouri； to Fort Smith or Fort Washita； in the Indian country； as Bragg expressed it； 〃to chase Indians with six…pounders。〃
I visited the quartermaster； Colonel A。 C。 Myers； who had resigned from the army； January 28； 1861； and had accepted service under the new regime。 His office was in the same old room in the Lafayette Square building； which he had in 1853； when I was there a commissary； with the same pictures on the wall； and the letters 〃U。 S。〃 on every thing； including his desk； papers； etc。 I asked him if he did not feel funny。 〃No； not at all。 The thing was inevitable； secession was a complete success； there would be no war； but the two Governments would settle all matters of business in a friendly spirit； and each would go on in its allotted sphere； without further confusion。〃 About this date； February 16th； General Twiggs； Myers's father…in…law； had surrendered his entire command； in the Department of Texas； to some State troops； with all the Government property； thus consummating the first serious step in the drama of the conspiracy； which was to form a confederacy of the cotton States； before working upon the other slave or border States； and before the 4th of March； the day for the inauguration of President Lincoln。
I walked the streets of New Orleans； and found business going along as usual。 Ships were strung for miles along the lower levee； and steamboats above； all discharging or receiving cargo。 The Pelican flag of Louisiana was flying over the Custom House； Mint； City Hall； and everywhere。 At the levee ships carried every flag on earth except that of the United States； and I was told that during a procession on the 22d of February； celebrating their emancipation from the despotism of the United States Government； only one national flag was shown from a house； and that the houses of Cuthbert Bullitt； on Lafayette Square。 He was commanded to take it down； but he refused； and defended it with his pistol。
The only officer of the army that I can recall； as being there at the time； who was faithful； was Colonel C。 L。 Kilburn； of the Commissary Department； and he was preparing to escape North。
Everybody regarded the change of Government as final； that Louisiana； by a mere declaration； was a free and independent State； and could enter into any new alliance or combination she chose。
Men were being enlisted and armed； to defend the State； and there was not the least evidence that the national Administration designed to make any effort； by force； to vindicate the national authority。 I therefore bade adieu to all my friends； and about the 25th of February took my departure by railroad； for Lancaster； via Cairo and Cincinnati。
Before leaving this subject； I will simply record the fate of some of my associates。 The seminary was dispersed by the war； and all the professors and cadets took service in the Confederacy； except Yallas； St。 Ange； and Cadet Taliaferro。 The latter joined a Union regiment； as a lieutenant； after New Orleans was retaken by the United States fleet under Farragut。 I think that both Yallas and St。 Ange have died in poverty since the war。 Major Smith joined the rebel army in Virginia； and was killed in April； 1865； as he was withdrawing his garrison； by night； from t