按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
killed in April； 1865； as he was withdrawing his garrison； by night； from the batteries at Drury's Bluff； at the time General Lee began his final retreat from Richmond。 Boyd became a captain of engineers on the staff of General Richard Taylor； was captured； and was in jail at Natchez； Mississippi； when I was on my Meridian expedition。 He succeeded in getting a letter to me on my arrival at Vicksburg； and； on my way down to New Orleans； I stopped at Natchez； took him along； and enabled him to effect an exchange through General Banks。 As soon as the war was over； he returned to Alexandria； and reorganized the old institution； where I visited him in 1867； but； the next winter； the building took fire end burned to the ground。 The students； library； apparatus； etc。； were transferred to Baton Rouge； where the same institution now is； under the title of the Louisiana University。 I have been able to do them many acts of kindness； and am still in correspondence； with Colonel Boyd； its president。
General G。 Mason Graham is still living on his plantation； on Bayou Rapides； old and much respected。
Dr。 S。 A。 Smith became a surgeon in the rebel army； and at the close of the war was medical director of the trans…Mississippi Department； with General Kirby Smith。 I have seen him since the war； at New Orleans； where he died about a year ago。
Dr。 Clark was in Washington recently； applying for a place as United States consul abroad。 I assisted him； but with no success； and he is now at Baltimore； Maryland。
After the battle of Shiloh； I found among the prisoners Cadet Barrow； fitted him out with some clean clothing； of which he was in need； and from him learned that Cadet Workman was killed in that battle。
Governor Moore's plantation was devastated by General Banks's troops。 After the war he appealed to me； and through the Attorney…General； Henry Stanbery； I aided in having his land restored to him； and I think he is now living there。
Bragg； Beauregard； and Taylor； enacted high parts in the succeeding war； and now reside in Louisiana or Texas
CHAPTER VIII。
MISSOURI
APRIL AND MAY； 1861。
During the time of these events in Louisiana； I was in constant correspondence with my brother； John Sherman； at Washington； Mr。 Ewing； at Lancaster； Ohio； and Major H。 S。 Turner； at St。 Louis。 I had managed to maintain my family comfortably at Lancaster； but was extremely anxious about the future。 It looked like the end of my career； for I did not suppose that 〃civil war〃 could give me an employment that would provide for the family。 I thought； and may have said； that the national crisis had been brought about by the politicians； and； as it was upon us； they 〃might fight it out〃 Therefore； when I turned North from New Orleans； I felt more disposed to look to St。 Louis for a home； and to Major。 Turner to find me employment； than to the public service。
I left New Orleans about the 1st of March； 1861； by rail to Jackson and Clinton； Mississippi； Jackson； Tennessee； and Columbus； Kentucky； where we took a boat to Cairo； and thence； by rail； to Cincinnati and Lancaster。 All the way； I heard； in the cars and boats； warm discussions about polities； to the effect that； if Mr。 Lincoln should attempt coercion of the seceded States； the other slave or border States would make common cause； when； it was believed； it would be madness to attempt to reduce them to subjection。 In the South； the people were earnest； fierce and angry； and were evidently organizing for action； whereas； in Illinois； Indiana； and Ohio； I saw not the least sign of preparation。 It certainly looked to me as though the people of the North would tamely submit to a disruption of the Union； and the orators of the South used； openly and constantly； the expressions that there would be no war； and that a lady's thimble would hold all the blood to be shed。 On reaching Lancaster； I found letters from my brother John； inviting me to come to Washington； as he wanted to see me； and from Major Tamer； at St。 Louis； that he was trying to secure for me the office of president of the Fifth Street Railroad； with a salary of twenty…five hundred dollars； that Mr。 Lucas and D。 A。 January held a controlling interest of stock； would vote for me； and the election would occur in March。 This suited me exactly； and I answered Turner that I would accept； with thanks。 But I also thought it right and proper that I should first go to Washington； to talk with my brother； Senator Sherman。
Mr。 Lincoln had just been installed； and the newspapers were filled with rumors of every kind indicative of war； the chief act of interest was that Major Robert Anderson had taken by night into Fort Sumter all the troops garrisoning Charleston Harbor； and that he was determined to defend it against the demands of the State of South Carolina and of the Confederate States。 I must have reached Washington about the 10th of March。 I found my brother there； just appointed Senator； in place of Mr。 Chase； who was in the cabinet； and I have no doubt my opinions； thoughts； and feelings； wrought up by the events in Louisiana； seemed to him gloomy and extravagant。 About Washington I saw but few signs of preparation； though the Southern Senators and Representatives were daily sounding their threats on the floors of Congress； and were publicly withdrawing to join the Confederate Congress at Montgomery。 Even in the War Department and about the public offices there was open； unconcealed talk； amounting to high…treason。
One day； John Sherman took me with him to see Mr。 Lincoln。 He walked into the room where the secretary to the President now sits； we found the room full of people； and Mr。 Lincoln sat at the end of the table； talking with three or four gentlemen； who soon left。 John walked up； shook hands； and took a chair near him； holding in his hand some papers referring to； minor appointments in the State of Ohio； which formed the subject of conversation。 Mr。 Lincoln took the papers； said he would refer them to the proper heads of departments； and would be glad to make the appointments asked for； if not already promised。 John then turned to me； and said； 〃Mr。 President； this is my brother； Colonel Sherman； who is just up from Louisiana； he may give you some information you want。〃 〃Ah！〃 said Mr。 Lincoln； 〃how are they getting along down there？〃 I said； 〃They think they are getting along swimminglythey are preparing for war。〃 〃Oh； well！〃 said he； 〃I guess we'll manage to keep house。〃 I was silenced； said no more to him； and we soon left。 I was sadly disappointed； and remember that I broke out on John； dning the politicians generally； saying； 〃You have got things in a hell of a fig； and you may get them out as you best can；〃 adding that the country was sleeping on a volcano that might burst forth at any minute； but that I was going to St。 Louis to take care of my family； and would have no more to do with it。 John begged me to be more patient； but I said I would not； that I had no time to wait； that I was off for St。 Louis； and off I went。 At Lancaster I found letters from Major Turner； inviting me to St。 Louis； as the place in the Fifth Street Railroad was a sure thing； and that Mr。 Lucas would rent me a good house on Locust Street； suitable for my family； for six hundred dollars a year。
Mrs。 Sherman and I gathered our family and effects together； started for St。 Louis March 27th； where we rented of Mr。 Lucas the house on Locust Street； between Tenth and Eleventh； and occupied it on the 1st of April。 Charles Ewing and John Hunter had formed a law…partnership in St。 Louis； and agreed to board with us； taking rooms on the third floor In the latter part of March； I was duly elected president of the Fifth Street Railroad； and entered on the discharge of my duties April 1； 1861。 We had a central office on the corner of Fifth and Locust； and also another up at the stables in Bremen。 The road was well stocked and in full operation； and all I had to do was to watch the economical administration of existing affairs； which I endeavored to do with fidelity and zeal。 But the whole air was fall of wars and rumors of wars。 The struggle was going on politically for the border States。 Even in Missouri； which was a slave State； it was manifest that the Governor of the State； Claiborne Jackson； and all the leading politicians； were for the South in case of a war。 The house on the northwest corner of Fifth and Pine was the rebel headquarters； where the rebel flag was hung publicly； and the crowds about the Planters' House were all more or less rebel。 There was also a camp in Lindell's Grove； at the end of Olive； Street； under command of General D。 M。 Frost； a Northern man； a graduate of Pest Point； in open sympathy with the Southern leaders。 This camp was nominally a State camp of instruction； but； beyond doubt； was in the interest of the Southern cause； designed to be used against the national authority in the event of the General Government's attempting to coerce the Southern Confederacy。 General William S。 Harvey was in command of the Department of Missouri； and resided in his own house； on Fourth Street； below Market； and there were five or six companies of United States troops in the arsenal； commanded by Capta