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ing; Esq。; being in Cincinnati; saw him and asked him why he; who certainly knew better; would reiterate such a damaging slander。 He answered; quite cavalierly; that it was one of the news…items of the day; and he had to keep up with the tine; but he would be most happy to publish any correction I might make; as though I could deny such a malicious piece of scandal affecting myself。 On the 12th of November I had occasion to write to General Halleck; and I have a copy of his letter in answer:
ST。 Louis; December 18; 1881。 Brigadier…General W。 T。 SHERMAN; Lancaster; Ohio。
My DEAR GENERAL: Yours of the 12th was received a day or two ago; but was mislaid for the moment among private papers; or I should have answered it sooner。 The newspaper attacks are certainly shameless and scandalous; but I cannot agree with you; that they have us in their power 〃to destroy us as they please。〃 I certainly get my share of abuse; but it will not disturb me。
Your movement of the troops was not countermanded by me because I thought it an unwise one in itself; but because I was not then ready for it。 I had better information of Price's movements than you had; and I had no apprehension of an attack。 I intended to concentrate the forces on that line; but I wished the movement delayed until I could determine on a better position。
After receiving Lieutenant…Colonel McPherson's report; I made precisely the location you had ordered。 I was desirous at the time not to prevent the advance of Price by any movement on our part; hoping that he would move on Lexington; but finding that he had determined to remain at Osceola for some time at least; I made the movement you proposed。 As you could not know my plans; you and others may have misconstrued the reason of my countermanding your orders。。。。
I hope to see you well enough for duty soon。 Our organization goes on slowly; but we will effect it in time。 Yours truly;
H。 W。 HALLECK。
And subsequently; in a letter to Hon。 Thomas Ewing; in answer to some inquiries involving the same general subject; General Halleck wrote as follows:
Hon。 THOMAS EWING; Lancaster; Ohio。
DEAR SIR: Your note of the 13th; and one of this date; from Mr。 Sherman; in relation to Brigadier…General Sherman's having being relieved from command in Sedalia; in November last; are just received。 General Sherman was not put in command at Sedalia; he was authorized to assume it; and did so for a day or two。 He did not know my plans; and his movement of troops did not accord with them。 I therefore directed him to leave them as they were; and report here the result of his inspection; for which purpose be had been ordered there。
No telegram or dispatch of any kind was sent by me; or by any one with my knowledge or authority; in relation to it。 After his return here; I gave him a leave of absence of twenty days; for the benefit of his health。 As I was then pressing General McClellan for more officers; I deemed it necessary to explain why I did so。 I used these words: 〃I am satisfied that General Sherman's physical and mental system is so completely broken by labor and care as to render him; for the present; unfit for duty; perhaps a few weeks' rest may restore him。〃 This was the only communication I made on the subject。 On no occasion have I ever expressed an opinion that his mind was affected otherwise than by over…exertion; to have said so would have done him the greatest injustice。
After General Sherman returned from his short leave; I found that his health was nearly restored; and I placed him temporarily in command of the camp of instruction; numbering over fifteen thousand men。 I then wrote to General McClellan that he would soon be able to again take the field。 I gave General Sherman a copy of my letter。 This is the total of my correspondence on the subject。 As evidence that I have every confidence in General Sherman; I have placed him in command of Western Kentuckya command only second in importance in this department。 As soon as divisions and columns can be organized; I propose to send him into the field where he can render most efficient service。 I have seen newspaper squibs; charging him with being 〃crazy;〃 etc。 This is the grossest injustice; I do not; however; consider such attacks worthy of notice。 The best answer is General Sherman's present position; and the valuable services he is rendering to the country。 I have the fullest confidence in him。
Very respectfully; your obedient servant;
H。 W。 HALLECK; Major…General。
On returning to St。 Louis; on the expiration of my leave of absence; I found that General Halleck was beginning to move his troops: one part; under General U。 S。 Grant; up the Tennessee River; and another part; under General S。 R。 Curtis; in the direction of Springfield; Missouri。 General Grant was then at Paducah; and General Curtis was under orders for Rolls。 I was ordered to take Curtis's place in command of the camp of instruction; at Benton Barracks; on the ground back of North St。 Louis; now used as the Fair Grounds; by the following order:
'Special Order No。 87'。
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI St。 Louis; December 23; 1861
'EXTRACT。'
Brigadier…General W。 T。 Sherman; United States Volunteers; is hereby assigned to the command of the camp of instruction and post of Benton Barracks。 He will have every armed regiment and company in his command ready for service at a moment's warning; and will notify all concerned that; when marching orders are received; it is expected that they will be instantly obeyed; no excuses for delay will be admitted。 General Sherman will immediately report to these headquarters what regiments and companies; at Benton Barracks; are ready for the field。
By order of Major…General Halleck;
J。 C。 KELTEN; Assistant Adjutant…General。
I immediately assumed command; and found; in the building constructed for the commanding officer; Brigadier…General Strong; and the family of a captain of Iowa cavalry; with whom we boarded。 Major Curtis; son of General Curtis; was the adjutant…general; but was soon relieved by Captain J。 H。 Hammond; who was appointed assistant adjutant…general; and assigned to duty with me。
Brigadier…General Hurlbut was also there; and about a dozen regiments of infantry and cavalry。 I at once gave all matters pertaining to the post my personal attention; got the regiments in as good order as possible; kept up communication with General Halleck's headquarters by telegraph; and; when orders came for the movement of any regiment or detachment; it moved instantly。 The winter was very wet; and the ground badly drained。 The quarters had been erected by General Fremont; under contract; they were mere shells; but well arranged for a camp; embracing the Fair Grounds; and some forty acres of flat ground west of it。 I instituted drills; and was specially ordered by General Halleck to watch Generals Hurlbut and Strong; and report as to their fitness for their commissions as brigadier…generals。 I had known Hurlbut as a young lawyer; in Charleston; South Carolina; before the Mexican War; at which time he took a special interest in military matters; and I found him far above the average in the knowledge of regimental and brigade drill; and so reported。 General Strong had been a merchant; and he told me that he never professed to be a soldier; but had been urged on the Secretary of War for the commission of a brigadier…general; with the expectation of be coming quartermaster or commissary…general。 He was a good; kind…hearted gentleman; boiling over with patriotism and zeal。 I advised him what to read and study; was considerably amused at his receiving instruction from a young lieutenant who knew the company and battalion drill; and could hear him practise in his room the words of command; and tone of voice; 〃Break from the right; to march to the left!〃 〃Battalion; halt!〃 〃For ward into line!〃 etc。 Of course I made a favorable report in his case。 Among the infantry and cavalry colonels were some who afterward rose to distinctionDavid Stuart; Gordon Granger; Bussey; etc。; etc。
Though it was mid…winter; General Halleck was pushing his preparations most vigorously; and surely he brought order out of chaos in St。 Louis with commendable energy。 I remember; one night; sitting in his room; on the second floor of the Planters' House; with him and General Cullum; his chief of staff; talking of things generally; and the subject then was of the much…talked…of 〃advance;〃 as soon as the season would permit。 Most people urged the movement down the Mississippi River; but Generals Polk and Pillow had a large rebel force; with heavy guns in a very strong position; at Columbus; Kentucky; about eighteen miles below Cairo。 Commodore Foote had his gunboat fleet at Cairo; and General U。 S。 Grant; who commanded the district; was collecting a large force at Paducah; Cairo; and Bird's Point。 General Halleck had a map on his table; with a large pencil in his hand; and asked; 〃where is the rebel line?〃 Cullum drew the pencil through Bowling Green; Forts Donelson and Henry; and Columbus; Kentucky。 〃That is their line;〃 said Halleck;。 〃Now; where is the proper place to break it?〃 And either Cullum or I said; 〃Natural