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e use of your persevering？ It is simply impossible to subdue eight millions of people；〃 asserting that 〃the feeling in the South had become so embittered that a reconciliation was impossible。〃 I answered that； 〃sitting as we then were； we appeared very comfortable； and surely there was no trouble in our becoming friends。〃 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃that is very true of us； but we are gentlemen of education； and can easily adapt ourselves to any condition of things； but this would not apply equally well to the common people； or to the common soldiers。〃 I took him out to the camp…fires behind the tent； and there were the men of his escort and mine mingled together； drinking their coffee； and happy as soldiers always seem。 I asked B。。。。 what he thought of that； and he admitted that I had the best of the argument。 Before I dismissed this flag of truce； his companion consulted me confidentially as to what disposition he ought to make of his family； then in Mobile； and I frankly gave him the best advice I could。
While we were thus lying idle in camp on the big Black； the Army of the Cumberland； under General Rosecrans； was moving against Bragg at Chattanooga； and the Army of the Ohio； General Burnside； was marching toward East Tennessee。 General Rosecrans was so confident of success that he somewhat scattered his command； seemingly to surround and capture Bragg in Chattanooga； but the latter； reenforced from Virginia； drew out of Chattanooga； concentrated his army at Lafayette； and at Chickamauga fell on Rosecrans； defeated him； and drove him into Chattanooga。 The whole country seemed paralyzed by this unhappy event； and the authorities in Washington were thoroughly stampeded。 From the East the Eleventh Corps （Slocum）； and the Twelfth Corps （Howard）； were sent by rail to Nashville； and forward under command of General Hooker； orders were also sent to General Grant； by Halleck； to send what reenforcements he could spare immediately toward Chattanooga。
Bragg had completely driven Rosecrans's army into Chattanooga； the latter was in actual danger of starvation； and the railroad to his rear seemed inadequate to his supply。 The first intimation which I got of this disaster was on the 22d of September； by an order from General Grant to dispatch one of my divisions immediately into Vicksburg； to go toward Chattanooga； and I designated the First； General OsterhausSteele meantime having been appointed to the command of the Department of Arkansas； and had gone to Little Rock。 General Osterhaus marched the same day； and on the 23d I was summoned to Vicksburg in person； where General Grant showed me the alarming dispatches from General Halleck； which had been sent from Memphis by General Hurlbut； and said； on further thought； that he would send me and my whole corps。 But； inasmuch as one division of McPherson's corps （John E。 Smith's） had already started； he instructed me to leave one of my divisions on the Big Black； and to get the other two ready to follow at once。 I designated the Second； then commanded by Brigadier…General Giles A。 Smith； and the Fourth； commanded by Brigadier…General Corse。
On the 25th I returned to my camp on Big Black； gave all the necessary orders for these divisions to move； and for the Third （Tittle's） to remain； and went into Vicksburg with my family。 The last of my corps designed for this expedition started from camp on the 27th； reached Vicksburg the 28th； and were embarked on boats provided for them。 General Halleck's dispatches dwelt upon the fact that General Rosecrans's routes of supply were overtaxed； and that we should move from Memphis eastward； repairing railroads as we progressed； as far as Athens； Alabama； whence I was to report to General Rosecrans； at Chattanooga； by letter。
I took passage for myself and family in the steamer Atlantic； Captain Henry McDougall。 When the boat was ready to start； Willie was missing。 Mrs。 Sherman supposed him to have been with me； whereas I supposed he was with her。 An officer of the Thirteenth went up to General McPherson's house for him； and soon returned； with Captain Clift leading him； carrying in his hands a small double…barreled shot gun； and I joked him about carrying away captured property。 In a short time we got off。 As we all stood on the guards to look at our old camps at Young's Point； I remarked that Willie was not well； and he admitted that he was sick。 His mother put him to bed； and consulted Dr。 Roler； of the Fifty…fifth Illinois； who found symptoms of typhoid fever。 The river was low； we made slow progress till above Helena； and； as we approached Memphis； Dr。 Roler told me that Willie's life was in danger； and he was extremely anxious to reach Memphis for certain medicines and for consultation。 We arrived at Memphis on the 2d of October； carried Willie up to the Gayoso Hotel； and got the most experienced physician there； who acted with Dr。 Roler； but he sank rapidly； and died the evening of the 3d of October。 The blow was a terrible one to us all； so sudden and so unexpected； that I could not help reproaching myself for having consented to his visit in that sickly region in the summer…time。 Of all my children； he seemed the most precious。 Born in San Francisco； I had watched with intense interest his development； and he seemed more than any of the children to take an interest in my special profession。 Mrs。 Sherman； Minnie； Lizzie； and Tom； were with him at the time； and we all； helpless and overwhelmed； saw him die。 Being in the very midst of an important military enterprise； I had hardly time to pause and think of my personal loss。 We procured a metallic casket； and had a military funeral； the battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars acting as escort from the Gayoso Hotel to the steamboat Grey Eagle； which conveyed him and my family up to Cairo； whence they proceeded to our home at Lancaster； Ohio； where he was buried。 I here give my letter to Captain C。 C。 Smith； who commanded the battalion at the time； as exhibiting our intense feelings：
GAYOSO HOUSE； MEMPHIS； TENNESSEE October 4； 1863； Midnight
Captain C。 C。 SMITH； commanding Battalion Thirteenth United States Regulars。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I cannot sleep to…night till I record an expression of the deep feelings of my heart to you； and to the officers and soldiers of the battalion； for their kind behavior to my poor child。 I realize that you all feel for my family the attachment of kindred； and I assure you of full reciprocity。 Consistent with a sense of duty to my profession and office； I could not leave my post； and sent for the family to come to me in that fatal climate； and in that sickly period of the year； and behold the result！ The child that bore my name； and in whose future I reposed with more confidence than I did in my own plan of life； now floats a mere corpse； seeking a grave in a distant land； with a weeping mother； brother； and sisters； clustered about him。 For myself； I ask no sympathy。 On； on I must go； to meet a soldier's fate； or live to see our country rise superior to all factions； till its flag is adored and respected by ourselves and by all the powers of the earth。
But Willie was； or thought he was； a sergeant in the Thirteenth。 I have seen his eye brighten； his heart beat； as he beheld the battalion under arms； and asked me if they were not real soldiers。 Child as he was； he had the enthusiasm； the pure love of truth； honor； and love of country； which should animate all soldiers。
God only knows why he should die thus young。 He is dead； but will not be forgotten till those who knew him in life have followed him to that same mysterious end。
Please convey to the battalion my heart…felt thanks； and assure each and all that if in after…years they call on me or mine； and mention that they were of the Thirteenth Regulars when Willie was a sergeant； they will have a key to the affections of my family that will open all it has； that we will share with them our last blanket； our last crust！ Your friend；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…general。
Long afterward； in the spring of 1867； we had his body disinterred and brought to St。 Louis； where he is now buried in a beautiful spot； in Calvary Cemetery； by the side of another child； 〃Charles；〃 who was born at Lancaster； in the summer of 1864； died early； and was buried at Notre Dame； Indiana。 His body was transferred at the same time to the same spot。 Over Willie's grave is erected a beautiful marble monument； designed and executed by the officers and soldiers； of that battalion which claimed him as a sergeant and comrade。
During the summer and fall of 1863 Major…General S。 A。 Hurlbut was in command at Memphis。 He supplied me copies of all dispatches from Washington； and all the information he possessed of the events about Chattanooga。 Two of these dispatches cover all essential points：
WASHINGTON CITY； September 15； 18635 p。m。
Major…General S。 A。 HURLBUT； Memphis：
All the troops that can possibly be spared in West Tennessee and on the Mississippi River should be sent without delay to assist General Rosecrans on the Tennessee River。
Urge Sherman to act with all possible promptness。
If you have boats； send them down to bring up his troops。
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