Civil War News
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Life and Reminiscences of General Wm. T. Sherman: By Distinguished Men of His Time. “To you is dedicated this memorial volume of your honored and much-loved leader, William Tecumseh Sherman,” or so editor and compiler Thomas Clement Fletcher wrote in 1891, with the release of a rather interesting collection of testimonials from various individuals who knew Sherman well. R.H. Woodward
& Company in Baltimore published the original edition, but researchers can easily locate affordable reprints. In addition to the accounts detailed below, 16 illustrations appear in the book, including some not often seen in other works; see illustration below. Fletcher penned the introduction of the book and then wrote the first eight chapters. The titles of each chapter: ‘His Life Before the War,’ ‘During the War,’ ‘After the War,’ ‘His Life in New York,’ ‘His Humorous Side,’ ‘His Last Sickness and Death,’ ‘The Funeral,’ and ‘His Character.’ Fletcher, a Missouri native,
served in St. Louis as assistant provost marshal general until October 1862, when he received a colonel’s commission in the 31st Missouri Volunteers. He later commanded the 47th Missouri Volunteers. His wartime service did not take him through to the final surrender ceremonies, as the good folks of Missouri elected him to serve as their state’s 18th governor. While Fletcher’s contributions to the narrative offer a general overview of Sherman’s life and career, the real value of this source rests in the book’s second section—Reminiscences and Tributes. The following gentlemen contributed various accounts of their experiences with Sherman, Horatio G. King, George W. Childs, Oliver Otis Howard, Hiram Hitchcock, David Dixon Porter, Horace Porter, Chauncey M. Depew, Benjamin Harrison, Reverend T. DeWitt Talmage, George A. Knight, Henry Slocum, Senator John Morgan of Alabama (a former Confederate officer), Senator Joseph Hawley of Connecticut (Brevet Major General in the U.S. Army during the war), Carl Schurz, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Charles F. Manderson. Most of these fellows had served in various capacities
October 2019 with Sherman during the war. A few penned brief remarks, two or three pages; others wrote more detailed accounts. For example, O.O. Howard discussed his working relationship with Sherman during the March to the Sea and during the Carolinas Campaign. Howard’s final analysis on Sherman: “As a military leader he was, in my judgment, one of the greatest that ever lived, and the only General in the war who was a genius.” Ponder how other generals, including those also contributing to this narrative, might have felt after reading Howard’s assessment! Admiral David Porter offers a tongue-in-cheek account of the first time he met Sherman while the Federals continued their work to take Vicksburg. Porter recalled he “…put on my uniform coat, the splendor of which rivaled that of a drum major.” Sherman entered Porter’s quarters on board his ship, dressed in an old “… blue flannel suit.” Porter concluded with, “…we met, both a little surprised at the appearance of the other.” Fitting to allow the subject of the book to also contribute to the effort, and “Cump” wrote the final six sections of this book, which appeared labeled as the ‘Appendix.’ His installments carry the following titles, ‘Old Time in California;’ ‘Grant, Thomas, Lee;’ Our Army and Militia;’ Camp-Fires of the G.A.R.;’ ‘Response of General Sherman; and ‘Sherman on Longstreet.’ Perhaps Sherman’s greatest observations rest in the section on ‘Grant, Thomas, Lee,’ where he strikes favorable comparisons toward each officer. Equally fascinating are Sherman’s comments regarding James Longstreet. “Longstreet went into the Confederate army from
Sherman’s Army Leaving Atlanta illustration from the book.
an impulse – honest, enthusiastic and positive – and when the war was over I know of my own knowledge that he stood up like a man to regain for his whole country the condition of law and prosperity which had been so foolishly and recklessly jeopardized by the civil war.” Researchers can view the book online at https:// quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/ acp5097.0001.001/1?view=image&size=100, purchase a reprint at various online bookstores, or locate a copy in their local library using https://www.worldcat.org. Search for the book’s title, as ISBN numbers vary depending on the various publishers cranking the book out over the years. Next month, we will explore additional primary sources. Until then, good luck in researching the Civil War! Michael K. Shaffer is a Civil War historian, author, lecturer, instructor, and a member of the Society of Civil War Historians, the Historians of the Civil War Western Theater, the Georgia Association of Historians, and the Georgia Writers Association. Readers may contact him at mkscdr11@ gmail.com, or to request speaking engagements, via his website www.civilwarhistorian.net. Follow Michael on Facebook www.facebook.com/michael.k.shaffer and Twitter @michaelkshaffer.
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