Sherman's letters quotes

samgrant · #1 06-01-2006, 08:06 PM

This thread is meant as an adjunct of the 'Sherman's Civil War' thread. In which may be posted those quotations folks might find to be interesting or significant.

I'll start with this post Shiloh quote from WTS to his wife from April 24, 1862:

"I hope the war won't end until those who caused the war, the politicians & editors are made to feel it".

ole · #2 06-05-2006, 10:51 AM

Thanks for opening the thread, Sam. I'm somewhat fond of this excerpt from a letter to Stanton shortly after Ft. Pillow:
I doubt the wisdom of any fixed Rule by our Government, but let Soldiers affected make their Rules as we progress. We will use their own logic against them, as we have from the beginning of the war. The Southern Army, which is the Southern People[,] cares no more for our Clamor than the idle wind, but they will heed the Slaughter that will follow as the natural consequence of their own inhuman acts.
Ole

samgrant · #3 06-07-2006, 10:25 PM

"President Lincoln telegraphed to know who was the cause of the surprise & dreadful slaughter at Pittsburg Landing - Halleck answered he thought the Confederate officers and soldiers were to blame, and were the cause of the dreadful slaughter. So I hope old Abe will order Beauregard and Bragg to be court martialled for their cruelty in shooting bullets at us in the indiscriminate manner they did."

This type of ironic humor seems typical of WTS.

samgrant · #4 06-10-2006, 08:10 PM

This letter I found in my GGGfather's So. Claims Commission records.

It is neither profound nor humorous, but I have reason to like it.

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Headquarters Fifth Division
June 16, 1862

Col. McDowell

Sir,

The bearer F. D. Cossitt will take charge of the two portions of trestle work and will manage those negroes and teams.
He is interested in having the work well done and quickly.
Please give him all the help possible in mechanics and tools and teams.
I commend him to your attention as a gentleman of high reputation in this community.
I am.
W. T. Sherman
Major General

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samgrant · #5 06-14-2006, 08:11 PM

From a letter to Philemon B. Ewing, July 13, 1862:

"Buell is the best soldier. Halleck the ablest man - Grant very brave but not brilliant Thomas slow, cool & methodic. I don't think much of Pope or McClernand"

samgrant · #6 07-28-2006, 08:17 PM

To John Ewing, December 1864 (after taking Savannah):

"Now, I want rest and peace, and they are only to be had through war."

samgrant · #7 07-30-2006, 08:30 PM

From: Sherman Fighting Prophet by LLoyd Lewis:

"I lead a peaceful life here and of I ran for president I'd wake up some morning and find all over the newspapers that I'd poisoned my grandmother. Now you know I never saw my mother's mother, but the newspapers would say I killed her and prove it."

Invited to address numerous groups and gatherings, "at a gigantic reunion banquet in Chicago he called out:
"Can you hear in the middle of the hall?"
"No!"
"All right read it in the papers tomorrow!""

"I think we understand what military fame is - to be killed on the field of battle and have our names spelled wrong in the newspapers."