These are all from
Sherman's Civil War and about his feelings toward the press:
Page 206 to his son WTS Jr. 4/19/62
“I know the newspapers are full of all sorts of stories which your mama will read to you, but the newspaper men are afraid to be where the fighting is and afterward it is all over they are very brave.”
Page 232 to US Grant 6/6/62
“The moment you obtained a just celebrity at Donelson, by a stroke of war more rich in consequences than was the Battle of Saratoga, envious rivals and malicious men set their pack of hounds at you, to pull you from the pinnacle which you had so richly obtained.”
Page 396 to John Sherman 2/12/63
“These newspaper correspondents hanging about the skirts of our army, retailing scraps of news reveal all plans and are worth a hundred thousand men to the enemy. I am satisfied the south maintains many a press at the north and through them maintain an admirable system of spies in our camps….the day must come when the army will make short work with this class of enemies.”
Page 404 to John Sherman 1/18/63
“Who gave notice of McDowell’s movement on Manassas and enables Johnston so to reinforce Beauregard that our army was defeated?
The Press.
Who gave notice of the movement on Vicksburg?
The Press
Who has prevented all secret combinations and movements against our enemy?
The Press.
Who has sown the seeds of hatred so deep, that reason, Religion and self interest cannot eradicate them?
The Press.
What is the real moving cause in this Rebellion? Mutual hatred and misrepresentations made by a venal press.”
Page 418 to Ellen Sherman 3/13/63
“There is a deep laid plan to cripple us, laid by Jeff Davis who is smart and knows our people well. By a few thousands of dollars well invested in newspapers he can defeat any plan or undertaking.”
Page 467 to Ellen Sherman 5/2/63
“We can’t make much out of newspapers when juries decide that lies are more readable and palateable to the people than the uninteresting details confirmed by truth. Slander is the rule, unless one pays for truth as the advertisement.”