Sherman Sherman's Other War

[Trevor Siprelle]

Have a source for this quote..?

However, Sherman would state that because he was operating behind enemy lines in a "foreign nation" that the 1st amendment fell to military discretion.

I'd be interested in seeing that, if true.

I'm still looking, I'm also hoping I did not make a mistake by using an author's assertion and perceived it to be Sherman's assertion. I will find it out though. Thanks

 

[Viper21]

I'm still looking, I'm also hoping I did not make a mistake by using an author's assertion and perceived it to be Sherman's assertion. I will find it out though. Thanks

Well, you'd be the only person here ever to have made a mistake if that's the case....

Though I loathe Sherman, I don't believe him to have been stupid. For him to have made that statement would've been careless at best, which is why I was curious to the source.

 

[Trevor Siprelle]

Well, you'd be the only person here ever to have made a mistake if that's the case....

Though I loathe Sherman, I don't believe him to have been stupid. For him to have made that statement would've been careless at best, which is why I was curious to the source.

Ha! Thanks!

 

[WJC]

You may find this essay of interest:

The Unresolved Tension between Warriors and Journalists
during the Civil War
Randy D. Ferryman

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-58-no-3/pdfs-vol-58-no-3/Ferryman-Civil War Press-6August.pdf​

Indeed I do find it interesting! Thanks!

 

[Trevor Siprelle]

Indeed I do find it interesting! Thanks!

I did download it and I'm about halfway through the article and it's very good so far.

 

[Bruce Vail]

It wasn't Sherman or Grant that banished Knox; it was the sentence imposed by the court-martial board. Sherman was ok with it but feared Lincoln would not sustain the punishment once Knox's newspaper, the Herald, as well as others made appeals to the president.

No, not really. Sherman was responsible for bringing the charges against Knox, so he bears heavy responsibility for the punishment. The subordinate officers on the court were in a tough spot: Most of the charges were clearly bogus and convictions would have been a miscarriage of justice, but the wishes of Sherman could not be ignored entirely.

 

[huskerblitz]

No, not really. Sherman was responsible for bringing the charges against Knox, so he bears heavy responsibility for the punishment. The subordinate officers on the court were in a tough spot: Most of the charges were clearly bogus and convictions would have been a miscarriage of justice, but the wishes of Sherman could not be ignored entirely.

I agree. Lincoln left it up to Grant, who in turn left it up to Sherman to allow Knox back. Sherman famously said he would welcome Knox back as a brother if he picked up the gun for the Union, but as a reporter...never. I personally feel Sherman did not like the accountability part of having reporters on hand and did not like being criticized in the press.

BTW...you can read Knox's version of events here: https://archive.org/stream/campfirecottonfi00knox#page/n7/mode/2up

 

[rbasin]

as promised:

LANCASTER, OHIO, December 12, 1861.

Major-General HALLECK, Saint Louis, Mo.:

DEAR SIR: I believe you will be frank enough to answer me if you deem the steps I took at Sedalia as evidence of a want of mind. They may have been the result of an excess of caution on my part, but I think the troops were too much strung out, and should be concentrated, with more men along to guard the track. The animals, cattle especially, will be much exposed this winter.

I set a much higher measure of danger on the acts of unfriendly inhabitants than most officers do, because I have lived in Missouri and the South, and know that in their individual characters they will do more acts of hostility than Northern farmers or people could bring themselves to perpetrate. In my judgments Price's army in the aggregate is less to be feared than when in scattered bands.

I write to you because a Cincinnati paper, whose reporter I imprisoned in Louisville for visiting our camps after I had forbidden him leave to go, has announced that I am insane, and alleges as a reason that at Sedalia my acts were so mad that subordinate officers refused to obey. I know of no order I gave that was not obeyed, except General Pope's, to advance his division to Sedalia, which order was countermanded by you, and the fact communicated to me.

These newspapers have us in their power, and can destroy us as they please, and this one can destroy my usefulness by depriving me of the confidence of officers and men.

I will be in Saint Louis next week, and will be guided by your commands and judgment.

I am, &c.,

W. T. SHERMAN,

Brigadier-General.

 

[rbasin]

Halleck's reply:

St. Louis,
December 18, 1861.
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 u 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 ono 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 ho 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. IIalleck.