John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

1

[363] on account of the decided condemnation by the secretary of General Sherman's agreement with General Johnston, and by the publication by General Halleck of orders to General Wright and to General Stoneman to pay no regard to orders from Sherman, and not to stop hostilities until they had received instructions to that effect from Washington. Sherman was intensely grieved and disturbed by this publication, and is reported to have insulted Halleck while passing through Richmond.¹ I imagine, however, that this insult was by no means so extreme as has been reported in the newspapers. General Halleck told me that the letter which Sherman wrote him on the occasion had never been seen by any one but himself, and I am sure that its substance has been exceedingly exaggerated by those who have attempted to report it. Before General Sherman came here, his brother Charles had been very active in stirring up a quarrel, and all the politicians who are in league with Mr. Blair, and whose special object is to turn Mr. Stanton out of office, were assembled here on that occasion in order to effect their great purpose. Nothing, however, has come of their efforts, and nothing will. When Sherman met Mr. Stanton on the President's stand, it was noticed by everybody that they merely bowed to each other, but did not shake hands. A day or,two after a letter from Sherman to Colonel Bowman was published, very indiscreet in its expressions, and quite bitter in its spirit, assailing the Secretary of War for having suppressed General Sherman's reports and letters. To this charge the secretary has made no reply, nor has he in any way taken any notice of the quarrel which has thus been attempted to be forced upon him. The difficulty, however, seems to be dying out of itself. Sherman's more discreet friends perceive and understand that he can gain nothing by attempting to make a controversy with the secretary, either for the reason of his condemnation of the treaty with Johnston, or because the reports of Sherman have not been published. With regard to these reports it appears that only one has failed to be

2 See Sherman, Memoirs.