Recollections of California, 1846-1861. By General William T. Sherman; foreword by Joseph A. Sullivan

Recollections of California, 1846-1861. By General William T. Sherman; foreword by Joseph A. Sullivan

Foreword

GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN was born in Ohio, son of Judge Charles R. Sherman, the latter of old New England ancestry. Sherman's father died while he was a small boy, and he was adopted by Senator Thomas Ewing, through whose influence he was in due course appointed to West Point, graduating sixth in his class. His story as pioneer soldier, banker, lawyer and school superintendent is here presented unedited from the first Appleton printing of his "Memoirs."

Through the courtesy of the National Archives, Records of the War Department, we are able to reproduce here for the first printing, two letters of Lieutenant Sherman dated at Monterey, also from the same source a facsimile of the original map of the California gold region drawn by Sherman and bearing his initials. This map accompanied Colonel R. B. Mason's military governor's report, reaching Washington in December, 1848. Together they were the basis for President Polk's announcement of the California gold discovery, inaugurating the Gold Rush of 1849.

In preliminary discussion for printing this Number Three of the California Centennials, typographer Ben Kennedy remarked, "I read the copy. It is good reading." Ben, it is likely, did not know he was echoing the statements of a great American authority on writing. Mark Twain wrote to General Sherman, "It is a model narrative and I have read it many times."

It is difficult to be wholly objective about Sherman. His contributions to history are of the highest order. Spending ten years of the formative period of his life in California, he later earned top rank in the U.S. Army, with a world-wide reputation.

Nor is it our purpose to explore the one questioned episode in Sherman's California career: The affairs of the 1856 Vigilance

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Committee, his seasoned judgment that "The committee...controlling the Press...gave great stimulus to a dangerous principle." California mobs, in some cases organized, have too many times proved he was correct. Even at this late date the state has not fully shaken off this evil heritage. His experience in this adventure made him allergic to politicians, even to the point of his being uniquely the one man who refused the nomination for, and sure election to, the Presidency of the United States.

There is a persistent thread that runs through the study of Sherman. It is his disposition to loyalty, part no doubt inherent, continually fed in his upbringing and his training. He left room in his definition of loyalty for no semantic interpretation. Loyalty to him was worth fighting for. It meant, "The Government of his inheritance," his strong devotion to the "Federal Union."

In a world of "Impending Crisis," and with the Creoles pressing for a decision, he made his choice, and cast his lot with the Northern cause.

Today is V-E Day, May 8, 1945. It could with propriety be called Sherman day. For in the genius of Sherman was the job accomplished. He was America's ablest general, and the world's "most notable military figure." Coming up the hard, long road from Bull Run to Appomatox, this red-haired widow's son of "piercing eye and nervous impulsive temperament" established a program for American soldiers that will ever be successful when with resourcefulness it is carefully planned and forcefully carried through.

He rates number one rank in many categories of performance, in that generalship that gets the most for the least--in succeeding with what you have, molding the material placed in his charge into a single instrument for the imposition of his Country's will. General Sherman, high strategist, a fighter above all, equipped with a staff mind, yet perfected the tactic of movement of fire power. The story of the great march must ever be required reading for American Army and Navy officers. From his tactical use of the corduroy, came the tank bearing his name. Just a moment ago I heard from France the voice of General George Patton. History has already recorded his "Shermans" and a job of work superbly accomplished.

Sherman's perfection in operating the flank attack and cutting the

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opposition's supplies is the classic pattern of success in the final and decisive climax of any campaign.

Many times his methods were used in the last four years. Students will have no difficulty discovering that the Germans applied his principles in their highest development, though with unexpressed compliment to him, in their destruction of the French Army. However, it remained for one American general to conspicuously prove that Sherman knew his business. Inadequately, we give the accolade to General Omar Bradley, Shermanite supreme. From Africa to the Elbe he never lost sight of the master's art.

Look at the headlines. Bradley, in a reverse around the left flank, cleaned up in North Africa, capturing 250,000 of the Afrika Korps. Bradley, over right end in Normandy, freed France and bagged half a million Nazis. Bradley, in his greatest test, and with a rule of Foch, holds the hinges in the Ardennes.

Bradley again scores on an encirclement of the Ruhr, retires another twenty-five German divisions from any interest in war. Bradley across the Rhine, and the task is complete for Europe.

Thus does the mind travel on V-E day; to the magic name of Sherman must be added for the record: President Johnson's mention of his name to the Ambassador for France caused without delay the French troops' removal from unhappy Mexico. More recently corduroyed mobile artillery carrying his name restored France once more to the family of free nations. In all, Sherman intelligently fought for the only reason he could give for war, the "attainment of peace," proclaiming a great truth, "War is hell," the most important philosophical statement on record. Today there is a meeting in Sherman's old home town of San Francisco. The United Nations are formulating a program to retire the practice of war to that same hell where are entombed forever, we hope, the practices of cannibalism, human slavery, witchcraft burnings, inquisitions, and Nazi and fanatical atrocities against the human body and spirit.

From history, and especially the history of the last thirty-one years, may every delegate from the nations gathered here carry deep in his heart Sherman's admonition, "War is hell," making it the watchword of a new world, for all time abolishing this terrible evil of war. From

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the many tests of loyalty to the Union in the past forty-one months there are thousands of attested fidelities by individuals and groups in the teamwork required to finish the task set. Without prejudice to any, we select for dedication the loyal defenders of the five points of Bastogne, who, under Bradley's orders, fighting in the highest traditions, dam'd the Wehrmacht and held them until they were relieved by the thundering Shermans; to all who did their part in loyalty, and to the 101st Airborne: Hail! Well done!

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JOSEPH A. SULLIVAN,

Oakland, California.

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