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n was beyoud him。 By turning toward me he was approaching Davis； and； had he joined me as ordered； I would have had a mounted force greatly needed for Davis's capture； and for other purposes。 Even now I don't know that Mr。 Stanton wants Davis caught； and as my official papers； deemed sacred； are hastily published to the world； it will be imprudent for me to state what has been done in that regard。
As the editor of the Times has （it may be） logically and fairly drawn from this singular document the conclusion that I am insubordinate； I can only deny the intention。
I have never in my life questioned or disobeyed an order； though many and many a time have I risked my life； health； and reputation； in obeying orders； or even hints to execute plane and purposes； not to my liking。 It is not fair to withhold from me the plans and policy of Government （if any there be）； and expect me to guess at them； for facts and events appear quite different from different stand…points。 For four years I have been in camp dealing with soldiers； and I can assure you that the conclusion at which the cabinet arrived with such singular unanimity differs from mine。 I conferred freely with the best officers in this army as to the points involved in this controversy； and； strange to say； they were singularly unanimous in the other conclusion。 They will learn with pain and amazement that I am deemed insubordinate； and wanting in commonsense； that I； who for four years have labored day and night； winter and summer； who have brought an army of seventy thousand men in magnificent condition across a country hitherto deemed impassable； and placed it just where it was wanted； on the day appointed； have brought discredit on our Government！ I do not wish to boast of this； but I do say that it entitled me to the courtesy of being consulted； before publishing to the world a proposition rightfully submitted to higher authority for adjudication； and then accompanied by statements which invited the dogs of the press to be let loose upon me。 It is true that non…combatants； men who sleep in comfort and security while we watch on the distant lines； are better able to judge than we poor soldiers； who rarely see a newspaper； hardly hear from our families； or stop long enough to draw our pay。 I envy not the task of 〃reconstruction；〃 and am delighted that the Secretary of War has relieved me of it。
As you did not undertake to assume the management of the affairs of this army； I infer that； on personal inspection； your mind arrived at a different conclusion from that of the Secretary of War。 I will therefore go on to execute your orders to the conclusion； and； when done； will with intense satisfaction leave to the civil authorities the execution of the task of which they seem so jealous。 But； as an honest man and soldier； I invite them to go back to Nashville and follow my path； for they will see some things and hear some things that may disturb their philosophy。
With sincere respect；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
P。 S。As Mr。 Stanton's most singular paper has been published； I demand that this also be made public； though I am in no manner responsible to the press； but to the law； and my proper superiors。 W。 T。 S。； Major…General。
On the 28th I summoned all the army and corps commanders together at my quarters in the Governor's mansion at Raleigh； where every thing was explained to them； and all orders for the future were completed。 Generals Schofield； Terry； and Kilpatrick； were to remain on duty in the Department of North Carolina； already commanded by General Schofield； and the right and left wings were ordered to march under their respective commanding generals North by easy stages to Richmond。 Virginia； there to await my return from the South。
On the 29th of April； with a part of my personal staff； I proceeded by rail to Wilmington； North Carolina； where I found Generals Hawley and Potter； and the little steamer Russia； Captain Smith； awaiting me。 After a short pause in Wilmington； we embarked； and proceeded down the coast to Port Royal and the Savannah River； which we reached on the 1st of May。 There Captain Hoses； who had just come from General Wilson at Macon； met us； bearing letters for me and General Grant； in which General Wilson gave a brief summary of his operations up to date。 He had marched from Eastport； Mississippi； five hundred miles in thirty days； took six thousand three hundred prisoners； twenty…three colors； and one hundred and fifty…six guns； defeating Forrest； scattering the militia； and destroying every railroad； iron establishment； and factory； in North Alabama and Georgia。〃
He spoke in the highest terms of his cavalry； as 〃cavalry；〃 claiming that it could not be excelled； and he regarded his corps as a model for modern cavalry in organization； armament； and discipline。 Its strength was given at thirteen thousand five hundred men and horses on reaching Macon。 Of course I was extremely gratified at his just confidence； and saw that all he wanted for efficient action was a sure base of supply； so that he need no longer depend for clothing； ammunition； food； and forage； on the country； which； now that war had ceased； it was our solemn duty to protect； instead of plunder。 I accordingly ordered the captured steamer Jeff。 Davis to be loaded with stores； to proceed at once up the Savannah River to Augusta； with a small detachment of troops to occupy the arsenal； and to open communication with General Wilson at Macon； and on the next day； May 2d； this steamer was followed by another with a fall cargo of clothing； sugar； coffee； and bread； sent from Hilton Head by the department commander； General Gillmore； with a stronger guard commanded by General Molineux。 Leaving to General Gillmore； who was present； and in whose department General Wilson was； to keep up the supplies at Augusta； and to facilitate as far as possible General Wilson's operations inland； I began my return on the 2d of May。 We went into Charleston Harbor； passing the ruins of old Forts Moultrie and Sumter without landing。 We reached the city of Charleston； which was held by part of the division of General John P。 Hatch； the same that we had left at Pocotaligo。 We walked the old familiar streets…Broad； King； Meeting； ；etc。but desolation and ruin were everywhere。 The heart of the city had been burned during the bombardment； and the rebel garrison at the time of its final evacuation had fired the railroad…depots； which fire had spread； and was only subdued by our troops after they had reached the city。
I inquired for many of my old friends； but they were dead or gone； and of them all I only saw a part of the family of Mrs。 Pettigru。 I doubt whether any city was ever more terribly punished than Charleston； but； as her people had for years been agitating for war and discord； and had finally inaugurated the civil war by an attack on the small and devoted garrison of Major Anderson； sent there by the General Government to defend them； the judgment of the world will be； that Charleston deserved the fate that befell her。 Resuming our voyage； we passed into Cape Fear River by its mouth at Fort Caswell and Smithville； and out by the new channel at