memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第49章
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he State Central Arsenal。 All the arms and ammunition are safely stored here。 Then I will write you more at length。 With sincere respect； your friend；
W。 T。 SHERMAN。
Major Smith's receipt to me； for the arms and property belonging both to the seminary and to the arsenal； is dated February 19； 1861。 I subjoin also； in this connection； copies of one or two papers that may prove of interest
BATON ROUGE； January 28； 1881。 To Major SHERMAN； Superintendent； Alexandria。
My DEAR SIR： Your letter was duly receive； and would have been answered ere this time could I have arranged sooner the matter of the five hundred dollars。 I shall go from here to New Orleans to…day or tomorrow； and will remain there till Saturday after next； perhaps。 I shall expect to meet you there； as indicated in your note to me。
I need not tell you that it is with no ordinary regret that I view your determination to leave us； for really I believe that the success of our institution； now almost assured； is jeopardized thereby。 I am sore that we will never have a superintendent with whom I shall have more pleasant relations than those which have existed between yourself and me。
I fully appreciate the motives which have induced you to give up a position presenting so many advantages to yourself； and sincerely hope that you may； in any future enterprise； enjoy the success which your character and ability merit and deserve。
Should you come down on the Rapides （steamer）； please look after my wife； who will； I hope； accompany you on said boat； or some other good one。
Colonel Bragg informs me that the necessary orders have been given for the transfer and receipt by Major Smith of the public property。
I herewith transmit a request to the secretary to convene the Board of Supervisors； that they may act as seems best to them in the premises。
In the mean time； Major Smith will command by seniority the cadets； and the Academic Board will be able to conduct the scientific exercises of the institution until the Board of Supervisors can have time to act。 Hoping to meet you soon at the St。 Charles； I am；
Most truly； your friend and servant； S。 A。 Smith
P。 S。 Governor Moors desires me to express his profound regret that the State is about to lose one who we all fondly hoped had cast his destinies for weal or for woe among us； and that he is sensible that we lose thereby an officer whom it will be difficult； if not impossible； to replace。
S。 A。 S。
BATON ROUGE； February 11； 1881。 To Major Sherman； Alexandria。
Dear Sir： I have been in New Orleans for ten days； and on returning here find two letters from you； also your prompt answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives； for which I am much obliged。
The resolution passed the last day before adjournment。 I was purposing to respond； when your welcome reports came to hand。 I have arranged to pay you your five hundred dollars。
I will say nothing of general politics； except to give my opinion that there is not to be any war。
In that event； would it not be possible for you to become a citizen of our State？ Everyone deplores your determination to leave us。 At the same time； your friends feel that you are abandoning a position that might become an object of desire to any one。
I will try to meet you in New Orleans at any time you may indicate； but it would be best for you to stop here； when； if possible； I will accompany you。 Should you do so； you will find me just above the State…House； and facing it。
Bring with you a few copies of the 〃Rules of the Seminary。〃
Yours truly；
S。 A。 Smith
Colonel W。 T。 SHERMAN。
Sir： I am instructed by the Board of Supervisors of this institution to present a copy of the resolutions adopted by them at their last meeting
〃Resolved； That the thanks of the Board of Supervisors are due； and are hereby tendered； to Colonel William T。 Sherman for the able and efficient manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the seminary during the time the institution has been under his controla period attended with unusual difficulties； requiring on the part of the superintendent to successfully overcome them a high order of administrative talent。 And the board further bear willing testimony to the valuable services that Colonel Sherman has rendered them in their efforts to establish an institution of learning in accordance with the beneficent design of the State and Federal Governments； evincing at all times a readiness to adapt himself to the ever…varying requirements of an institution of learning in its infancy； struggling to attain a position of honor and usefulness。
〃Resolved； further； That； in accepting the resignation of Colonel Sherman as Superintendent of the State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy； we tender to him assurances of our high personal regard； and our sincere regret at the occurrence of causes that render it necessary to part with so esteemed and valued a friend； as well as co…laborer in the cause of education。〃
Powhatan Clarke； Secretary of the Board。
A copy of the resolution of the Academic Board； passed at their session of April 1；1861：
〃Resolved； That in the resignation of the late superintendent； Colonel W。 T。 Sherman； the Academic Board deem it not improper to express their deep conviction of the loss the institution has sustained in being thus deprived of an able head。 They cannot fail to appreciate the manliness of character which has always marked the actions of Colonel Sherman。 While he is personally endeared to many of them as a friend； they consider it their high pleasure to tender to him in this resolution their regret on his separation； and their sincere wish for his future welfare。〃
I have given the above at some length； because； during the civil war； it was in Southern circles asserted that I was guilty of a breach of hospitality in taking up arms against the South。 They were manifestly the aggressors； and we could only defend our own by assailing them。 Yet； without any knowledge of what the future had in store for me； I took unusual precautions that the institution should not be damaged by my withdrawal。 About the 20th of February； having turned over all property；。 records； and money； on hand； to Major Smith； and taking with me the necessary documents to make the final settlement with Dr。 S。 A。 Smith； at the bank in New Orleans； where the funds of the institution were deposited to my credit； I took passage from Alexandria for that city； and arrived there； I think； on the 23d。 Dr。 Smith met me； and we went to the bank； where I turned over to him the balance； got him to audit all my accounts； certify that they were correct and just； and that there remained not one cent of balance in my hands。 I charged in my account current for my salary up to the end of February； at the rate of four thousand dollars a year； and for the five hundred dollars due me as superintendent of the Central Arsenal； all of which was due and had been fairly earned； and then I stood free and discharged of any and every obligation； honorary or business； that was due by me to the State of Louisiana； or to any corporation or individual in that State。
This business occupied two or three days； during which I staid at the St。 Louis Hotel。 I usually sat at table with Colonel and Mrs。 Bragg； and an officer who wore the uniform of the State of Louisiana； and was addressed as captain。 Bragg wore a colonel's uniform； and explained to me that he was a colonel in the State service； a colonel of artillery； and that some companies of his regiment garrisoned Forts Jackson and St。 Philip； and the arsenal at Baton Rouge。
Beauregard at the time had two sons at the Seminary of Learning。 I had given them some of my personal care at the father's request； and； wanting to tell him of their condition and progress； I went to his usual office in the Custom…House Building； and found him in the act of starting for Montgomery； Alabama。 Bragg said afterward that Beauregard had been sent for by Jefferson Davis； and that it was rumored that he had been made a brigadier…general； of which fact he seemed jealous； because in the old army Bragg was the senior。
Davis and Stephens had been inaugurated President
