of　War；　or　to　remove　him　and　submit　my　name　to　the　Senate　for　confirmation。
  Permit　me　to　discuss　these　points　a　little；　and　I　will　premise　by　saying　that　I　have　spoken　to　no　one　on　the　subject；　and　have　not　even　seen　Mr。　Ewing；　Mr。　Stanbery；　or　General　Grant；　since　I　was　with　you。
  It　has　been　the　rule　and　custom　of　our　army；　since　the　organization　of　the　government；　that　the　second　officer　of　the　army　should　be　at　the　second　（in　importance）　command；　and　remote　from　general　headquarters。　　To　bring　me　to　Washington　world　put　three　heads　to　an　army；　yourself；　General　Grant；　and　myself；　and　we　would　be　more　than　human　if　we　were　not　to　differ。　　In　my　judgment　it　world　ruin　the　army；　and　would　be　fatal　to　one　or　two　of　us。
  Generals　Scott　and　Taylor　proved　themselves　soldiers　and　patriots　in　the　field；　but　Washington　was　fatal　to　both。　　This　city；　and　the　influences　that　centre　here；　defeated　every　army　that　had　its　headquarters　here　from　1861　to　1864；　and　would　have　overwhelmed　General　Grant　at　Spottsylvania　and　Petersburg；　had　he　not　been　fortified　by　a　strong　reputation；　already　hard…earned；　and　because　no　one　then　living　coveted　the　place；　whereas；　in　the　West；　we　made　progress　from　the　start；　because　there　was　no　political　capital　near　enough　to　poison　our　minds；　and　kindle　into　life　that　craving；　itching　for　fame　which　has　killed　more　good　men　than　bullets。　　I　have　been　with　General　Grant　in　the　midst　of　death　and　slaughter　when　the　howls　of　people　reached　him　after　Shiloh；　when　messengers　were　speeding　to　and　from　his　army　to　Washington；　bearing　slanders；　to　induce　his　removal　before　he　took　Vicksburg；　in　Chattanooga；　when　the　soldiers　were　stealing　the　corn　of　the　starving　mules　to　satisfy　their　own　hunger；　at　Nashville；　when　he　was　ordered　to　the　〃forlorn　hope〃　to　command　the　Army　of　the　Potomac；　so　often　defeatedand　yet　I　never　saw　him　more　troubled　than　since　he　has　been　in　Washington；　and　been　compelled　to　read　himself　a　〃sneak　and　deceiver；〃　based　on　reports　of　four　of　the　Cabinet；　and　apparently　with　your　knowledge。　　If　this　political　atmosphere　can　disturb　the　equanimity　of　one　so　guarded　and　so　prudent　as　he　is；　what　will　be　the　result　with　me；　so　careless；　so　outspoken　as　I　am？　　Therefore；　with　my　consent；　Washington　never。
  As　to　the　Secretary　of　War；　his　office　is　twofold。　　As　a　Cabinet　officer　he　should　not　be　there　without　your　hearty；　cheerful　assent；　and　I　believe　that　is　the　judgment　and　opinion　of　every　fair…minded　man。　　As　the　holder　of　a　civil　office；　having　the　supervision　of　moneys　appropriated　by　Congress　and　of　contracts　for　army　supplies；　I　do　think　Congress；　or　the　Senate　by　delegation　from　Congress；　has　a　lawful　right　to　be　consulted。　　At　all　events；　I　would　not　risk　a　suit　or　contest　on　that　phase　of　the　question。　The　law　of　Congress；　of　March　2；　1867；　prescribing　the　manner　in　which　orders　and　instructions　relating　to　〃military　movements〃　shall　reach　the　army；　gives　you　as　constitutional　Commander…in…　Chief　the　very　power　you　want　to　exercise；　and　enables　you　to　prevent　the　Secretary　from　making　any　such　orders　and　instructions；　and　consequently　he　cannot　control　the　army；　but　is　limited　and　restricted　to　a　duty　that　an　Auditor　of　the　Treasury　could　perform。　You　certainly　can　afford　to　await　the　result。　　The　Executive　power　is　not　weakened；　but　rather　strengthened。　　Surely　he　is　not　such　an　obstruction　as　would　warrant　violence；　or　even　s　show　of　force；　which　would　produce　the　very　reaction　and　clamor　that　he　hopes　for　to　save　him　from　the　absurdity　of　holding　an　empty　office　〃for　the　safety　of　the　country。〃
  This　is　se　much　as　I　ought　to　say；　and　more　too；　but　if　it　produces　the　result　I　will　be　more　than　satisfied；　viz。；　that　I　be　simply　allowed　to　resume　my　proper　poet　and　duties　in　St。　Louis。　　With　great　respect；　yours　truly；
  W。　T。　SHERMAN；　Lieutenant…General。
  On　the　1st　of　February；　the　board　of　which　I　was　the　president　submitted　to　the　adjutant…general　our　draft　of　the　〃Articles　of　War　and　Army　Regulations；〃　condensed　to　a　small　compass；　the　result　of　our　war　experience。　　But　they　did　not　suit　the　powers　that　were；　and　have　ever　since　slept　the　sleep　that　knows　no　waking；　to　make　room　for　the　ponderous　document　now　in　vogue；　which　will　not　stand　the　strain　of　a　week's　campaign　in　real　war。
  I　hurried　back　to　St。　Louis　to　escape　the　political　storm　I　saw　brewing。　　The　President　repeatedly　said　to　me　that　he　wanted　me　in　Washington；　and　I　as　often　answered　that　nothing　could　tempt　me　to　live　in　that　center　of　intrigue　and　excitement；　but　soon　came　the　following：
  HEADQUARTERS　ARMY　OF　THE　UNITED　STATES；　WASHINGTON；　February　10；　1868。
  DEAR　GENERAL：　I　have　received　at　last　the　President's　reply　to　my　last；　letter。　　He　attempts　to　substantiate　his　statements　by　his　Cabinet。　　In　this　view　it　is　important　that　I　should　have　a　letter　from　you；　if　you　are　willing　to　give　it；　of　what　I　said　to　you　about　the　effect　of　the　〃Tenure…of…Office　Bill；〃　and　my　object　in　going　to　see　the　President　on　Saturday　before　the　installment　of　Mr。　Stanton。　　What　occurred　after　the　meeting　of　the　Cabinet　on　the　Tuesday　following　is　not　a　subject　under　controversy　now；　therefore；　if　you　choose　to　write　down　your　recollection　（and　I　would　like　to　have　it）　on　Wednesday；　when　you　and　I　called　on　the　President；　and　your　conversation　with　him　the　last　time　you　saw　him；　make　that　a　separate　communication。
  Your　order　to　come　East　was　received　several　days　ago；　but　the　President　withdrew　it；　I　supposed　to　make　some　alteration；　but　it　has　not　been　returned。　Yours　truly；
  U。　S。　GRANT。
  ＇TELEGRAM。＇
  WASHINGTON；　D。　C。；　February　18；　1868。
  Lieutenant…General　W。　T。　SHERMAN；　St。　Louis。
  The　order　is　issued　ordering　you　to　Atlantic　Division。
  U。　S。　GRANT；　General。
  ＇TELEGRAM＇
  HEADQUARTERS　MILITARY　DIVISION　OF　THE　MISSOURI；　St。　Louis；　February　14；　1868。
  General　U。　S。　GRANT；　Washington；　D。　　C。
  Your　dispatch　is　received　informing　me　that　the　order　for　the　Atlantic　Division　has　been　issued；　and　that　I　am　assigned　to　its　command。　　I　was　in　hopes　I　had　escaped　the　danger；　and　now　were　I　prepared　I　should　resign　on　the　spot；　as　it　requires　no　foresight　to　predict　such　must　be　the　inevitable　result　in　the　end。　　I　will　make　one　more　desperate　effort　by　mail；　which　please　await。
  W。　T。　SHERMAN；　Lieutenant…General。
  ＇TELEGRAM。＇
  WASHINGTON；　February　14；　1868。　Lieutenant…General　W。　T。　SHERMAN；　St。　Louis。
  I　think　it　due　to　you　that　your　letter　of　January　31St　to　the　President　of　the　United　States　should　be　published；　to　correct　misapprehension　in　the　public　mind　about　your　willingness　to　come　to　Washington。　　It　will　not　be　published　against　your　will。
  （Sent　in　cipher。）
  ＇TELEGRAM。＇
  HEADQUARTERS　MILITARY　DIVISION　OF　THE　MISSOURI；　St。　Louis；　MISSOURI；　February　14；　1868。
  General　U。　S。　GRANT；　Washington；　D。　　C。
  Dispatch　of　to…day　received。　　Please　await　a　letter　I　address　this　day　through　you　to　the　President；　which　will　in　due　time　reach　the　public；　covering　the　very　point　you　make。
  I　don't　want　to　come　to　Washington　at　all。
  W。　T。　SHERMAN；　Lieutenant…General。
  ＇TELEGRAM。＇
  HEADQUARTERS　MILITARY　DIVISION　OF　THE　MISSOURI；　St。　Loins；　MISSOURI；　February　14；　1868。
  Hon。　John　SHERMAN；　United　States　Senate；　Washington；　D。　　C。
  Oppose　confirmation　of　myself　as　brevet　general；　on　ground　that　it　is　unprecedented；　and　that　it　is　better　not　to　extend　the　system　of　brevets　above　major…general。　　If　I　can't　avoid　coming　to　Washington；　I　may　have　to　resign。
  W。　T。　SHERMAN；　Lieutenant…General。
  HEADQUARTERS　OF　THE　ARMY；　WASHINGTON；　D。　C。；　February　12；　1868。
  The　following　orders　are　published　for　the　information　and　guidance　of　all　concerned：
  U。　S。　GRANT；　General。
  EXECUTIVE　MANSION；　WASHINGTON；　D。　C。；　February　12；　1868。
  GENERAL：　You　will　please　issue　an　order　creating　a　military　division　to　be　styled　the　Military　Division　of　the　Atlantic；　to　be　composed　of　the　Department　of　the　Lakes；　the　Department　of　the　East；　and　the　Department　of　Washington；　to　be　commanded　by　Lieutenant…General　W。　T。　Sherman；　with　his　headquarters　at　Washington。　　Until　further　orders　from　the　President；　you　will　assign　no　officer　to　the　permanent　command　of　the　Military　Division　of　the　Missouri。
  Respectfully　yours；
  ANDREW　JOHNSON。
  GENERAL　U。　S。　GRANT；　Commanding　Armies　of　The　United　States；　Washington；　D。　C。
  Major…General　P。　H。　Sheridan；　the　senior　officer　in　the　Military　Division　of　the　Missouri；　will　temporarily　perform　the　duties　of　commander　of　the　Military　Division　of　the　Missouri　in　addition　to　his　duties　of　department　commander。　　By　command　of　General　Grant：
  E。　D。　TOWNSEND；　Assistant　Adjutant…General。
  This　order；　if　carried　into　effect；　would　have　grouped　in　Washington：
  1。　　The　President；　constitutional　Commander…in…Chief。
  2。　　The　Secretary　of　War；　congressional　Commander…in…Chief。
  3。　　The　General　of　the　Armies　of　the　United　States。
  4。　　The　Lieutenant…General　of　the　Army。
  5。　　The　Commanding　General　of　the　Department　of　Washington。
  6。　　The　commander　of　the　post…of　Washington。
  At　that　date　the　garrison　of　Washington　was　a　brigade　of　infantry　and　a　battery　of　artillery。　　I　never　doubted　Mr。　Johnson's　sincerity　in　wishing　to　befrie