Life of Wm. Tecumseh Sherman ...

Front matter

L.IKK OP

WM.TECUMSEH SHERMAN.

Late Retired General U. S. A.

Introduction

The title of this work is hardly a fair index to the contents.

The " Life of General Sherman," written with any reasonable detail so as to depict his formative period, the gradual development of his energies, the bulk of his achievements and the great consumation of his genius, could not be contained in any three volumes of this size.

The work, so far as the labor of the author, Mr. Johnson, is concerned, is eclectic, — mainly a compendium.

There are beautiful sketches, choice pictorial presentations of Sherman and his environments from childhood to age. But, I do not think that the work, valuable as it undoubtedly is, could in any degree take the place of Sherman's Personal Memoirs.

There are some chapters which have been furnished by war editorials and the writings of field correspondents which the author must have collected and carefully preserved.

Many of these are life-like, and bear the impress and the inspiration of the exciting events amid which they were composed.

There are, furthermore, in this book, chapters which are ingeniously formed and elaborated by quotations from officers who were themselves part and parcel of the campaigns which they describe.

To me, the author appears to have done exceedingly well, and has herein furnished a choice entertainment to his readers.

The part undertaken by me, and to which I have strictly confined myself, has been to review the work, some of it already in proof type, and the remainder in manuscript, going over each

INTRODUCTION,

chapter with considerable care, and suggesting such changes as I thought the truth of history demanded.

Where one has expressed an opinion and a quotation of that opinion appears, of course no change was admissable ; so that I am entirely unwilling to assume that such a quoted writer gave utterance to my own convictions.

For example : different views are given of the fearful struggle during the first day of " Shiloh " at Pittsburgh Landing. A famous journalist takes General Sherman to task for want of epaulements, intrenchments, and other means of defence. He claims that Sherman and Grant were both surprised, as they had known for a week or more that the enemy was close by, and liable to attack.

Certainly the ansv/er to this allegation, and it should be a very clear and decided answer, would be found in any completed history. Our troops had not yet, at that period of the war of the rebellion, made much use of intrenching tools. Grant and Sherman did not design to put their new troops into intrenched camps.

They believed, and very justly, that it was next to impossible to handle them offensively, as we say, against the enemy. But they did have some cover. The woods, ravines, and general contour of the ground gave them protection, and it was in faithful use of this cover that during the battle-storm of the first day near Shiloh church, they were able to hold out till reinforcements came.

This example will suggest others to the reader. Still, the phases presented by the different writers, from whom extracts are taken, afford a kaleidoscopic variety, interesting especially to those of us who lived at the time of the occurrences in question.

Probably none of us can do more than our noble General Sherman, years ago, suggested. He said in substance: We who were involved in the controversies, the battles, and campaigns of the great war, are not the men to write the history. We are like witnesses in court. Each should give his own

INTRODUCTION.

testimony of what he saw and knew. Somebody else, will in the future, after passion and prejudice shall have subsided, rise up to make a search, a selection, a summation, and so the better evolve the true history.

With regard to General Sherman and his career, in my judgment the more of truthful statements that are made the better. Let eye witnesses give all the evidence they can.

In his heart was a love of truth, a ghenominal loyalty to his country, a fearless and prompt devotion to duty and markedly an absence of aught that was malicious. True, he resented wrong often with a fiery indignation, but he forgave a fault confessed with quick generosity. So that at Lancaster, Ohio; the home of his childhood, at West Point, N. Y., in Florida and South Carolina, where were his early army stations ; in California and Louisiana, where he made his civil record ; at all places during the war of four years, and at his headquarters, or upon extensive tours; as Commander, after the war, of a military division and finally of a whole army ; all his acts, all his orders, and all his writings v^^ill bear most careful inspection. They, if truthfully given, will furnish to our youth something for meditation, for instruction, for emulation.

To whatever extent this little volume may contribute such quota, it will be a welcome guest to our people, North and South, East and West.

O. O. HOWARD, Major- General U. S. Army.

Governor's Island, N. Y. City, March igth, i8<pi.

Chapter I. The Sherman Family

HoDorable Rank in the Mother Country — Early Migration to New Eng land — Settling in the Connecticut Valley — Playing an Important Part at Woodbury — Long Term of Public Service — The Stoddards — A Militant Minister — Seeking New Fortunes in the West — An Early Ohio Judge — The Mother of Great Men ny

Chapter II. Boyhood And Cadetship

Why He Was Named Tecumseh — His Adoption by Mr. Ewing — Character in Boyhood — Work as a Surveyor — Appointment to a Cadetship — From Lancaster to West Point — "Old Hickory" — Letters to His Sweetheart — A Youthful Philosopher — Character and Standing as a Cadet 29

Chapter III. Early Military Duties

Winding up the Seminole War — Comedy and Tragedy in the Florida Wilderness — The Capture of Coacoochee — Service at Fort Moultrie — Getting Acquainted with the See le of His Greatest Campaign — Secession Talk — Outbreak of the Mexican War-^Rebuked for too Much Zeal — The Long Voyage to California — Arrival at Monterey 40

Chapter IV. Among The Forty-niners

Days of Idleness at Monterey — Adam and Eve — Sunday Diversions — Who is Governor ? — General Fremont — The Discover)- of Gold and the Rush for the Mines — Domestic Economy of Ciimp Life — Ne^ro Fidelity — Back to the East — Marriage of Sheiman and Miss Ewing — How he Heard Webster's Speech — A Shady Travelling Companion — Entering and Quitting the Law 50

CONTENTS.

Chapter V. The Crisis Of A Career

Sherman in the Prime of Manhood — Great Events Approaching — How He Came to be a Schoolmaster — Organization of the Seminary — Political Talk — liis View on Slavery — The Campaign of i860 a-nd Election of Lincoln — Secession — Sherman's Prompt Decision to Stand by the Union — Resignation of His Principalship — Departure for the North — Fate of the Seminary 62

Chapter VI. The Outbreak Of The War

The South Excited and Ready — The North Indifferent and Unprepared — Sherman's Interview with Lincoln — His Plain Talk to his Brother — Disgusted with the Politicians — A St. Louis Street Railroad President — War Talk in St. Louis — A Clerkship Declined — His Loyalty Doubted — Prophesying a Great Struggle — Bloodshed in St. Louis — Back to Washington — In Service at Last 75

Chapter VII

" On to Richmond !" — Sherman's Brigade at Bull Run — Features cf Battle — Sherman's Official Report — The Stampede Back to the Potomac — How Sherman Dealt with Mutineers — A Threat that the President Thought he would Execute — Re-organization and Promotion — General McClellan Assumes Command — Sherman's Frank Criticism and Uncomfortable Truth-Telling and Consequent Unpopularity 85

Chapter VIII. Service In Kentucky

Serving Under Anderson — Critical Condition 01 the State — Seeking Help in Other States— A Visit to Fremont — That Famous Interview with Cameron — How the Story of Sherman's Insanity was Started — Attacks and Insults — Sherman's Official Correspondence — His Request for 200,000 Men — An Extraordinary Newspaper Article — Sherman Transferred to Missouri — Kalleck's Confidence in Him — Planning the Donelson Campaign 99

CONTENTS.

Chapter IX. Shiloh

The Gloomy Winter of 1861-2 — Exultation over Donelson — The Advance up the Tennessee — Responsibility for the Encampment at Pittsburgh Landing — Controversies over the Battle — Varying Accounts — Sherman's Personal Heroism — Numher of Troops Engaged on Both Sides — Services of the Army of the Ohio — Loses of the two Armies 116

Chapter X. Official Reports On Shiloh

Sherman's Own Story — How his Troops were Posted — The Attack — Troops in Disorder — Grant and Buell at the Bivouac — The Battle Resumed in the Morning — Death of General Johnston — Gallant Conduct of Individual Oflicers — Grant's Official Report — Special Mention of Sherman for his Gallantry as a Soldier and his Skill as a Commander. 124

CHAPTER XL

"agate's" story of SHILOH.

The Situation Before the Battle — The First Skirmish — Plans of the Rebel Leaders — The Scene on Sunday Morning — Troops in Disorder — Analysis of the Situation — Faulty Disposition of the Federal Troops — Arrangement of Sherman's Division — The Rebel Plan of Attack — Sherman's Old Friend Bragg among the Rebel Leaders I42

CHAPTER XII. "agate's" story continued

The Battle of Sunday, April 6th — The Union Troops Surprised — An Army in Disorder — Sherman's Heroic Effort to Stem the Tide — McClernand's Share in the Battle — The Rebels Pressing their Advantage — The Assault on Sherman's Left — Men too Brave to be Killed — Desperate Posi- :'»aE of the Union Army — Looking to the Gunboats for Aid — Three Desperate Charges Repulsed — Death of General Wallace 153

CHAPTER XIII "agate's" story continued

The Close of Sunday's Fight — What had been Lost During the Day — Five Thousand Cowards on the River Bank — Opportune Arrival of General Buell — The Grand Attack and its Grand Repulse — Aid from the Gunboats — The Night Between Two Battles— Desperate Preparations for the M orrow — G unboats on Gu ard Through the Darkness 1 72

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV. " agate's" story concluded

The Work of Sunday Night — Landing of Buell's Troops — Effect of the Bombardment — Lack of System in the Union Army — Renewing the Battle — A Change of Tactics — Turning the Tide — Crittenden's Advance — The Advance at the Centre— A Grand Parade on the Field of War — Redeeming the Losses of Sunday — Facing the Louisiana Troops — Silencing the Battery — End of the Great Struggle 183

Chapter XV. Corinth

Halleck Takes the Field — Organization of the Army — Progress at a Snail's Pace — Sherman's Advance — The Flight of the Rebels — Sherman's Official Report — Congratulating the Troops — Beauregard's Address to his Soldiers — Some Accounts of Corinth — Abrupt Plnale of a Rebel Harangue 196

CHAPTER XVL

MEMPHIS, VICKSBURG AND ARKANSAS POST.

Changes in Command — Restoring Order at Memphis — Sherman's Views of the Situation — Grant's Critical Position — Moving Against Pemberton — Meeting with Porter — The Expedition Against Vicksburg — Why it did not Succeed — The Surrender at Holly Springs — Sherman Removed from Command — The Capture of Arkansas Post — General McClernand, 219

Chapter XVII. Vicksburg

Co-operation of Grant and Porter — Grand Gulf and Sherman s Demonstration on the Yazoo — The Advance on Vicksburg — Capture of Jackson — Gallant Assaults Upon the Works at Vicksburg — The Siege — Sherman Holding Johnston at Bay — Surrender of Vicksburg — Flight of Johnston — Importont Results of the Campaign — Sherman's Meed of Praise. 241

Chapter XVIII. Some War Correspondence

Sherman's Characteristic Letters — Congratulations to Porter at Vicksburg — Views of t'ne Reorganization of the Army — The Conduct of the War and the Spirit of the South — Manners and Morals of the Soldiers — No Wanton Spoliaton of the Enemy's Property — The Heroic Cartridge Boy of Vicksburg , - C49

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. Chattanooga

Darks Days in 1863 — A Sunburst of Victory — Sherman Leaves Vicksburg — Orders to his Troops — The March to Chattanooga — The Battle Above the Clouds — Sherman's Attack on Missionary Ridge — The Victory Complete — Pursuit of the Enemy — A Forced March to Rescue liSurnside — Sherman's Report — Views Concerning the Treatment of the Rebels 259

Chapter XX. Meridian

Freeing the Mississippi — A March of Destruction — Retreat of the Enemy — Polk's Flight from Meridian — Failure of Smith's Expedition — Destroying Rebel Property — Confiscating a Chicken — Results of the Raid — Scenes Among the Liberated Negroes — The Red River Expedition, 2S6

CHAPTER XXL

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Grant Made Lieutenant-General — Correspondence with Sherman — Their Memorable Interview — Planning a Scientific Campaign — General Howard's Pen Picture of the Two Soldieri — Schofield, McPherson and Tl'.omas — Grant's Final Orders — Sherman's Army in Line — Strength of Johnston's Army — General Howard's Account of the Advance 298

CHAPTER XXH.

ATLANTA.

The Turning of Rocky Face — Resaca — General Howard's Narrative — Adairsville — Crossing the Etowah — Sherman on Familiar Ground — Dealing with Breaches of Discipline — Allatoona Pass — The Siege and Turning of Kenesaw —Smyrna and Peach Tree — Hood Succeeds Johnston — Death of McPherson — Howard m Command of the Army of the Tennessee — Ezra Church — Operations around Atlanta — The Rush to Jonesboro — Capture of Atlanta 314

CHAPTER XXHL

PREPARING FOR THE MARCH.

Congratulations and Rejoicings — Sherman's Address to his Army — Incidents of the Campaign — Appearance of Atlanta and its Environs — Hood's Northward March — How Corse Held the Fort — Sherman's Stern Work at Atlanta — Exchange of Prisoners — Organizing for the March to the Sea — Sketches of Howard and Slocum — Orders for the Campaign — Cutting off all Communication with the North — Atlanta in Ruin^ — Marching Toward to the Sea 338

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIV.

"MARCHTOG THROUGH GEORGIA."

The " Lost Army" — Speculations, North and South, as to its Doings — Diary of an Officer — Keeping Thanksgiving Day — Howell Cobb's Plantation — The Negroes — A Quiant Philosopher — Strategy of the March — • Howard's Brilliant Advance — Investment of Savannah — Capture of Fort McAllister — Fall of Savannah 364

CHAPTER XXV.

SHERMAN'S STORY OF THE MARCH.

The Soldier's Modest Narration of his Ardous Deeds — Why the March was Decided Upon — Operations around Savannah — Material Results of the Campaign — Handsome Tributes to the Officers and Men of his Army 394

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.

In the Cradle of Secession — The Occupation and Destruction of Columbia — Reprisals Against Wade Hampton ; Men — Arrival at Goldsboro — Summing up the Results of the Northward March — Work Accomplished by the Engineers

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE END OF THE WAR.

Lincoln, Grant and Sherman at City Point — Surrender of Lee — Murder of Lincoln — Negotiations with Johnston — Stanton's Disapproval — An Outcry Against Sherman — The Grand Review — Sherman's Refusal to Shake Hands with Stanton — Farewell Address to the Army 407

CHAPTER XXVIIL

THE DUTIES OF PEACE.

Aiding the Pacific Railroad — A Fool's Errand to Mexico — Political Intrigues at Washington — The Tenure of Office Affair — Work Among the Indians — A Trip to Europe — The Belknap Scandal — Sherman's Speech on Military Honor — Travels in the Northwest — Yellowstone Park — Writing His Memoirs — Life in New York — Death of Mrs. Sherman, 449

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIX.

DEATH AND BURUL.

A Fatal Cold — Lingering Between Hope and Fear — The Last Rally— The End of Life's Campaign — A Son's Sad Home-Coming — Preparations for the Funeral — Public Tributes of Respect — The Military Parade ir. New York — Progress of the Funeral Train Across t'njs Country — Ceremonies at St. Louis — The Warrior's Last Encampment by the Side of his Loved Ones 474

CHAPTER XXX,

A National Outburst of Grief — The President's Message to Congress — The Senate's Memorial Resolutions — Senator Hawley's Eulogy — ^A Touching Tribute from a Southern Senator — Speeches by Senators who were also Soldiers — Eloquent Words from Lawrence Barrett — Judge Gresham Recalls Sherman's Prophetic Words — A Comparison Between Sherman and Lee — General Slocum's Reminiscences — Chauncey Depew on Sherman in Social Life 491

CHAPTER XXXI.

IN MEMORIAM.

New York's Official Tribute— The Consolidated Stock Exchange— The Union League Club — The Republican County Committee — The Grand Army of the Republic — The Chamber of Commerce — Speech by the Hon. CarlSchurz — The Ohio Society — Brief Words from Many Friends, 512

CHAPTER XXXII.

TRAITS AND INCIDENTS.

His Positive Refusal to be a Presidential Candidate — Remembering a California Drummer — Dealing with a Newspaper at Memphis — Suppressing Praise of Himself at Savannah — Confiscating Medicine — The Electorial Commission — His Love of Music— Excuses for Swearing — A Tril)ule to his Mother — An Incident at Yale — Expressions of Kind eeling Toward the South and Toward his Foes 537

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIIL

REMINISCENCES.

Life at the Fifth Avenue Hotel — Ex-President Hayes's Memories — General Meigs's Tribute — Professor Howe on Sherman's School Days — A Visit to the Catskills — Sherman and Joe Johnston — Telling about Resaca — Thinking of the Sea — Marvellous Versatility — General Rosecrans's Reminiscences of Sherman at West Point 562

CHAPTER XXXIV.

SHERMAN'S OWN WORDS.

Speech at a Clover Club Dinner — A Famous New England Society Dinner — Teaching Geography in Georgia — Speaking for the United States — Old Times in Ohio — At a Grand Army National Encampment — Why he did not March to Augusta — One of his Last Letters — A Story of Grant — Congratulations to President Harrison 587

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

General Wm. Tf.cumseh Sherman (frontispiece), Steel

Mrs. General Sherman, 20

Sherman's Birthplace, 37

Sherman Entering U. S. Senate, 56

'^Hon. John Sherman, 73

''General John C, Fremont, 91

General Thomas' Bivouac (after the first day's battle), 109

Major-General O. O. Howard, 128

Major-General Slocum, . . 145

Lieutenant-General Sheridan, 164

Major-General BuTTERFiELD, 181

General John A. Logan, 200

Grant's March upon Vicksburg, 217

Admiral D. D, Porter, 236

Battle OF Lookout Mountain, 253

Sprague's Brigade protecting Sherman's Wagon

Train at Decatur, 272

Capturing their Headquarters, 289

Major-General Schofield, 308

Map of Atlanta Campaign 317

LIST OF ILL USTRA TIONS.

Death of General J. B, McPherson, 325

Battle of Atlanta, 344

Battle of Atlanta — the Contest of Bald Hill, 361

A Bivouac Among the Georgia Pines, 3S0

Map of Atlanta to Savannah, 388

Sherman Sending his Last Telegram Before

Cutting the Wires, 397

Capturing the Flag, .416

Camp of the Second Massachussets — City Hall,

Atlanta, 433

Battle of Ezra Church, July 28th, 1864, . . . .452

The Road From McPhersonville, 469

Army and Corps Commanders of the Army of the

Tennessee, 488

Head of the Procession Coming Down Broadway,

New York City, 505

The Catafalque Passing Fifty-seventh Street

and Broadway, New York City, 524

The Riderless Horse, 541

General Lew\ Wallace, 559

Sherman's Sentiments Approved, 578

Chapter I. The Sherman Family

MoNORABLE Rank in the Mother Country — Early Migration to New England — Settling in the Connecticut Valley — Playing an Important Part at Woodbury — Long Term of Public Service — The Stoddards — A Military Minister— Seeking New Fortunes in THE West — An Early Ohio Judge — The Mother of Great Men.

The artificial law of primogeniture has little effect upon the natural law of heredity. In nations where the family descent outranks all other personal or social considerations, degenerate sons — even first sons — of noble sires are often found, and famous families become extinct, or worse. In other nations, where descent is scorned, and the proud individualism of democracy prevails, hereditary genius appears, and families contribute to the service of society and of the State generation after generation of great men. Thus human nature vindicates its disregard of time and places, and establishes itseif as the one immutable factor in the life of the world, albeit changeful, capricious, and kaliedoscopic.

In the United States no laws of entail or descent prevail. Yet scarcely elsewhere in the world, within two centuries and a-half, have tnere appeared so many striking instances of worth and greatness made hereditary. The names that lived at Plymouth and at Massachusetts Bay in the early sixteen hundreds, live now in the late eighteen hundreds, in old plantations, or in the greater and newer

1 8 THE ENGLISH SHERMANS.

England that has risen beyond the Appalachian ranges. With such a name this memoir has to deal.

The name Sherman is not a common one in England, from which country the family migrated to America, but where it occurs in that country's annals it is mentioned with honor and respect. The will of Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby, dated May 23d, 152 1, bears the name of Sir Henry Sherman as one of its executors. In the time of Henry VHI. one William Sherman was invested with a knighthood. The Davy manuscripts relating to the County of Suffolk, which are to be found in the British Museum, contain much mention of the Shermans of Laxley, who were the direct progenitors of the American branch of the family. The direct line of the Laxley Shermans is recorded as follows: Thomas Sherman, of Laxley; Thomas Sherman, 2d, of Laxley ; Thomas Sherman, 3d, gentleman, of Laxley and Stutson, and afterward of Ipswich ; John Sherman, son of Thomas Sherman 2d ; William Sherman, eldest son of John. This William Sherman was born in 1588, and married Mary Lascelles, of Nottinghamshire. Their son, John Sherman, came to America in 1634, and settled at Watertown, Massachusetts. He took a prominent part in the military operations of the infant colony, and v/as known as Captain John Sherman ; by which title he is distinguished from his cousin John Sherman, who also lived at Watertown. This Captain John Sherman was the grandfather of Roger Sherman, famous in American history as one of the chief signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Two brothers, cousins of Captain Sherman, came to America at the same time with him in 1634. One of these was the Rev. John Sherman, already mentioned, who became famous throughout the New England colonies as the

MRS. GENERAL SHERMAN.

HISTOR V OF ANCIENT WOODS UR V. 21

most eloquent preacher and most accomplished mathematician and astronomer of the day. The other was Samuel Sherman, the progenitor of the illustrious subject of this work. These two brothers soon removed from Watertown, Mass., to the Valley of the Connecticut, and thenceforward for several generations the family was conspicuously identified with that colony.

In Cothren's " History of Ancient Woodbury," much mention of Samuel Sherman is to be found. " The Court," says Cothren, " grants Mr. Samuel Sherman, Lieutenant Wm. Curtice, Ensign Joseph Judson, and John Minor, themselves and associates, liberty to erect a plantation at Pomperouge ; provided it does not prejudice any former grant to any other plantation or particular person ; provided any other honest inhabitants of Stratford have liberty to joyne with them in setleing there, and that they enterteine so many inhabitants as the place will conveniently enterteine, and that they setle there within the space of three years." Again, in. the same work, appears the following: "In October, 1675, Wm. Curtiss was appointed by the General Court captain of sixty men to be raised in Fairfield County, to serve in King Philip's war, with power to appoint his inferior officers. In May, 1676, when the people of Woodbury were at Stratford, on account of this war, he and Mr. Samuel Sherman were appointed Commissioners for Stratford and Woodbury. Intimately associated with Captain Curtiss in all that related to the welfare of the new town, was the Hon. Samuel Sherman. He was, at the date of its settlement, undoubtedly the most distinguished man connected with the enterprise. He was from Dedham, Essex County, England. He came to this country in 1634, and previous to the date of the new plantation, had been a leading man in the colony. TT,

22 "IN THE GOOD OLD COLONY DAYS."

had assisted in the settlement of several other towns in the colony, and now undertook the same for Woodbury." Samuel Sherman died in 1682, leaving a son, John Sherman, who became the leading man of Woodbury and one of the most conspicuous citizens of the colony. Beginning in 1684, he was for forty-four years an Associate County Court Judge ; for seventeen sessions a Representative in the Legislature ; for two terms Speaker of the Law House ; for twenty-five years Town Clerk ; and for nine years Judge of Probate for the District of Woodbury, beginning with the organization of that Court in 17 19. A direct descendant of John Sherman was Daniel Sherman, of whom it is recorded that on November 17th, 1774, he was Moderator of a great town meeting at Woodbury, held to take into consideration measures for carrying into effect the " Resolves of the late General Congress," and of the House of Representatives of Connecticut, one of which resolves was to have no dealing with the "foes to ye Rights of British America." On September 19th, 177*5, another mass-meeting of the people of Woodbury was held, at which a "Committee of Inspection" was appointed, consisting of thirty members. The heads of this committee were Daniel Sherman and Gideon Stoddard, who held their places during the entire War of the Revolution. Again, at a similar meeting held on April 3d, 1777, Daniel Sherman was chosen Moderator and it was "Voted, that the selectmen in this town, for the time being, be a committee, as is specified in the Resolve issued by his honor, the Governor and Committee of Safety, dated March the 1 8th, 1777, to take care of such soldiers' Famelys as shall Inlist into the Continental army." This order was given by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Council of Safety, which Council was appointed annually by the

DANIEL SHERMAN. 23

Assembly and consisted of from nine to fourteen of the most distinguished men in the colony, whose duty it was to assist the Governor when the Assembly was not in session. Daniel Sherman represented Woodbury in this Council for four years, beginning in May, 1777 ; and another member of the Council was his kinsman, Roger Sherman.

To quote again from Cothren's history : " Daniel Sherman was perhaps the most distinguished man that had arisen in the town to his day. He was a descendant of Samuel Sherman, of Stratford, was a Justice of" the Quorum for twenty-five years, and Judge of the Litchfield County Court five years, from 1786. For sixteen years he was Probate Clerk for the District of Woodbury, and Judge of that District thirty-seven years. He represented his native town in the General Assembly sixty-five sessions. This was by far the longest period of time any one has ever represented the town. He was of commanding powers of mind, of sterHng integrity, and every way qualified for the various public trusts confided to his care. His son, Taylor Sherman, the fifth from Samuel, was married in 1787 to Elizabeth Stoddard, the great grand-daughter of the.parson who shot one Indian after church on Sunday and another before breakfast the next morning. He lived and died as a lawyer and judge in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was one of those who went West to arrange a treaty with the Indians in 1808, and the same year came to Ohio again to make a partition of the Fire Lands, He died in May, 1815, and his widow came to Ohio, and died in Mansfield, in 1848."

The Stoddard family, which became closely allied with the Shermans, demand some notice here. Their American progenitor, Anthony Stoddard, came from the West of

24 A FIGHTING PARSON

England to Boston in 1638 or 1639. His first wife was Mary, daughter of the Hon. Samuel Downing, of Salem, and sister of Sir George, afterwards Lord George Downing. Solomon Stoddard, a son of Anthony, was graduated at Harvard College in 1662 and ten years later was settled as minister at Northhampton, Mass. His son, Anthony, was graduated at Harvard in 1697, and settled at Woodbury, Conn. The first wife of this second Anthony Stoddard was Prudence Wells, and his second, Mary Sherman. The great grand-daughter of Anthony Stoddard and Prudence Wells, Elizabeth Stoddard has already been mentioned as the wife of the Hon. Taylor Sherman, the grandfather of the subject of this work.

Anthony Stoddard was for sixty years minister of the church at Woodbury, at the same time a successful lawyer and physician, and for forty years Clerk of Probate for the^ District of Woodbury. One Sabbath evening during the French and Indian war, it is related, while walking in his garden after the services at church, the Rev. Anthony Stoddard discovered an Indian skulking with hostile intent among the trees and bushes near by. Without seeming to notice the movements of the intruder, he managed to return to his house and obtain his gun. Going back to the garden he crept to within easy range, took careful aim and fired and the Indian fell dead. He then gave the alarm to his neighbors who barricaded themselves within their houses and kept guard for the night. The next morning Mr. Stoddard observed another Indian near his house, and shot and killed him also.

Both the Shermans and Stoddards were strict Presbyterians, and of Mrs. Taylor Sherman (Elizabeth Stoddard) it is related that she could never be induced to enter a church of any other denomination. " She always made us

JUDSE TAVLOR SWERMAN. 25"