July 31, 1861---"A man of his word."

JULY 31, 1861:   

President Lincoln visits the troops from Manassas. An unnamed source reported that the following exchange occurred when he reviewed the troops in the company of Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman:

Sherman approached the carriage and inquired as to whether they were coming to visit his troops.

Mr. Lincoln said, “Yes; we heard that you had got over the big scare, and we thought we would come over and see the boys.”

When asked by the President if he needed anything, Sherman was blunt: “What we need are cool, thoughtful, hard-fighting soldiers—no more hurrahing, no more humbug,”

The good-natured president took the colonel’s words to heart, and as the drum beat the assembly, the men ran to get in line, present arms, then came to order and parade rest. Mr. Lincoln stood up in the carriage, and made a moving and succinct speech, acknowledging the recent disaster at Bull Run, the duties still incumbent upon all patriots, and the hope and confidence that better days lay ahead. The soldiers started to cheer, but the president said, “Don't cheer, boys. I confess I rather like it myself, but Colonel Sherman here says it is not military; and I guess we had better defer to his opinion.”

He reminded them that he was commander-in-chief of the army and that he wanted the soldiers to have everything they needed and that they should not hesitate to come to him personally if they had any grievances. The men were very heartened by the president’s words and the visit. As the president reviewed the brigade, a captain of the militia strode forth and claimed he wanted to air a grievance against Colonel Sherman. This same captain had come to Colonel Sherman a few days before, in front of a great many men, and complained that his 90 day term was up, that he was a lawyer and didn’t need the money of his pay, and that he was leaving immediately.

Concerned about this insubordination in front of the men, Sherman had replied, “You are a soldier and must submit to orders till you are properly discharged. If you attempt to leave without orders, it will be mutiny, and I will shoot you like a dog!”

The president now listened to the man’s tale of woe, and, taking the measure of the fiery-haired colonel in question, humorously advised the captain in a loud stage whisper audible to all that he’d better be careful around Sherman, then, as he looked like a man of his word. The grateful look on Sherman’s face at the President’s supportive words was a sight to see.

Sherman was shortly thereafter promoted to Brigadier General.