The Life of General William T. Sherman - Softcover

Reseña del editor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVII. DEATH AND THE GRAVE. With the death of Sherman the title of " General" completely disappears from our military system. It has been held by three men only. It was created in 1866 by act of Congress, and conferred upon Grant. Sherman then succeeded Grant as Lieutenant-General, and when the latter took his seat as President in March, 1869, the former became General of the Army. In 1884 Sherman was put on the retired list with the title which he held to the time of his death In the active service the office by provision of law became vacant, and the title extinct, Sheridan being commander of the army with the rank of Lieutenant-General. In 1888, just before Sheridan's death, the rank of Lieutenant-General was abolished, and that of General revived, with the understanding that Sheridan should be made General, and the express provision that the title should continue only during his life. Since that time the head of the army has been a MajorGeneral. General Sherman's illness was of little more than a week's duration. Following a taste, natural and cultivated, which he loved to gratify, the General attended the performance of " Poor Jonathan," at the Casino, on Wednesday night, February 4. It was, in fact, a special performance. Invitations had been sent to the military officers of the city, and General Sherman occupied one of the proscenium boxes with a party of friends. He seemed 5 to be in the best of health and spirits, and gave every evidence of keen enjoyment of the opera. He returned to his home immediately after the performance, and, although the weather was clear and cold, in some way the General caught a severe cold. Its first effects were noticed on the following morning. His condition, however, did not prevent his...