gree to all
his comrades, especially those of West Point. No good soldier in
his command feared to approach him to demand justice, and everyone
received it if in his power to grant it. He shared with them the
hardships of the march and the camp, and he was content with the
same ration given to them. Simple in his habits, easy of approach,
considerate of their comfort, he was popular with his soldiers,
even while exacting in his discipline. The name of 'Uncle Billy,'
given to him by them, was the highest evidence of their affection.

"He was the most unselfish man I ever knew. He did not seek for
high rank, and often expressed doubts of his fitness for high
command. He became a warm admirer of Abraham Lincoln as the war
progressed, and more than once expressed to him a desire for
subordinate duty. He never asked for promotion, but accepted it
when given. His letters to me are full of urgent requests for the
promotion of officers who rendered distinguished service, but never
for his own. When the bill for the retirement of officers at the
age of sixty-three was pending, he was excepted from its operation.
He telegraphed me, insisting that no exception should be made in
his favor, that General Sheridan should have the promotion and rank
of general, which he had fairly earned. This was granted, but
Congress with great kindness continued to General Sherman the full
pay of a general when he was placed on the retired list.

"In his business relations he was bound by a scrupulous sense of
honor and duty. I never knew of him doing anything which the most
exacting could say was dishonorable, a violation of duty or right.
I could name many instances of this trait, which I will not, but
one or two cases will suffice. When a banker in California, several
of his old army friends, especially from the south, trusted him
with their savings for investment. He invested their money in good
faith in what were considered the very best securities in California,
but when Page, Bacon & Co., and nearly every banker in San Francisco,
failed in 1855, all securities were dishonored, and many of them
became worthless. General Sherman, though not responsible in law
or equity for a loss that common prudence could not foresee, yet
felt that he was 'in honor' bound to secure from loss those who had
confided in him, and used for that purpose all, or nearly all, of
his own savings.

"So, in the settlements of his accounts in Louisiana, w