same event in Brooklyn, and at about two or three
o'clock this morning I saw this hall filled with lovely ladies waltzing
[laughter], and here again I am to-night. [Renewed laughter. A voice,
"You're a rounder, General."] But I shall ever, ever recur to the early
meetings of the New England Society, in which I shared, with a pride and
satisfaction which words will not express; and I hope the few I now say
will be received in the kindly spirit they are made in, be they what
they may, for the call upon me is sudden and somewhat unexpected.

I have no toast. I am a rover. [Laughter.] I can choose to say what I
may--not tied by any text or formula. I know when you look upon old
General Sherman, as you seem to call him [Oh, oh!]--pretty young yet, my
friends, not all the devil out of me yet, and I hope still to share with
you many a festive occasion--whenever you may assemble, wherever the
sons of New England may assemble, be it here under this Delmonico roof,
or in Brooklyn, or even in Boston, I will try to be there. [Applause.]

My friends, I have had many, many experiences, and it always seems to me
easier to recur to some of them when I am on my feet, for they come back
to me like the memory of a dream, pleasant to think of. And now,
to-night, I know the Civil War is uppermost in your minds, although I
would banish it as a thing of trade, something too common to my calling;
yet I know it pleases the audience to refer to little incidents here and
there of the great Civil War, in which I took a humble part. [Applause.]
I remember, one day away down in Georgia, somewhere between, I think,
Milledgeville and Millen, I was riding on a good horse and had some
friends along with me to keep good-fellowship. [Laughter.] A pretty
numerous party, all clever good fellows. [Renewed laughter.] Riding
along, I spied a plantation. I was thirsty, rode up to the gate and
dismounted. One of these men with sabres by their side, called
orderlies, stood by my horse. I walked up on the porch, where there was
an old gentleman, probably sixty years of age, white-haired and very
gentle in his manners--evidently a planter of the higher class. I asked
him if he would be kind enough to give me some water. He called a boy,
and soon he had a bucket of water with a dipper. I then asked for a
chair, and called one or two of my officers. Among them was, I think,
Dr. John Moore, who recently has been made Surgeon-General of the Army,
for which I am very g