Petersburg。HereMr。Curtinandpartyremained，hebeingourMinisteratthatcourt;alsoFredGrantleftustovisithisauntatCopenhagen。ColonelAudenriedandIthencompletedthetourofinteriorEurope，takinginWarsaw，Berlin，Vienna，Switzerland，France，England，Scotland，andIreland，embarkingforhomeinthegoodsteamerBaltic，Saturday，September7，1872，reachingWashington，D。C。，September22d。Irefrainfromdwellingonthistrip，becauseitwouldswellthischapterbeyoudmypurpose。
WhenIregainedmyofficeIfoundmattersunchangedsincemydeparture，theSecretaryofWarexercisingallthefunctionsofcommanderin—chief，andIdeterminedtoallowthingstoruntotheirnecessaryconclusion。In1873mydaughterMinniealsomadeatriptoEurope，andIresolvedassoonasshereturnedthatIwouldsimplymovebacktoSt。LouistoexecutemyofficethereasbestI
could。ButIwasembarrassedbybeingthepossessorofalargepieceofpropertyinWashingtononIStreet，nearthecornerofThird，whichIcouldatthetimeneithersellnorgiveaway。ItcameintomypossessionasagiftfromfriendsinNewYorkandBoston，whohadpurchaseditofGeneralGrantandtransferredtomeatthepriceof$65，000。
Thehousewasverylarge，costlytolight，heat，andmaintain，andCongresshadreducedmypayfourorfivethousanddollarsayear，sothatIwasgraduallybeingimpoverished。Taxes，too，grewannually，fromaboutfourhundreddollarsayeartofifteenhundred，besidesallsortsofspecialtaxes。
Findingmyselfcaughtinadilemma，Iaddedanewhall，andmadeoutofittwohouses，oneofwhichIoccupied，andtheotherI
rented，andthusmattersstoodin1873——’74。BytheagencyofMr。
Hall，aneighborandbroker，Ieffectedasaleofthepropertytothepresentowner，Mr。Emory，atafairprice，acceptingabouthalfpaymentinnotes，andtheotherhalfinapieceofpropertyonE
Street，whichIafterwardexchangedforaplaceinCiteBrilliante，asuburbofSt。Louis，whichIstillown。Beingthusfoot—loose，andhavingrepeatedlynotifiedPresidentGrantofmypurpose，I
wrotetheSecretaryofWaronthe8thdayofMay，1874，askingtheauthorityofthePresidentandtheWarDepartmenttoremovemyheadquarterstoSt。Louis。
Onthe11thdayofMayGeneralBelknaprepliedthatIhadtheassentofthePresidentandhimself，inclosingtheroughdraftofanordertoaccomplishthisresult，whichIansweredonthe15th，expressingmyentiresatisfaction，onlyrequestingdelayinthepublicationoftheorderstillAugustorSeptember，asIpreferredtomakethechangesinthemonthofOctober。
Onthe3dofSeptembertheseordersweremade:
WARDEPARTMENT，ADJUTANT—GENERAL’SOFFICE，WASHINGTON，September8，1874。
GeneralOrdersNo。108。
WiththeassentofthePresident，andattherequestoftheGeneral，theheadquartersofthearmiesoftheUnitedStateswillbeestablishedatSt。Louis，Missouri，inthemonthofOctobernext。
TheregulationsandordersnowgoverningthefunctionsoftheGeneraloftheArmy，andthoseinrelationtotransactionsofbusinesswiththeWarDepartmentanditsbureaus，willcontinueinforce。
ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar:
E。D。TOWNSEND，Adjutant—General。
OurdaughterMinniewasmarriedOctober1，1874，toThomasW。
Fitch，UnitedStatesNavy，andweallforthwithpackedupandregainedourownhouseatSt。Louis，takinganofficeonthecornerofTenthandLocustStreets。TheonlystaffIbroughtwithmeweretheaidesallowedbylaw，and，thoughwewentthroughtheformsof\"command，\"Irealizedthatitwasafarce，anditdidnotneedaprophettoforetellitwouldendinatragedy。Wemadeourselvesverycomfortable，mademanypleasantexcursionsintotheinterior，hadalargecorrespondence，andescapedthemortificationofbeingslightedbymeninWashingtonwhowereusingtheirtemporarypowerforselfishends。
EarlyinMarch，1676，appearedinallthenewspapersofthedaythesensationalreportfromWashingtonthatSecretaryofWarBelknaphadbeendetectedinsellingsutlershipsinthearmy;thathehadconfessedittoRepresentativeBlackburn，ofKentucky;thathehadtenderedhisresignation，whichhadbeenacceptedbythePresident;
andthathewasstillsubjecttoimpeachment，——wouldbeimpeachedandtriedbytheSenate。IwassurprisedtolearnthatGeneralBelknapwasdishonestinmoneymatters，forIbelievedhimabravesoldier，andIsorelythoughthimhonest;butthetruthwassoonrevealedfromWashington，andverysoonafterIreceivedfromJudgeAlphonsoTaft，ofCincinnati，aletterinformingmethathehadbeenappointedSecretaryofWar，andshouldinsistonmyimmediatereturntoWashington。IansweredthatIwasreadytogotoWashington，oranywhere，ifassuredofdecenttreatment。
IproceededtoWashington，when，onthe6thofApril，werepublishedtheseorders:
GeneralOrdersNo。28。
ThefollowingordersofthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesareherebypromulgatedfortheinformationandguidanceofallconcerned:
TheheadquartersofthearmyareherebyreestablishedatWashingtonCity，andallordersandinstructionsrelativetomilitaryoperationsoraffectingthemilitarycontrolanddisciplineofthearmyissuedbythePresidentthroughtheSecretaryofWar，shallbepromulgatedthroughtheGeneraloftheArmy，andthedepartmentsoftheAdjutant—Generalandthe—InspectorGeneralshallreporttohim，andbeunderhiscontrolinallmattersrelatingthereto。
ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar:
E。D。TOWNSEND，Adjutant—General。
ThiswasallIhadeverasked;accordinglymypersonalstaffwerebroughtbacktoWashington，whereweresumedouroldplaces;onlyI
didnot，forsometime，bringbackthefamily，andthenonlytoarentedhouseonFifteenthStreet，whichweoccupiedtillweleftWashingtonforgood。Duringtheperiodfrom1876to1884wehadasSecretariesofWarinsuccession，theHors。AlphonsoTaft，J。D。
Cameron，GeorgeW。McCrary，AlexanderRamsey，andR。T。Lincoln，witheachandallofwhomIwasontermsofthemoatintimateandfriendlyrelations。
AndhereIwillrecordofWashingtonthatIsawit，underthemagichandofAlexanderR。Shepherd，growfromastraggling，ill—pavedcity，tooneofthecleanest，moatbeautiful，andattractivecitiesofthewholeworld。Itsclimateissalubrious，withasmuchsunshineasanycityofAmerica。Thecountryimmediatelyaboutitisnaturallybeautifulandromantic，especiallyupthePotomac，intheregionoftheGreatFalls;and，thoughthesoilbepoorascomparedwiththatofmypresenthome，itissusceptibleofeasyimprovementandembellishment。ThesocialadvantagescannotbesurpassedeveninLondon，Paris，orVienna;andamongtheresidentpopulation，themembersoftheSupremeCourt，Senate，HouseofRepresentatives，army，navy，andtheseveralexecutivedepartments，maybefoundanintellectualclassonecannotencounterinourcommercialandmanufacturingcities。Thestudentmay，withouttaxandwithoutprice，haveaccess，inthelibrariesofCongressandoftheseveraldepartments，tobooksofeverynatureandkind;andthemuseumsofnaturalhistoryarerapidlyapproachingastandardofcomparisonwiththebestoftheworld。Yetitistheusualandpropercenterofpoliticalintrigue，fromwhichthearmyespeciallyshouldkeepaloof，becausethearmymustbetrueandfaithfultothepowersthatbe，andnotbesubjectedtoatemptationtofavoroneorotherofthegreatpartiesintowhichourpeoplehavedivided，andwillcontinuetodivide，itmaybe，withadvantagetothewhole。
Itwouldbealaborofloveforme，inthisconnection，topayatributeofrespect，byname，tothemanyableandmostpatrioticofficerswithwhomIwassolongassociatedasthecommandinggeneralsofmilitarydivisionsanddepartments，aswellasstaff—officers;butImustforegothetemptation，becauseofthemagnitudeofthesubject，certainthateachandallofthemwillfindbiographersbetterpostedandmorecapablethanmyself;andI
wouldalsoliketomakerecognitionofthehundredsofactsofmostgracefulhospitalityonthepartoftheofficersandfamiliesatourremotemilitarypostsinthedays，ofthe\"adobe，\"the\"jacal，\"
and\"dug—out，\"whenaboardfloorandashingleroofwereluxuriesexpectedbynoneexceptthecommandingofficer。Icansee，inmemory，abeautifulyoungcity—bredlady，whohadmarriedapoorsecond—lieutenant，andfollowedhimtohispostontheplains，whosequarterswereina\"dug—out\"tenfeetbyaboutfifteen，sevenfeethigh，withadirtroof;fourfeetofthewallswerethenaturalearth，theotherthreeofsod，withholesforwindowsandcorn—sacksforcurtains。ThislittleladyhadherSaratogatrunk，whichwasthechiefarticleoffurniture;yet，bymeansofarugontheground—floor，afewcandle—boxescoveredwithredcottoncalicoforseats，atableimprovisedoutofabarrel—head，andafireplaceandchimneyexcavatedinthebackwallorbank，shehadtransformedher\"holeintheground\"intoamostattractivehomeforheryoungwarriorhusband;andsheentertainedmewithasupperconsistingofthebestofcoffee，friedham，cakes，andjelliesfromthecommissary，whichmadeonmymindanimpressionmorelastingthanhaveanyoneofthehundredsofmagnificentbanquetsIhavesinceattendedinthepalacesandmansionsofourownandforeignlands。
StillmorewouldIliketogooveragainthemanymagnificenttripsmadeacrosstheinteriorplains，mountains，anddesertsbeforethedaysofthecompletedPacificRailroad，withregular\"Doughertys\"
drawnbyfoursmartmules，onesoldierwithcarbineorloadedmusketinhandseatedalongsidethedriver;twointhebackseatwithloadedriflesswungintheloopsmadeforthem;thelightestkindofbaggage，andgenerallyabagofoatstosupplementthegrass，andtoattachthemulestotheircamp。Withanoutfitoftwo，three，orfourofsuch，Ihavemadejourneysofasmuchaseighteenhundredmilesinasingleseason，usuallyfromposttopost，averagingindistanceabouttwohundredmilesaweek，withasmuchregularityasisdonetodaybythesteam—caritsfivehundredmilesaday;butthosedaysaregone，and，thoughIrecognizethegreatnationaladvantagesofthemorerapidlocomotion，Icannothelpoccasionallyregrettingthechange。Oneinstancein1866
risesinmymemory，whichImustrecord:ReturningeastwardfromFortGarland，weascendedtheRockyMountainstotheSangre—de—
CristoPass。Theroaddescendingthemountainwasveryroughandsidling。Igotoutwithmyrifle，andwalkedaheadaboutfourmiles，whereIawaitedmy\"Dougherty。\"AfteranhourorsoIsaw，comingdowntheroad，awagon;anddidnotrecognizeitasmyowntillquitenear。Ithadbeenupset，thetopallmashedin，andnomeansathandforrepairs。IconsequentlyturnedasidefromthemainroadtoacampofcavalryneartheSpanishPeaks，whereweweremosthospitablyreceivedbyMajorA————andhisaccomplishedwife。Theyoccupiedalargehospital—tent，whichaboutadozenbeautifulgreyhoundswerefreetoenteratwill。Theambulancewasrepaired，andthenextmorningwerenewedourjourney，escortedbythemajorandhiswifeontheirfinesaddle—horses。
Theyaccompaniedusabouttenmilesoftheway;and，thoughagehassincebeguntotellonthem，IshalleverrememberthemintheirprideandstrengthastheygallopedalongsideourwagonsdownthelongslopesoftheSpanishPeaksinadrivingsnow—storm。
Andyetagainwoulditbeapleasanttasktorecallthemanybanquetsandfeastsofthevariousassociationsofofficersandsoldiers，whohadfoughtthegoodbattlesofthecivilwar，inwhichIsharedasaguestorhost，whenwecouldindulgeinareasonableamountofglorificationatdeedsdoneandrecorded，withwit，humor，andsong;thesewhenmemorywasfresh，andwhentheoldsoldiersweremadewelcometothebestofcheerandapplauseineverycityandtownoftheland。Butno！Imusthurrytomyconclusion，forthisjourneyhasalreadybeensufficientlyprolonged。
Ihadalwaysintendedtodividetimewithmynaturalsuccessor，GeneralP。H。Sheridan，andearly，notifiedhimthatIshouldabouttheyear1884retirefromthecommandofthearmy，leavinghimaboutanequalperiodoftimeforthehighestofficeinthearmy。
ItsohappenedthatCongresshadmeantimebysuccessive\"enactments\"cutdownthearmytotwenty—fivethousandmen，theusualstrengthofacorpsd’armee，thelegitimatecommandofalieutenant—general。
Upto1882officersnotdisabledbywoundsorsicknesscouldonlyavailthemselvesoftheprivilegesofretirementonapplication，afterthirtyyearsofservice，atsixty—twoyearsofage;butonthe30thofJune，1882，abillwaspassedwhich，byoperationofthelawitself，compulsorilyretiredallarmyofficers，regardlessofrank，attheageofsixty—fouryears。AtthetimethislawwasdebatedinCongress，IwasconsultedbySenatorsandothersinthemostfriendlymanner，representingthat，ifIwantedit，anexceptioncouldjustlyandeasilybemadeinfavorofthegeneralandlieutenant—general，whosecommissionsexpiredwiththeirlives;
butIinvariablyrepliedthatIdidnotaskorexpectanexceptioninmycase，becausenoonecouldknoworrealizewhenhisownmentalandphysicalpowersbegantodecline。IrememberedwelltheexperienceofGilBlaswiththeBishopofGranada，andfavoredthepassageofthelawfixingapositiveperiodforretirement，toobviateinthefuturespecialcasesofinjusticesuchasIhadseenintherecentpast。Thelawwaspassed，andeveryofficerthenknewtheverydayonwhichhemustretire，andcouldmakehispreparationsaccordingly。Inmyowncasethelawwasliberalintheextreme，being\"withoutreductioninhiscurrentpayandallowances。\"
Iwouldbesixty—fouryearsoldonthe8thofFebruary，1884，adateinconvenienttomove，andnotsuitedtootherincidents;soI
resolvedtoretireonthe1stdayofNovember，1883，toresumemyformerhomeatSt。Louis，andgivemysuccessorampletimetomeettheincomingCongress，But，preliminarythereto，Iconcludedtomakeonemoretourofthecontinent，goingouttothePacificbytheNorthernroute，andreturningbythatofthethirty—fifthparallel。Thisweaccomplished，beginningatBuffalo，June21st，andendingatSt。Louis，Missouri，September30，1883，afullandmostexcellentaccountofwhichcanbefoundinColonelTidball’s\"Diary，\"whichformspartofthereportoftheGeneraloftheArmyfortheyear1883。
Beforeretiringalso，aswasmyduty，Idesiredthatmyaides—
de—campwhohadbeensofaithfulandtruetomeshouldnotsufferbymyact。Allweretoretaintherankofcolonelsofcavalrytillthelastday，February8，1884;butmeantimeeachsecuredplaces，asfollows:
ColonelO。M。Poewaslieutenant—coloneloftheEngineerCorpsUnitedStatesArmy，andwasbyhisownchoiceassignedtoDetroitinchargeoftheengineeringworksontheUpperLakes，whichdutywasmostcongenialtohim。
ColonelJ。C。TidballwasassignedtocommandtheArtillerySchoolatFortMonroe，byvirtueofhiscommissionaslieutenant—colonel，ThirdArtillery，astationforwhichhewasspeciallyqualified。
ColonelJohnE。TourtelottewasthenentitledtopromotiontomajoroftheSeventhCavalry，arankinwhichhecouldbecertainofanhonorablecommand。
Theonlyremainingaide—de—campwasColonelJohnM。Bacon，whoutterlyignoredselfinhispersonalattachmenttome。HewasthenacaptainoftheNinthCavalry，butwithalmostacertaintyofpromotiontobemajoroftheSeventhbeforethedateofmyofficialretirement，whichactuallyresulted。ThelasttwoaccompaniedmetoSt。Louis，andremainedwithmetotheend。HavingpreviouslyaccomplishedtheremovalofmyfamilytoSt。Louis，andhavingcompletedmylastjourneytothePacific，Iwrotethefollowingletter:
HEADQUARTERSARMYUNITEDSTATES，WASHINGTON，D。C。，October8，1883。
Hon。R。T。LINCOLN，SecretaryofWar。
SIR:BytheactofCongress，approvedJune30，1882，allarmy—officersareretiredonreachingtheageofsixty—fouryears。
Ifliving，Iwillattainthatageonthe8thdayofFebruary，1884;
butasthatperiodoftheyearisnotsuitedforthechangesnecessaryonmyretirement，Ihavecontemplatedanticipatingtheeventbyseveralmonths，toenablethePresidenttomeetthesechangesatamoreconvenientseasonoftheyear，andalsotoenablemysuccessortobeinofficebeforetheassemblingofthenextCongress。
IthereforerequestauthoritytoturnoverthecommandofthearmytoLieutenant—GeneralSheridanonthe1stdayofNovember，1883，andthatIbeorderedtomyhomeatSt。Louis，Missouri，theretoawaitthedateofmylegalretirement;andinasmuchasforalongtimeImusthavemuchcorrespondenceaboutwarandofficialmatters，Ialsoaskthefavortohavewithmeforatimemytwopresentaides—de—camp，ColonelsJ。E。TourtelotteandJ。M。Bacon。
Theothersofmypersonalstaff，viz。，ColonelsO。M。PoeandJ。
C。Tidball，havealreadybeenassignedtoappropriatedutiesintheirownbranchesofthemilitaryservice，theengineersandartillery。Allshouldretaintherankandpayasaides—de—campuntilFebruary8，1884。Byorbeforethe1stdayofNovemberIcancompleteallofficialreports，andbelieveIcansurrenderthearmytomysuccessoringoodshapeandcondition，wellprovidedinallrespects，anddistributedforthebestinterestsofthecountry。
Iamgratefulthatmyphysicalandmental—strengthremainunimpairedbyyears，andamthankfulfortheliberalprovisionmadebyCongressformyremainingyears，whichwillenablemetorespondpromptlytoanycallthePresidentmaymakeformymilitaryserviceorjudgmentaslongasIlive。Ihavethehonortobeyourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，General。
Theanswerwas:
WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，October10，1888。
GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Washington，D。C。
GENERAL:IhavesubmittedtothePresidentyourletterofthe8thinstant，requestingthatyouberelievedofthecommandofthearmyonthe1stofNovembernext，asamoreconvenienttimeformakingthechangesinmilitarycommandswhichmustfollowyourretirementfromactiveservice，thanwouldbethedateofyourretirementunderthelaw。
Insignifyinghisapprovalofyourrequest，thePresidentdirectsmetoexpresstoyouhisearnesthopethattheremaybegivenyoumanyyearsofhealthandhappinessinwhichtoenjoythegratitudeofyourfellow—citizens，wellearnedbyyourmostdistinguishedpublicservices。
Itwillgivemepleasuretocomplywithyourwishesrespectingyouraides—decamp，andthenecessaryorderswillbedulyissued。
Ihavethehonortobe，General，yourobedientservant，ROBERTT。LINCOLN，SecretaryofWar。
Onthe27thdayofOctoberIsubmittedtotheSecretaryofWar，theHon。R。T。Lincoln，mylastannualreport，embracingamongothervaluablemattersthemostinterestingandcondensedreportofColonelO。M。Poe，A。D。C。，ofthe\"originalconception，progress，andcompletion\"ofthefourgreattranscontinentalrailways，whichhaveinmyjudgmentdonemoreforthesubjugationandcivilizationoftheIndiansthanallothercausescombined，andhavemadepossibletheutilizationofthevastareaofpasturelandsandmineralregionswhichbeforewerealmostinaccessible，formyagencyinwhichIfeelasmuchprideasformyshareinanyofthebattlesinwhichItookpart。
Promptlyonthe1stofNovemberweremadethefollowinggeneralorders，andthecommandoftheArmyoftheUnitedStatespassedfrommetoLieutenant—GeneralP。H。Sheridan，withaslittleceremonyaswouldattendthesuccessionofthelieutenant—colonelofaregimenttohiscolonelabouttotakealeaveofabsence:
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，November1，1885。
GeneralOrdersNo。77:
ByandwiththeconsentofthePresident，ascontainedinGeneralOrdersNo。71，ofOctober13，1883，theundersignedrelinquishescommandoftheArmyoftheUnitedStates。
Inthusseveringrelationswhichhavehithertoexistedbetweenus，hethanksallofficersandmenfortheirfidelitytothehightrustimposedonthemduringhisofficiallife，andwill，inhisretirement，watchwithparentalsolicitudetheirprogressupwardinthenobleprofessiontowhichtheyhavedevotedtheirlives。
W。T。SHERMAN，General。
Official:R。C。DRUM，Adjutant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，November1，1885。
GeneralOrdersNo。78:
InobediencetoordersofthePresident，promulgatedinGeneralOrdersNo。71，October13，1883，fromtheseheadquarters，theundersignedherebyassumescommandoftheArmyoftheUnitedStates……
P。H。SHERIDAN，Lieutenant—General。
Official:R。C。DRUM，adjutant—General。
Afterafewdaysinwhichtocompletemysocialvisits，andafterashortvisittomydaughter，Mrs。A。M。Thackara，atPhiladelphia，I
quietlydepartedforSt。Louis;and，asIhope，for\"goodandall，\"
thefamilywasagainreunitedinthesameplacefromwhichweweredrivenbyacruel，unnecessarycivilwarinitiatedinCharlestonHarborinApril，1861。
Onthe8thdayofFebruary，1884;Iwassixty—fouryearsofage，andthereforeretiredbytheoperationoftheactofCongress，approvedJune30，1882;butthefactwasgracefullynoticedbyPresidentArthurinthefollowinggeneralorders:
WARDEPARTMENT，ADJUTANTGENERAL’SOFFICE，WASHINGTON，February8，1984。
ThefollowingorderofthePresidentispublishedtothearmy:
EXECUTIVEMANSION，February8，1884。
GeneralWilliamT。Sherman，GeneraloftheArmy，havingthisdayreachedtheageofsixty—fouryears，is，inaccordancewiththelaw，placedupontheretiredlistofthearmy，withoutreductioninhiscurrentpayandallowances。
Theannouncementoftheseverancefromthecommandofthearmyofonewhohasbeenforsomanyyearsitsdistinguishedchief，canbutawakenintheminds，notonlyofthearmy，butofthepeopleoftheUnitedStates，mingledemotionsofregretandgratitude——regretatthewithdrawalfromactivemilitaryserviceofanofficerwhoseloftysenseofdutyhasbeenamodelforallsoldierssincehefirstenteredthearmyinJuly，1840;andgratitude，freshlyawakened，fortheservicesofincalculablevaluerenderedbyhiminthewarfortheUnion，whichhisgreatmilitarygeniusanddaringdidsomuchtoend。
ThePresidentdeemsthisafittingoccasiontogiveexpression，inthismanner，tothegratitudefelttowardGeneralShermanbyhisfellow—citizens，andtothehopethatProvidencemaygranthimmanyyearsofhealthandhappinessintherelieffromtheactivedutiesofhisprofession。
ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar:
CHESTERA。ARTHUR。
R。C。DRUM，Adjutant—General。
TowhichIreplied:
St。Louis，February9，1884。
HisExcellencyCHESTERA。ARTHUR，PresidentoftheUnitedStates。
DEARSIR:Permitmewithasoldier’sfranknesstothankyoupersonallyforthehandsomecomplimentbestowedingeneralordersofyesterday，whicharereportedinthejournalsoftheday。Tomeitwasasurpriseandamostagreeableone。IhadsupposedtheactualdateofmyretirementwouldformashortparagraphinthecommonseriesofspecialordersoftheWarDepartment;butasthehonoredExecutiveofourcountryhasmadeittheoccasionforhisownhandtopenatributeofrespectandaffectiontoanofficerpassingfromtheactivestageoflifetooneofeaseandrest，I
canonlysayIfeelhighlyhonored，andcongratulatemyselfinthusroundingoutmyrecordofserviceinamannermostgratifyingtomyfamilyandfriends。Notonlythis，butIfeelsure，whentheordersofyesterdayarereadonparadetotheregimentsandgarrisonsoftheUnitedStates，manyayoungherowilltightenhisbelt，andresolveanewtobebraveandtruetothestarryflag，whichweofourdayhavecarriedsafelythroughoneepochofdanger，butwhichmayyetbesubjectedtoothertrials，whichmaydemandsimilarsacrifices，equalfidelityandcourage，andalargermeasureofintelligence。Againthankingyouforsomarkedacompliment，andreciprocatingthekindwishesforthefuture，Iam，withprofoundrespect，yourfriendandservant，W。T。SHERMAN，General。
ThisIconstrueastheendofmymilitarycareer。InlookingbackuponthepastIcanonlysay，withmillionsofothers，thatIhavedonemanythingsIshouldnothavedone，andhaveleftundonestillmorewhichoughttohavebeendone;thatIcanseewherehundredsofopportunitieshavebeenneglected，butonthewholeamcontent;
andfeelsurethatIcantravelthisbroadcountryofours，andbeeachnightthewelcomeguestinpalaceorcabin;and，as\"alltheworld`sstage，Andallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers，\"
Iclaimtheprivilegetoringdownthecurtain。
W。T。SHERMAN，General。