William Boynton, Sherman's Historical Raid

‘ [207] feelings. I was outraged beyond measure, and was resolved to resent the insult, cost what it might.’

This ridicule of Halleck is based upon a perfectly evident misprint of ‘Goldsboro’ for ‘Greensboro’ in transmitting Halleck's dispatch of the 26th April, as it was through the latter place the rebel Cabinet passed.

How little reason he had for this outburst upon the question of Jeff. Davis' gold, will appear from the fact that the day before this telegram of Halleck's was written, General Sherman had himself telegraphed substantially the same thing to Admiral Dahlgren, and also to General Gillmore. The following is Sherman's gold dispatch:

Raleigh, N. C., April 25, 1865.
Major-General G. A. Gillmore, Commanding Department of the South, and Real-Admiral John A. Dahlgren, Commanding S. A. B. Squadron.

I expect Johnston will surrender his army. We have had much negotiation, and things are settling down to the terms of Lee's army. Jeff. Davis and his Cabinet, with considerable specie, is making his way toward Cuba. He passed Charlotte, going south, on the 23d, and I think he will try to reach the Florida coast either at Cedar Keys or lower down. It would be well to catch him. Can't you watch the East coast, and send word round to the West coast?

W. T. Sherman, Major-General.

The facts presented from the records in this chapter, are quite sufficient to show the totally unreliable character of what the General of the army has written reflecting upon the great War Secretary.