Superior Court of the State of Ohio. On the 8th of May, 1810, he married Mary Hoyt, by whom he had eleven children; first, Charles Taylor, a prominent lawyer, formerly of Mansfield, Ohio, now of Washington City; second, Mary Elizabeth; third, James; fourth, Amelia; fifth, Julia; sixth, William Tecumseh; seventh, Parker; eighth, John, for many years an influential member of the House of Representatives from Ohio, now senator from the same State; ninth, Susan; tenth, Hoyt; and eleventh, Frances.

His death left this large family in very moderate circumstances. Shortly afterwards, being then but little past nine years of age. William Tecumseh was adopted by the Honorable Thomas Ewing, one of his father s most intimate friends, as a member of his own family. Mr. Ewing sent him to school in Lancaster until the spring of 1836, when having, as a member of Congress from Ohio, the privilege of nominating a youth from his congressional district for appointment as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, he exercised this right by procuring the warrant for his youthful charge.

In June, 1836, Cadet Sherman entered the Academy, where, with the exception of the months of July and August, 1838, which his class was permitted to spend at home on furlough, he remained, pursuing the course of studies and military duties then in force, until the 30th of June, 1840, when he graduated, standing sixth in the order of general merit of his class of forty-two members-all that were left of a hundred and forty who had entered the institution with him. Among his classmates were Stewart Van Vliet, George H. Thomas, Richard S. Ewell, George W. Getty, William Hays, Bushrod R. Johnson, and Thomas Jordan.

His letters to his friends during the four important if uneventful years of cadet life, are very interesting, as exhibiting the variety and force of his thoughts, and the energy and decision of his character, at that early age. Through them all runs the elastic spirit of youth, and a manly candor and directness of speech that have never left

him since. In one of these letters, dated February 17, 1839, he writes:

"Bill is very much elated at the idea of getting free of West Point next June. He does not intend remaining in the army more than one year, then to resign, and study law, probably. No doubt you admire his choice; but, to speak plainly and candidly, I would rather be a blacksmith. Indeed the nearer we come to that dreadful epoch, graduation-day, the higher opinion I conceive of the duties and life of an officer of the United States Army, and the more confirmed in the wish of spending my life in the service of my country. Think of that. The church bugle has just blown, and in a moment I must put on my sidearms and march to church, to listen to a two-hours' sermon, with its twenty divisions and twenty-one subdivisions; . but I believe it is a general fact, that

what people are compelled to do they dislike."

"As we have, then, two or three dancing-parties each week, at which the gray bobtail is sufficient recommendation for an introduction to any one, you can well conceive how the cadets have always had the reputation, and have still, here in the East, of being great gallants and ladies' men. God only knows how I will sustain that reputation !"

Speaking of the appointment, by the War Department, of the Board of Visitors to attend the annual examination, he says, May 18, 1839:

"There is but little doubt of its being nearly as well selected as circumstances would admit of. Party seems to have had no influence whatever; and, for my part, I am very glad of it. I hope that our army, navy, or the Military Academy may never be affected by the party rancor which has for some time past, and does now, so materially injure other institutions."

Here is a glimpse of his tastes and occupations:

"The last encampment, taken all in all, I think was the most pleasant one I have ever spent, even to me, who did not participate in the dances and balls given every week by the different classes; besides, the duties were of altogether a different nature from any of the previous ones, such as acting as officers

upon guard and at artillery drills, practising at target firing with long twenty-fours and thirty-twos, mortars, howitzers, &c., as also cavalry exercise, which has been introduced this year. As to lording it over the plebs, to which you referred, I had only one, whom I made, of course, tend to a pleb's duty, such as bringing water, policing the tent, cleaning my gun and accoutrements, and the like, and repaid in the usual and cheap coin-advice; and since we have commenced studying I make him bone (study), and explain to him the difficult parts of algebra and the French grammar, since he is a good one and fine fellow; but should he not carry himself straight, I should have him found in January and sent off, that being the usual way in such cases, and then take his bed, table, and chair, to pay for the Christmas spree.

. .

"I presume you have seen the register of cadets for the last year, and remarked that I still maintain a good stand in my class; and if it were not for that column of 'demerit' it would be still better, for they are combined with the proficiency in study to make out the standing in general merit. In fact, this year, as well as the last, in studies alone, I have been among the stars. I fear I have a difficult part to act for the next three years, because I am almost confident that your father's wishes and intentions will clash with my inclinations. In the first place, I think he wishes me to strive and graduate in the engineer corps. This I can't do. Next, to resign, and become a civil engineer. Whilst I propose, and intend, to go into the infantry, be stationed in the far West, out of the reach of what is termed civilization, and there remain as long as possible."

He had already imbibed from his association with Mr. Ewing the doctrines of the Whig party, but his nature and education compelled him to repel with indignation the trickery and shams even of his own side. Thus, he writes, April 13, 1840, of the approaching presidential election :—

"You, no doubt, are not only firmly impressed, but absolutely certain, that General Harrison will be our next president. For my part, though of course but a 'superficial observer,' I

do not think there is the least hope of such a change, since his friends have thought proper to envelop his name with log cabins, gingerbread, hard cider, and such humbugging, the sole object of which plainly is to deceive and mislead his ignorant and prejudiced, though honest, fellow-citizens; whilst his qualifications, his honesty, his merits and services are merely alluded to."

In the same letter is this dash of descriptive humor :—

"Sometimes it appears that war with England is inevitable; books are thrown in the corner, and broadswords and foils supply their place. Such lunging, cutting, and slashing— enough to dispose of at least a thousand British a day; but the mail or recitation soon destroys the illusion with 'It's all a hoax; or, 'Sir, you've been neglecting your studies.""

Immediately after his graduation, Cadet Sherman was appointed, in accordance with the customary recommendation of the Academic Board, to a second lieutenancy in the Third Regiment of Artillery, then commanded by Colonel William Gates, and was assigned to Company A of that regiment. After enjoying the usual furlough of three months granted to cadets on graduating, he was ordered to join his company at Fort Pierce, in East Florida, where he served until November, 1841, when the company was removed to Fort Lauderdale. In January, 1842, he received his commission as a first heutenant in the same regiment, dating from November 30, 1841, and also an order from the War Department transferring him to Company G, stationed at Saint Augustine. This was rapid promotion for those days, when six or seven years were often required for a second lieutenant to obtain the next grade. Lieutenant Sherman was now placed in command of a small detachment of his new company engaged in guarding the post of Picoluta, situated on the Saint John's River, opposite the town of Saint Augustine.

The service in Florida was not of a very inviting character. The summer was generally passed in idleness, the heat of the almost tropical sun and the swarms of mosquitoes rendering active exertion nearly impossible; and the winter was spent in

frequent incursions against the hostile Seminoles, under the leadership of the wily and cruel chief Sam Jones. These expeditions, sometimes scouting on foot, sometimes penetrating the everglades in boats, were always attended by severe labors, and involved no slight degree of risk, the numbers of our troops being small, and unceasing vigilance being necessary to guard against an ambuscade. The climato during the long summer season was exceedingly unhealthy. Lieutenant Sherman was, however, contented, as long as there was a prospect of activity, and, fortunately, continued to enjoy good health during his entire tour of duty in this section. From the outset, he conceived a clear and decided opinion of the policy that should govern the war against the Seminoles. He was earnestly opposed to parleys or truces, believing that no reliance could be placed in the promises of the Indians; and was strongly in favor of the energetic exertion of the whole military power in the Territory in combined operations, having in view the prompt and relentless extermination of all the Indians who should continue to carry on hostilities, and the removal, in accordance with treaty stipulations, of those who should sue for peace. By such a course, he considered, and events have fully justified the opinion, that the war would be ended in a single campaign, thousands of human lives saved, both of whites and Indians, and peace permanently given to the Territory. The Government should then endeavor, he thought, to attract to the country a better class of white settlers, organize them into small communities, and require them to defend themselves for the future. Thus the army could be withdrawn from Florida, with the exception of small garrisons at the more important permanent posts.

Here is a view of his life in quarters at Fort Pierce, written April 10, 1841:

"Now that we are at peace, and our minds withdrawn from those pleasant excursions and expeditions in which we have been engaged for the four past months, we are thrown upon our ingenuity to devise means of spending the time. Books