at which the Duke of Cambridge, the commander-in-chief, presided, to study the campaign, and hear its military movements explained. In spite of the affinity of the English "upper classes" for the cause of the South, Sherman's latest achievements suddenly made him the hero of the war.

In 1866, when Grant was promoted, Sherman was made lieutenant-general; and when Grant became President, Sherman took the place of "General" and commander-in-chief of the army, which Grant vacated. This position he held for several years, when he retired, and was succeeded by General Sheridan.

General Sherman was one of the most interesting and picturesque characters of his time. He was the last survivor of the great "war heroes,” and his popularity grew steadily greater until the end of his life. His pen was as mighty as his sword, and in his " Memoirs," which he wrote in the years after the war, he achieved a literary reputation as unique as his military fame. In his later years he was in great request at army reunions and military and civil occasions of every sort, and he became a most interesting and impressive speaker. His utterances were so generally striking and important that Chauncey M. Depew declared that he "never ought to be permitted to go anywhere without being accompanied by a stenographer." He did not, however, love notoriety, and attained great skill in evading the reporters, who were constantly seeking to "interview" him. "No, no," he would say; "you're a good fellow, and I like your paper; but you mustn't print anything about me. I haven't anything to say for publication,—nothing at all. I have had too much publicity already.”

In politics and religion General Sherman was not a strong partisan. When in one of the presidential campaigns an effort was made to learn which of the candidates he favored, he wrote a humorously non-committal reply, saying, “So far as I have been able to learn, General Sherman can hardly be said to belong to either of the great political parties," and added that he had no doubt that either of the candidates would fill the position with credit to himself and the country. In religion he was born a Presbyterian and educated a Roman Catholic. On one occasion, in the Georgia campaign, some members of the Christian Commission applied to him for permission to pass within the lines. It was a time when it was especially necessary that knowledge of his movements should not get abroad, and he replied, in brief fashion :

"Certainly not. Crackers and oats are more necessary for the any moral or religious agency; and every regiment has its chaplain."

army than His real religious belief was probably never better expressed than when he said, "If men will only act half as well as they know how, God will forgive the balance."

General Sherman died at his residence in New York, on February 14 1891, universally beloved and lamented.

GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,

FIRST COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

HE first commander of the army of the Potomac has been the occasion of more controversy than any other man in the recent history of the Republic. He has had most able defenders,-for probably no general who ever lived had such a power of inspiring those around him with love and admiration; and even if the verdict of history be that he lacked some of the qualities essential to the highest success, it must still be admitted that one of the greatest commanders of the civil war was George B. McClellan.

General McClellan was a thoroughly trained and equipped soldier. He was born in Philadelphia in 1826. He was the son of a distinguished physician, and had every advantage of education. He spent two years in the University of Pennsylvania, where he shared the honors of his class. In 1846 he graduated from West Point as second lieutenant of engineers, and served in the Mexican War, securing promotion for gallant conduct at Contreras and Churubusco. Between this time and the breaking out of the civil war Captain McClellan was sent to Europe as a member of the military commission to inspect and study the organization of European armies. He resigned from the army in 1857, and when Fort Sumter fell was President of the Eastern Division of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. In April, 1861, McClellan offered his services to the Government, and was appointed major general of Ohio volunteers. His operations in West Virginia were so brilliantly successful that after the first battle of Bull Run he was placed in command of the Army of the Potomac, and then of all the armies of the United States, to the great satisfaction of the whole country, which looked upon him as the greatest military genius within its borders.

McClellan's transcendent power to organize great armies, and inspire them with confidence and enthusiasm, were splendidly proved on two occasions,first, after the disastrous battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861, when out of the chaos of defeat and disorder he created, equipped, and disciplined the great Army of the Potomac; and again, after the second and worse Bull Run disaster, in