Headquarters Army of the United States,

Washington, D.C. Decr 17 1880

 

Hon S. B. Maxey

            413, Fourth Street, Washington DC.

 

Dear Maxey,

            I noticed that you had introduced a Bill to retire General Ord as a Major General, and I thank you for this thoughtful interest in behalf of one of the truest, most unselfish, most meritorious men of the Army. Although I learned from the newspapers that his retirement was anticipated to make room for Colonel Miers, a young, meritorious and most ambitious officer, whose wife is my own niece and one of the loveliest women of this or any other country. I could not believe it would be done save as a compliance with some Universal Rule such as to retire all officers at sixty two years of age: but the President who has the lawful / power sees fit to pick out and retire General Ord, without touching McDowell an officer older in years, and in service, and one who has abundant wealth to provide for his remaining days, whereas I know of my own knowledge that Ord has been for forty years taxed with the care of father, mother, brothers and sister, more recently of wife and a large family, and today has not the means to bring his family from San Antonio, Texas, to the home he left forty five years ago Washington DC to enter the Military Service. I took the precaution to advise the President in advance of all this, before the act was done, and was as much surprised as you could have been when the deed was done—There is not a man whose name is on the Army Register, who has been more true, more constant, more faithful or more successful as a soldier than General Ord, and I hope you will be equally successful in obtaining a Bill to / enable the President to retire Ord as a Major General. I dont like Special Bills, and am sure that if you can pass a Bill to enable the President to retire all or any of the old faithful officers according to their highest rank earned in war, that President Hayes or President Garfield will be only too happy to give Ord the benefit of this law. We dont want to burden the Treasury, but a Great Country like ours should provide liberally for the declining days of old, faithful, poor officers like Ord. I have known him intimately for forty four years, and dont think he ever lost a day of service from sickness or other cause, and he has always been in the thickest of the fight, and has been repeatedly wounded.

 

            I would call to see you on this business but must go to New York & Boston next Monday—

           

Sincerely your Friend,           

W. T. Sherman

General 

 

P.S. It actually seems "funny" that I should actually be forced to appeal to you "a Rebel", to protect my oldest and best friend against the action of the "Union President"; but such is the fact. "Tempora mutantur &c. &c."—

W.T.S.

SOURCES