212 Southern Historical Society Papers.
Sherman to be unjustly dealt with. You could not have said this had you thought Mr. Stanton himself had already dealt unjustly by him, by publishing the reasons above quoted, and which had been in print in every leading newspaper of the country four days before you wrote your letter.
I honored and admired General Sherman, I knew him personally and enjoyed the honor of his friendship. No more patriotic Ameri- can, no braver or more faithful soldier ever lived. But I also honored and admired Mr. Stanton, whose biography I have undertaken, and whose private papers are in my keeping ; and I cannot remain silent when one of the greatest and wisest of his official acts is brought for- ward, misstated, and perverted in a useless effort to show that General Sherman was right when he himself admitted (with the con- currence of Senator Sherman) that he was wrong. Very truly yours,
GEORGE C. GORHAM.
THE LIFE AND CHARACTER
OF
WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS, LL.D.
An Oration delivered before the Alumni Association of the University of
North Carolina, Tuesday May 31, 1892, by
Hon. Alfred Moore Waddell.
[The editor in his modest efforts in behalf of historical and kin- dred investigation, extending from boyhood, for more than a quarter of a century has been favored constantly with the sympathy of noble men and women, with whom he has enjoyed the privilege of corres- pondence ; a majority of whom he never met, and many of whom, alas ! " have ceased from their labors." With Colonel Saunders he had held friendly communication for a number of years, before he had the pleasure of meeting him ; an opportunity afforded by a memorable occasion, and a satisfaction never to be forgotten. On the 28th of October, 1887, the day following the laying of the corner- stone of the grand monument to the peerless patriot Lee, a brief note summoned the writer to the Exchange Hotel, Richmond. He was apprised of the physical disability of Colonel Saunders, who, from a rheumatic affection had been unable to walk for many years ;
