Honorable Rank in the Mother Country--Early Migration to New England--Settling in the Connecticut Valley--Playing an Important Part at Woodbury--Long Term of Public Service-- The Stoddards--A Militant Minister--Seeking New Fortunes in the West--An Early Ohio Judge--The Mother of Great Men 17 CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD AND CADETSHIP. Why He Was Named Tecumseh--His Adoption by Mr. Ewing-- Character in Boyhood--Work as a Surveyor--Appointment to a Cadetship--From Lancaster to West Point--"Old Hickory"-- Letters to His Sweetheart--A Youthful Philosopher-- Character and Standing as a Cadet 29 CHAPTER III. EARLY MILITARY DUTIES. Winding up the Seminole War--Comedy and Tragedy in the Florida Wilderness--The Capture of Coacoochee--Service at Fort Moultrie--Getting Acquainted with the Scene of His Greatest Campaign--Secession Talk--Outbreak of the Mexican War-- Rebuked for too Much Zeal--The Long Voyage to California-- Arrival at Monterey 40 CHAPTER IV. AMONG THE FORTY-NINERS. Days of Idleness at Monterey--Adam and Eve--Sunday Diversions--Who is Governor?--General Fremont--The Discovery of Gold and the Rush for the Mines--Domestic Economy of Camp Life--Negro Fidelity--Back to the East-- Marriage of Sherman and Miss Ewing--How he Heard Webster's Speech--A Shady Travelling Companion--Entering and Quitting the Law 50 CHAPTER V. THE CRISIS OF A CAREER. Sherman in the Prime of Manhood--Great Events Approaching-- How He Came to be a Schoolmaster--Organization of the Seminary--Political Talk--His View on Slavery--The Campaign of 1860 and Election of Lincoln--Secession-- Sherman's Prompt Decision to Stand by the Union--Resignation of His Principalship--Departure for the North--Fate of the Seminary 62 CHAPTER VI. THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR. The South Excited and Ready--The North Indifferent and Unprepared--Sherman's Interview with Lincoln--His Plain Talk to his Brother--Disgusted with the Politicians--A St. Louis Street Railroad President--War Talk in St. Louis-- A Clerkship Declined--His Loyalty Doubted--Prophesying a Great Struggle--Bloodshed in St. Louis--Back to Washington--In Service at Last 75 CHAPTER VII. BULL RUN. "On to Richmond!"--Sherman's Brigade at Bull Run--Features of Battle--Sherman's Official Report--The Stampede Back to the Potomac--How Sherman Dealt with Mutineers--A Threat that the President Thought he would Execute--Re-organization and Promotion--General McClellan Assumes Command--Sherman's Frank Criticism and Uncomfortable Truth-Telling and Consequent Unpopularity 85