sold General William T. Sherman Emphasizes His “Sherman Pledge” Not to Run For or Serve In Political

After the Ulysses S. Grant became President in 1869, William T. Sherman succeeded him as Commanding General of the Army of the United States. As one of the most prominent figures during the Civil War and in the post-war era, he was constantly pressured to get involved in politics. However, Sherman steadfastly refused to veer his career from the military to the political, or even publicly express any political views. He felt so strongly about this that in an interview with Harper’s Weekly on June 24, 1871, he said, “I hereby state, and mean all I say, that I never have been and never will be a candidate for President; that if nominated by either party I should peremptorily decline; and even if unanimously elected I should decline to serve.” A more powerful statement he could not have made, and it is surely his single best known quotation. In fact, even today, when a person refuses to be considered for office, he is said to have taken a "Sherman Pledge."

Just one week after making his famous declaration, he penned the following letter, the language of which is the embodiment of his statement, and provides all the emphasis and clarification that could possibly be necessary.

Autograph Letter Signed, Washington, July 1, 1871, to Congressman Charles Case, a who fought under Sherman’s command in his Atlanta Campaign of 1864. “I did not receive the letter you designed for me at New Orleans of late April 21, til my return here last week. I hardly suppose you want an answer to any of the matters of which you write. Still I must recognize the kindness which dictated your letter. Of course is it mortifying to me that I cannot travel like any other person without having my acts and words presented to a political meaning. I was strongly disincined to attend any club in New Orleans where I would in recognition of personal kindness be obliged to speak but as you know i was assured that the club was composed wholey of the officers and soldiers of the old Union Armies and that they had no political significance. I took no heed of what I did or said and will not affirm or deny anything imputed to me. but I know I have no political aspirations and have asserted the fact so publicly and positively that now no man can misconstrue me. I am of course aware that the extreme Republicans are suspicious of me because I try to keep aloof from all parties and they are about as abusive of me personally as the most extreme rebels. I owe full allegiance to the U.S. – but not to either political faction or party; and neither political party shall use me for their purposes. I wish you and all ex-members of the army to succeed in whatever career of life you choose and in whatever place, and I attach little weight to the biased expressions of any new newspaper article which reflect the opinion of its editor –  that of one man of no more consequence because printed than if retailed on the street corner by a gossip.” This is our first letter of Sherman directly relating to his famous Pledge.