memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第29章
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hat they were not bound by Coleman's promise not to do any thing till the regular trial by jury should be had； etc。 He was with reason furious； and asked me to go with him to Truett's store； over which the Executive Committee was said to be in session。 We were admitted to a front…room up…stairs； and heard voices in the back…room。 The Governor inquired for Coleman； but he was not forthcoming。 Another of the committee； Seymour； met us； denied in toto the promise of the night before； and the Governor openly accused him of treachery and falsehood。
The quarrel became public； and the newspapers took it up； both parties turning on the Governor； one； the Vigilantes； denying the promise made by Coleman； their president； and the other； the 〃Law…and…Order party；〃 refusing any farther assistance； because Johnson had stooped to make terms with rebels。 At all events； he was powerless； and had to let matters drift to a conclusion。
King died about Friday； May 20th； and the funeral was appointed for the next Sunday。 Early on that day the Governor sent for me at my house。 I found him on the roof of the International； from which we looked down on the whole city； and more especially the face of Telegraph Hill； which was already covered with a crowd of people； while others were moving toward the jail on Broadway。 Parties of armed men； in good order； were marching by platoons in the same direction； and formed in line along Broadway； facing the jail…door。 Soon a small party was seen to advance to this door； and knock； a parley ensued； the doors were opened； and Casey was led out。 In a few minutes another prisoner was brought out； who； proved to be Cora； a man who had once been tried for killing Richardson； the United States Marshal； when the jury disagreed； and he was awaiting a new trial。 These prisoners were placed in carriages； and escorted by the armed force down to the rooms of the Vigilance Committee； through the principal streets of the city。 The day was exceedingly beautiful； and the whole proceeding was orderly in the extreme。 I was under the impression that Casey and Cora were hanged that same Sunday； but was probably in error； but in a very few days they were hanged by the neckdeadsuspended from beams projecting from the windows of the committee's rooms； without other trial than could be given in secret； and by night。
We all thought the matter had ended there； and accordingly the Governor returned to Sacramento in disgust； and I went about my business。 But it soon became manifest that the Vigilance Committee had no intention to surrender the power thus usurped。 They took a building on Clay Street； near Front； fortified it； employed guards and armed sentinels； sat in midnight council； issued writs of arrest and banishment； and utterly ignored all authority but their own。 A good many men were banished and forced to leave the country； but they were of that class we could well spare。 Yankee Sullivan； a prisoner in their custody； committed suicide； and a feeling of general insecurity pervaded the city。 Business was deranged； and the Bulletin； then under control of Tom King） a brother of James； poured out its abuse on some of our best men； as well as the worst。 Governor Johnson； being again appealed to； concluded to go to work regularly； and telegraphed me about the 1st of June to meet him at General Wool's headquarters at Benicia that night。 I went up； and we met at the hotel where General Wool was boarding。 Johnson had with him his Secretary of State。 We discussed the state of the country generally； and I had agreed that if Wool would give us arms and ammunition out of the United States Arsenal at Benicia； and if Commodore Farragat； of the navy； commanding the navy…yard on Mare Island； would give us a ship； I would call out volunteers； and； when a sufficient number had responded； I would have the arms come down from Benicia in the ship； arm my men； take possession of a thirty…two…pound…gun battery at the Marine Hospital on Rincon Point； thence command a dispersion of the unlawfully…armed force of the Vigilance Committee； and arrest some of the leaders。
We played cards that night； carrying on a conversation； in which Wool insisted on a proclamation commanding the Vigilance Committee to disperse； etc。； and he told us how he had on some occasion； as far back as 1814； suppressed a mutiny on the Northern frontier。 I did not understand him to make any distinct promise of assistance that night； but he invited us to accompany him on an inspection of the arsenal the next day； which we did。 On handling some rifled muskets in the arsenal storehouse he asked me how they would answer our purpose。 I said they were the very things； and that we did not want cartridge boxes or belts； but that I would have the cartridges carried in the breeches…pockets； and the caps in the vestpockets。 I knew that there were stored in that arsenal four thousand muskets； for I recognized the boxes which we had carried out in the Lexington around Cape Horn in 1846。 Afterward we all met at the quarters of Captain D。 R。 Jones of the army； and I saw the Secretary of State； D。 F。 Douglass； Esq。； walk out with General Wool in earnest conversation； and this Secretary of State afterward asserted that Wool there and then promised us the arms and ammunition； provided the Governor would make his proclamation for the committee to disperse； and that I should afterward call out the militia； etc。 On the way back to the hotel at Benicia； General Wool； Captain Callendar of the arsenal； and I； were walking side by side； and I was telling him （General Wool） that I would also need some ammunition for the thirty…two…pound guns then in position at Rineon Point； when Wool turned to Callendar and inquired； 〃Did I not order those guns to be brought away？〃 Callendar said 〃Yes； general。 I made a requisition on the quartermaster for transportation； but his schooner has been so busy that the guns are still there。 Then said Wool： 〃Let them remain； we may have use for them。〃 I therefrom inferred； of course； that it was all agreed to so far as he was concerned。
Soon after we had reached the hotel； we ordered a buggy； and Governor Johnson and I drove to Vallejo； six miles； crossed over to Mare Island； and walked up to the commandant's house； where we found Commodore Farragut and his family。 We stated our business fairly； but the commodore answered very frankly that he had no authority； without orders from his department； to take any part in civil broils； he doubted the wisdom of the attempt； said he had no ship available except the John Adams； Captain Boutwell； and that she needed repairs。 But he assented at last； to the proposition to let the sloop John Adams drop down abreast of the city after certain repairs； to lie off there for moral effect； which afterward actually occurred。
We then returned to Benicia； and Wool's first question was； 〃What luck？〃 We answered； 〃Not much；〃 and explained what Commodore Farragut could and would do； and that； instead of having a naval vessel； we would seize and use one of the Pacific Mail Company's steamers； lying at their dock in Benicia； to carry down to San Francisco the arms and munitions when the time came。
As the time was then near at hand for the arrival of the evening boats； we all walked down to the wharf together； where I told Johnson that he could not be too careful； that I had not heard General Wool make a positive promise of assistance。
Upon this； Johnson called General Wool to one side； and we three drew together。 Johnson said： 〃General Wool； General Sherman is very particular； and wants to know exactly what you propose to do。〃 Wool answered： 〃I understand； Governor； that in the first place a writ of Habeas corpus will be issued commanding the jailers of the Vigilance Committee to produce the body of some one of the prisoners held by them （which； of course； will be refused）； that you then issue your proclamation commanding them to disperse； and； failing this； you will call out the militia； and command General Sherman with it to suppress the Vigilance Committee as an unlawful body；〃 to which the Governor responded； 〃Yes。〃 〃Then；〃 said Wool； 〃on General Sherman's making his requisition； approved by you； I will order the issue of the necessary arms and ammunition。〃 I remember well that I said； emphatically： 〃That is all I want。 Now； Governor； you may go ahead。〃 We soon parted； Johnson and Douglas taking the boat to Sacramento； and I to San Francisco。
The Chief…Justice； Terry； came to San Francisco the next day； issued a writ of habeas corpus for the body of one Maloney； which writ was resisted； as we expected。 The Governor then issued his proclamation； and I published my orders； dated June 4； 1855。 The Quartermaster…General of the State； General Kibbe； also came to San Francisco； took an office in the City Hall； engaged several rooms for armories； and soon the men began to enroll into companies。 In my general orders calling out the militia； I used the expression； 〃When a sufficient number of men are enrolled； arms and ammunition will be supplied。〃 Some of the best men of the 〃Vigilantes〃 came to me and remonstrated； saying that collision would surely result； that it would be terrible； etc。 All I could say in reply was； that it was for them to get out。 of the way。〃 Remove your fort； cease your midnight councils； and prevent your armed bodies from patrolling the streets。〃 They inquired where I was to get arms； and I answered that I had them certain。 But personally I went right along with my business at the bank； conscious that at any moment we might have trouble。 Another committee of citizens； a conciliatory body； was formed to prevent collision if possible； and the newspapers boiled over with vehement vituperation。 This second committee was composed of such men as Crockett； Ritchie； Thornton； Bailey Peyton； Foote； Donohue； Kelly； and others； a class of the most intelligent and wealthy men of the city； who earnestly and honestly desired to prevent bloodshed。 They also came to me； and I told them that our men were enrolling very fast； and that； when I deemed the right moment had come； the Vigilance Committee mast disperse； else bloodshed and destruction of property would inevitably follow。 They also had discovered that the better men of the Vigilance Committee itself were getting tired of the business； and thought that in the execution of Casey and Cora； and the banishment of a dozen or more rowdies； they had done enough； and were then willing to stop。 It was suggested that； if our Law…and…Order party would not arm； by a certain day near at hand the committee would disperse； and some of their leaders would submit to an indictment and trial by a jury of citizens； which they knew would acquit them of crime。 One day in the bank a man called me to the counter and said； 〃If you expect to get arms of General Wool； you will be mistaken； for I was at Benicia yesterday； and heard him say he would not give them。〃 This person was known to me to be a man of truth； and I immediately wrote to General Wool a letter telling him what I had heard； and how any hesitation on his part would compromise me as a man of truth and honor； adding that I did not believe we should ever need the arms； but only the promise of them； for 〃t
