Tecumseh, and procured his appointment as a cadet at West Point, where he was trained for his great services in upholding the Union and bearing its flag in triumph "from the mountains to the sea." John was the eighth child. His recollections are of the gradual scattering of the family, till but three children were left with their mother. In 1831 a cousin of his father, named John Sherman, took him to his home in Mount Vernon, where he remained four years attending school. At the age of twelve he returned to Lancaster, and entered the academy to prepare himself for college. At the end of two years he was far enough advanced to enter the sophomore class. Want of means and a strong desire to be self-supporting changed the current of his life. He obtained the position of junior rod-man in the corps of engineers engaged on the Muskingum improvement. In the spring of 1838, when only fifteen, he was placed in charge of the section of that work at Beverly, and so continued till the summer of 1839, when he was removed because he was a Whig. The responsibility attending the measurement of excavations and embankments, the leveling for a lock to the canal, and the construction of a dam, proved a better education than could have been obtained elsewhere in the same time. He studied law in the office of his brother Charles T. Sherman, afterward Judge of the United States District Court. He was admitted to the bar in 1844, and at once entered into partnership with this brother at Mansfield, where, during the ten years preceding his entrance into Congress, his ability and indefatigable industry gained for him distinction and pecuniary success. Michigan, the duty of preparing the report devolved upon Mr. Sherman. Every statement was verified by the clearest testimony, and has never been controverted by any one. This report, when presented to the House, created a good deal of feeling, and intensified greatly the antagonisms in Congress, being made the basis of the campaign of 1856. He acted with the Republican party in supporting John C. Fremont for the Presidency, because that party resisted the extension of slavery, but did not seek its abolition. In the debate on the submarine telegraph he showed his opposition to monopolies by saying: "I can not agree that our Government should be bound by any contract with any private incorporated company for fifty years; and the amendment I desire to offer will reserve the power to Congress to determine the proposed contract after ten years." All bills appropriating money for public expenditures were closely scrutinized, and the then prevalent system of making contracts in advance of appropriations was denounced by him as illegal. At the close of his second Congressional term he was recognized as the foremost man in the House of Representatives. He had, from deep and unchanged conviction, adopted the political faith of the Republican party, but without any partisan rancor or malignity toward the South. He was reelected to the Thirty-sixth Congress, which began its first session amid the excitement caused by the bold raid of John Brown. Helper's "Impending Crisis," a book then recently published, was the cause of the protracted struggle which ensued for the Speakership. At the end of eight weeks, Mr. Sherman, who needed but three votes to secure his election, retired from In 1848 Mr. Sherman was a delegate to the the contest, and Mr. Pennington of New JerWhig Convention at Philadelphia which nomi- sey was elected Speaker. He was then made nated General Taylor for President. In August Chairman of the Committee of Ways and of the same year he married Cecilia, only Means. He took a decided stand against indaughter of Judge Stewart of Mansfield. In grafting new legislation upon appropriation 1852 he was a Senatorial delegate to the Balti- bills, saying: "This is a practice which has more Convention, which nominated General grown up within the last few years, and the Scott. His position as a conservative Whig, in Committee of Ways and Means deem it their the alarm and excitement consequent upon the duty at once to put a stop to it; and we have attempt to repeal the Missouri Compromise, determined, so far as we can, to resist the adopsecured his election to the Thirty-fourth Con- tion of all propositions looking to a change in gress, taking his seat December 3, 1855. A existing law by amendments upon appropriaready and forcible speaker, his thorough ac- tion bills. The theory of appropriation bills quaintance with public affairs made him an is that they shall provide money to carry on acknowledged power in the House from the the government, to execute existing laws, and first. He rose rapidly in reputation as a debater not to change existing laws or provide new on all the great questions agitating the public ones." mind during that eventful period: the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, the Dred Scott decision, the imposition of slavery upon Kansas, the fugitive slave law, the national finances, and other measures involving the very existence of the republic. His appointment by Speaker Banks as a member of the committee to inquire into and collect evidence in regard to the "border-ruffian" troubles in Kansas was a turningpoint in his political career. On account of the illness of the chairman, Mr. Howard of In 1860 he was again elected to Congress, and when that body convened in December the seceding members of both Houses were outspoken and defiant. The message of President Buchanan showed that he was perplexed and overwhelmed by events which he had not the courage to control. At the beginning of Buchanan's administration the public indebtedness was less than $20,000,000. At this time it had been increased to nearly $100,000,000, and in such a crippled condition were its finances that the Government had not been able for more than a week to pay the salaries of inembers of Congress and many other demands. Mr. Sherman proved equal to the occasion in providing the means for the future support of the Government. His first step in this direction was securing the passage of a bill authorizing the issue of what have since been known as the Treasury notes of 1860. In March, 1861, he was elected to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by the resignation of Salmon P. Chase. He was reëlected Senator in 1867 and in 1873. During the greater part of his Senatorial career he was Chairman of the Committee on Finance, and served also on the Committees on Agriculture, the Pacific Railroad, the Judiciary, and the Patent Office. After the fall of Fort Sumter, under the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 troops, he tendered his services to General Patterson, was appointed his aide-de-camp without pay, and remained with the Ohio regiments in his command till the meeting of Congress in July. After the close of this extra session he returned to Ohio, and received authority from Governor Denison to raise a brigade. Largely at his own expense, he recruited two regiments of infantry, a squadron of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, comprising over 2,300 men. This force served during the whole war, and was known as the "Sherman Brigade." The most valuable services rendered by him to the Union cause were his efforts in the Senate to maintain and strengthen the public credit and to provide for the support of the armies in the field. On the suspension of specie payments, about the first of January, 1862, the issue of United States notes became a necessity. The question of making them a legal tender was not at first received with favor. Mainly through the efforts of Senator Sherman and Secretary Chase, this feature of the bill authorizing their issue was carried through the House and Senate. They justified the legal-tender clause of the bill on the ground of necessity. In the debates on this question Mr. Sherman said: "I do believe there is a pressing necessity that these demand-notes should be made legal tender, if we want to avoid the evils of a depreciated and dishonored paper currency. I do believe we have the constitutional power to pass such a provision, and that the public safety now demands its exercise." The records of the debate show that he made the only speech in the Senate in favor of the national-bank bill. Its final passage was secured only by the personal appeals of Secretary Chase to the Senators who opposed it. Mr. Sherman's speeches on State and national banks are the most important that he made during the war. He introduced a refunding act in 1867, which was adopted in 1870, but without the resumption clause. In 1874 a committee of nine, of which he was chairman, was appointed by a Republican caucus to secure a concurrence of action. They agreed upon a bill fixing the time for the resumption of specie payments at January 1, 1879. This bill was reported to the caucus and the Senate with the distinct understanding that there should be no debate on the side of the Republicans, and that Mr. Sherman should be left to manage it according to his own discre tion. The bill was passed, leaving its execution dependent upon the will of the Secretary of the Treasury for the time being. President Hayes appointed Mr. Sherman Seeretary of the Treasury in March, 1877. His transfer from the Finance Committee of the Senate to the Treasury Department was regarded with great satisfaction by all who were in favor of refunding the public debt into bonds bearing a low rate of interest, and who desired the success of specie resumption in 1879. What has been accomplished, during his administration, relating to these important measures, is fully given in this volume under the titles RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS, and REFUNDING THE NATIONAL DEBT. SHIELDS, General JAMES, born at Dungannon, Tyrone County, Ireland, in 1810, died at Ottumwa, Iowa, June 1st. He emigrated to the United States in 1826, studied law, and commenced the practice of his profession in Kaskaskia, Illinois, in 1832. He was a man of fine personal presence, and possessed a rich, sonorous voice, which he knew how to use to advantage. His manners were pleasing and cultivated, and there was an attraction about him which made it an easy matter for him to become a leader in anything in which he took a part. Much of the success of his life resulted from this gift. In 1836 he was elected to the Legislature from Randolph County, and while at the capital made the acquaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, John J. Hardin, and others of subsequent distinction. In 1839 he was elected State Auditor, in 1843 was appointed a Judge of the State Supreme Court, and in 1845 Commissioner of the General Land-Office. When the war with Mexico broke out he was appointed a brigadiergeneral by President Polk, and was assigned to the command of the Illinois Volunteers. He served under General Taylor on the Rio Grande, under General Wool at Chihuahua, and under General Scott at the capture of the city of Mexico. At the battle of Cerro Gordo he was dangerously wounded by a ball passing through his right lung and barely missing his spine. After his recovery he was engaged in the battles around the city of Mexico. At Chapulte pec he was more seriously wounded by a ball in his stomach, and in recognition of his services he was brevetted major-general. In 1848 he was appointed by the President Governor of Oregon Territory, which office he resigned to accept that of United States Senator from Illinois. He served until 1855, and shortly afterward took up his residence in Minnesots, and upon its admission as a State in 1858 was elected Senator for the term of two years. He then removed to California, where he remained two years, and married the wife who survives him. In 1861 he was commissioned a brigadier-general and joined the right wing of the Army of the Potomac. At Kernstown and Port Republic he came nearer defeating General "Stonewall" Jackson than any other Federal general ever did. He resigned his commission in 1863 and settled in Wisconsin, but soon after removed to Carrollton, Missouri, where he resumed the practice of his profession, and served as a Railroad Commissioner. In 1874 he represented Carroll County in the Legislature, and in January, 1879, he was elected by the Legislature to serve out the unexpired term (six weeks) of the deceased Senator Bogg. On his return he was tendered a reception at Jefferson City, which took place in the hall of the House of Representatives. He made a lengthy and very successful address. With the exception of an occasional lecture or address to assemblages of private citizens, he afterward remained in retirement. SIGNAL SERVICE, METEOROLOGICAL DiVISION OF THE UNITED STATES. In the field, in time of war, the Signal Service of the United States Army is equipped to maintain communication by signals, by telegraph, or by semaphores between different portions of an army or armies, or between armies and fleets. In war or peace it communicates to proper authority information of danger of any description. The field-telegraph trains of the Signal Service are organized for use with armies. They are managed by soldiers who are drilled to march with, manœuvre, work, and protect them. The train carries light or field telegraph lines, which can be very quickly erected or run out at the rate of two or three miles per hour. They can be put in use for any distance, and be as rapidly taken down, repacked, and marched off with the detachment to be used elsewhere. The Signal Service also transmits intelligence in reference to storms or approaching weatherchanges by the display of signals of warnings and by reports posted in the different cities and ports of the United States. Maps showing the state of the weather over the United States are exhibited at Board of Trade rooms, Chambers of Commerce, and other places of public resort. Bulletins of data for all the stations are also prominently displayed and distributed without expense to the leading newspapers. Signal-stations are also established in connection with the life-saving stations. These stations are connected by telegraph, and, in addition to displaying storm-warning signals and making the usual meteorological reports, make special reports upon the temperature of the water, tempests at sea, the sea-swells, etc. They also summon assistance to vessels in distress from the nearest life-saving stations or from the nearest port. Stations for river-reports, to give notice of the conditions of the rivers affecting navigation and floods, are also established on the principal interior rivers and their tributaries. The officers and men of the Signal Service are instructed for the different branches of the service at Fort Whipple, Virginia, and at the Central Office in Washington, D. C. They are taught signaling in all its branches, telegraphy, the use of the various meteorological instruments, the modes of observing, and the forms and duties required at stations of observation; the force is also drilled with arms, with the field-telegraph train, the construction of permanent telegraph lines, and in the usual duties of soldiers. For the duties of the observation of storms and for the display of warning signals, all stations communicate directly with the Signal Office in Washington over telegraphic circuits arranged with the different telegraph companies, and connecting with the office at fixed hours, each day and night. Each station is equipped with the following instruments: barometer, thermometer, maximum thermometer, minimum thermometer, anemometer with electrical attachment and self-registering apparatus, hygrometer, wind-vane, rain-gauge, and, at stations located on rivers, lakes, or seacoasts, thermometers for taking the temperature of water at different depths. The readings of these instruments, made three times a day at fixed hours, are reported to the central office in cipher. These reports from the stations of observation extending over territory reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, and from the capes of Florida into British America, are not unfrequently concentrated at the central office in the space of forty-five minutes. The stations at which cautionary signals are displayed are equipped with flags and apparatus for exhibiting the cautionary day or night signals, and also for communicating with vessels of any nationality. The meteorological division of the United States Signal Service was established in 1870. It was the natural outgrowth of the service of the Signal Corps during the ten preceding years, and was an additional duty imposed upon it. The progress of modern inquiry into the changes taking place in the weather, and especially into the phenomena of storms, had for many years previous strengthened the conviction that they are not capricious, but follow certain laws. To provide, therefore, for taking meteorological observations, with a view to "giving notice by telegraph and signals of the approach and force of storms," was the end originally contemplated by the joint resolution of Congress, which passed February 9th of that year, authorizing the Secretary of War to carry this scheme into effect. The organization of a meteorological bureau adequate to the investigation of American storms, and to their preannouncement along the northern lakes and the seacoast, was, under the auspices of the War Department, immediately intrusted to the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, Brigadier-General Albert J. Myer; and the division thus created in his office was designated as the "Division of Tele |