I accordingly returned to St. Louis, where I found Mrs. Sherman, naturally and properly distressed at the continued and reiterated reports of the newspapers of my insanity, and she had come from Lancaster to see me.  This recall from Sedalia simply swelled the cry.  It was alleged that I was recalled by reason of something foolish I had done at Sedalia, though in fact I had done absolutely nothing, except to recommend what was done immediately thereafter on the advice of Colonel McPherson, on a subsequent inspection.  Seeing and realizing that my efforts were useless, I concluded to ask for a twenty days’ leave of absence, to accompany Mrs. Sherman to our home in Lancaster, and to allow the storm to blow over somewhat.  It also happened to be mid-winter, when, nothing was doing; so Mrs. Sherman and I returned to Lancaster, where I was born, and where I supposed I was better known and appreciated.

The newspapers kept up their game as though instigated by malice, and chief among them was the Cincinnati Commercial, whose editor, Halsted, was generally believed to be an honorable man.  P. B. Ewing, Esq., being in Cincinnati, saw him and asked him why he, who certainly knew better, would reiterate such a damaging slander.  He answered, quite cavalierly, that it was one of the news-items of the day, and he had to keep up with the time; but he would be most happy to publish any correction I might make, as though I could deny such a malicious piece of scandal affecting myself.  On the 12th of November I had occasion to write to General Halleck, and I have a copy of his letter in answer: 

St. Louis, December 18, 1881. 
Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman, Lancaster, Ohio.

My dear general:  Yours of the 12th was received a day or two ago, but was mislaid for the moment among private papers, or I should have answered it sooner.  The newspaper attacks are certainly shameless and scandalous, but I cannot agree with you, that they have us in their power “to destroy us as they please.”  I certainly get my share of abuse, but it will not disturb me.

Your movement of the troops was not countermanded by me because I thought it an unwise one in itself, but because I was not then ready for it.  I had better information of Price’s movements than you had, and I had no apprehension of an attack.  I intended to concentrate the forces on that line, but I wished the movement delayed until I could determine on a better position.

After receiving Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson’s report, I made precisely the location you had ordered.  I was desirous at the time not to prevent the advance of Price by any movement on our part, hoping that he would move on Lexington; but finding that he had determined to remain at Osceola for some time at least, I made the movement you proposed.  As you could not know my plans, you and others may have misconstrued the reason of my countermanding your orders....