Yes, you read that correctly. Sherman was an ax behind glass that you break only in case of war.
This is one of the many reasons you never, ever, allow a military to run the government. It’s also why our Founding Fathers insisted that our government be by The People and For The People (Private Citizens) and that the military reports to The People.
Sherman loathed private citizenry and their power under the Constitution. He fancied himself a Caesar or Napoleon I see based on this letter.
That’s the best summation I’ve yet seen. Kudos