The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-04-21
W Ar DEFAWI MINT
WASHINGTON, Jnly l2, 1913.

June, has been received and laid before
the President. Considering that you
had claimed as a matter of right due to
your superior rank to be placed at the |
head Of our armies in the field, in a state
of actual war, and had earnestly besought
that position as a matter of favor the
President was not little surprised that
after so brief a period of service, you
should ask 20 be recalled The grounds
put forth for this change ofpurpose have
not, probably, had with him the influence
you expected They are of such an ex
'~aordinary character as to claim a pass
ing notice.
Of"the many cruel disappointments
and notifications | (you) have been
made to feel since (you) left Washing
ton," youhave omitted to specify single
one, and whether they are real or i'm
aginary is left in great uncertainty. The
sending of Mr.. Trist to Mexico as a com
missioner of peace, and the suspicion
you cherished that you had been degra-
ded by his being clothed with military
authority TO interfere with your righlful
command are probably prominent among
these "cruel disappoinrments and mort-
6cations. THE exposition which has
been made Of that case shows the lamen-
table extent to which error may prevail
in personal matters, where prejudice and
sus spicion preoccupy the mind. Should
your other undisclosed "cruel disappoint-
rnonts and notifications" be of a like un-
substantial character, as it is presumed
they are, you may we'll conclude that they
constitute no sufficient motive with the
President to grant the indulgence you
ask.
lam unwilling to believe that the grave
charge that you have experienced so long
1.-THE total want of support and sympathy
on the part of the War Department.
was thrown in as a provocative to ensure
success to your application, and | Ger
tainly cannot concede that 1t rests on the
ightest foundation oflact.
In view of the vast diversity of human
character, ought not, perhaps, to be sur
priscd at any extravaganza of self-deiu-
SION vet it should be regarded as a well
considered allegation, rejecting the set
| tied convictions of your mind. That it
= Indicated the true state Of your feelings
at the moment it was written, | will not
question; but that it is at all just towards
. the War Department, must most posi-
); lively deny. It's an assertion unaccom'
1 panied by facts to support it. 1t relates
. to a matter, in regard to which my infor
q nation must be at least as full and accu
). rate as your own, and | feel bound by the
most solemn convictions of truth to say
n that YOU are mistaken in the entire length
q and breadth of the allegation.-That yor
:. have been disappointed in some of the
e arrangements made here, as you have II
some of your own which did not depend
f upon the action of the War Department
G is undoubtedly true; but such disappolnt
|. ments do not warrant TO sustain the
h charge you have not had all the suppor
st from this Department which was within
!. its competence to give. The depart
ment cannot, by the mere fat ofiis will
I. call into instant existence the means /
N may require, and place them were the.
ID are needed. Human agency cannot con
v. troll the elements so as to prevent then
ii from sometimes frustrating its best con
,e certod plans. In conducting a war, sue
il as that in which we are now engaged, tn
n, scene of operations, as you well know
r. is of the widest range, tho machiner
D. necessarily ofvast extentand compexl'y
at the agencies exceedingly numerous an
dispersed over vast regions. That a
III this complication IF means and agencie
II, should respond with promptness an
punctualry, in every instance, to any d
recling will, cannot be reasonably expe'
n. ted; that one failure, whether by acc
rs dent, necessity or negligence, shonld ii
s, volve others, is inevitable; and that VI
ry foreseen disappointmenls should occ'
~ sionally happen in working out result
in should surprise no man who takes ser
of siblc view of human affairs. That tn
at War Department has not realized all thu
a. may have been expected IN its arrange
nd ments, may be safely admitted, wi'ho'
1t. laying itselfopen to the charge of havlr
II. failed to act with energy aud effect,
he having neglected any one OF its essenti
nv duties or to the still more unfounded al
ho reckless charge ofhaving failed to affol
u. any support whatever to the General
! the head of our armies in the field. I'll
ne War Department, most deeply intere
10. ted as it is in carrying the war to su
i. cesslul issue, could have no motive-an
of by any other than mind strangely del
~ ded, il could not be suspected of havll
h., any motive to do less than its utmost
ct. insure triumph and glory to our arm
aud to charge Of failure of duty in Il
respect, unaccompanied with any spec'
cation, it will only oppose, in its vlndlc
ton on this occasion, lis anxious, lhct
sant and strenuous efforts, zealously d
voted TO the conduct of the war. h
of. garding the inducements you have
,ril signed for begging to DO recalled as
or. serving to have very little influence on
question, it will be decided by the Pre-
of dent with exclusive reference to the p'
the lie good. When that shall renderitpr'
ere en- in his opinion, to withdraw you fr
nm, your command, his determination TO
but so will be made known to you.
Very respectfully, your obedient ser
w L MARCY Secretary of w a