The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-07
General Wool and Jefferson Davis.


. Troy, N. Y, Nov. q, 1867
To ME EDITOR or rx FLAG UNION, JACKSON, MISS -
SR-There appeared in the jackson MssisSrpdn, some
time ago, publication from the Hon. Jefferson Davis,
which seems 70 require an answer. This would have
been forthcoming at much earlier date had II appeared
in any paper likely TO under my observation Not
finding il in any Of the Northern journals and there being
no files Of the paper containing in this part Of the coun
try, requested friend in Mississippi 10 send copy
OF the AissisTian, which was but recently received
Hence the delay attending the appearance OF tho aP-
pended answer which would request you 70 do mo the
When senator Of the United States appears before the
public in vindication Of himsel-no matter under what
crcumstanceeand in doing desccnds from tho dignity
of his office to the use Of Blnggae language which may
No less de0rades hs enanra robes than he Drfes the
respect due TO his high position.
r. therefore, in reply TO Senator Davis false assertions
declarations contained in his letter, dated the 18th
Of July, 70 the Hon John Floyd, and In the letter
dated the l4h Of August 10 the editor Of the Jackson Ms
and e IN is true coors language present
facts which may be distasteul TO himself or friends
must be ascrbed TO his and disregard OF char
aceriscs which never lost sight Of by gentlemen or
The letters referred to should not have deemed
thy of notice but for single assertion, which, being
made by exSecretary Of War, now Senator Of the
United States may be credited by those who not yet
perfectly acquainted with his character.
In letter addressed TO the Hon. John B. Floyd Score
tary Of War dated the goth Of Me-, l5u7 ID reia,2a TO
the sword voted to by Congress-, retained after s
completion in the possession Of Jefferson Davis, bis pre-
from the list of May 1855 to the 4h Of March,
1850 remarked, Why Secretary Davis refused to send
the sword have not been informed. The letter Of
the Aduiant General indicated wish intention the
part of the Secretary &c" In reply these remarks,
every word Of which true in his letter 70 the editor Of
the Msam can only 1 say ne nea ns
courteous assertion at this time with i'll grace
from who proved in letter addressed TO him Janu
airy 1856 unworthy Of his position Of Secretary of
War as in his correspondence with he neither
spected truth, honor or courtesy
The 4th of January 1854 honored by resolution,
with the thanks Of Congress- accompanied with another
requesting the President "to sword with suitable
devices to be presented to me- for services rendered in
the with Mexico. A sword was made and sent to
the War Department the LIST OF May 1855 On the 18th of
September following President Pierce informed me,
by letter, that the sword had ''recenty been
competed'' and / would "receive it at an
early day through the War Department" 1t would
seem from the use of the words recently completed
that the President could not have been informed Of its
completion until about the 18th of September more than
four months and half after its reception at the War De
partment
The question is presented why did Secretary Davis
fuse to send me the sword which the President said
would receiye early day through the War Depart
meutf The assigned by the Secretary will be
found private letter of Colonel s. Cooper TO me, dated
the Goth Of November 1855 more than two months after
the date of the Presidents letter. Although private
letter, beginning with "Dear General, and ending with
every respectfully ard sincerely yours containing
ntimation whatever that il enanated from written
by the order request wish desire OF the Secretary
OF War. which is the invariably required practice of the
Adju,an General in his communications when seeking in
formation of superior officer for higher authority, yet
knowing by sad experience that the Secretary preferred
TO accomplish his ends by crooked and cunning devices
rather than follow honest direct and straightforward
course. had my suspicious that he had something to do
with Colonel Coopers letter. My suspicious have been
confirmed for the secretary says IN MS letter % the eaor
tanned that which the Adutan General could only have
written by authority of the Secretary of War" "Whom
the Gods intend to destroy they first make mad
In admitting that he the author OF the Coloners
letter he has not exhibited his usual cunning
Prompted by a vndictive spirit, he overlooked his
the public by debating TO Colonel Cooper that which could
not be true He says Since the Presidents letter to
in September last efforts have been made TO transmit
to your headquarters the sword voted TO Congress
opportunity however has yet presented itself
Who will believe the assertion No one especially those
who have been to California who know that steamers
leave New York for San Francisco twice in every month
carrying passengers including officers and soldiers of the
army, and property, public and private Of tha greatest
value. He says" Efforts have been made" What e.
forts did he maker None-for necessary. A.
order from him to transmit the sword the only effort
required when the opportunity would have presented it.
self and the sword would have reached its place of det
nation.
If the Secretary did not intend other OH
had been treated in like was treated by
the Hon John Floyd he had only to direct the Quarter
master General any Of his officers, any officer OF
the army TO forward the sword and | would have re
oeyed it by the first steamer that left New York carrying
the army by orders from the War Department, arrived
from the Fast, and reported TO me IA the de-
partment Of the Pacific, between the 18th OF Sep
icmber and the recep, of Col Coopers letter
dated November 20, any one OF whom / do not
doubt would have readily taken charge OF the swordSA
number OF them assured me they would have done so
with pleasure. Or II he preferred II, suggested In his
dictated letter the Secretary had only TO direct TO be
sent by of the express lines two of which, at
the time left Washington city twice in every month for
California carrying packages direct 10 the place where
my headquarters established.
Under these circumstances that the secretary OF War
United States Senator from the state Of Mississippi IN
order IN justify his refusal to send the sword pro-
missed by President Pierce, should say, more than two
months after the promise made that "opporuni
" had presented itself by which he could send II to my
Headquarters when his order for It's transmission was all
that required TO create the opportunity indeed sur
prising II only be accounted for by most deter
mined and rcvengeful feeling which so far ohscured his
vision and blunted his cunning as to make him overlook
his position Of secretary of War and TO him TO make
assertion which every intelligent person must know
"palpahle and pabe falschood.n
With the facts presented Il scarcely seems necessary
10 farther notice the letter dictated by the Secretary To
Col Cooper or those addressed 10 the Hon John Floyd
and the editor Of the M,ssisppion. The untruthul be-
ginning the first Is all sufficient TO Judge Of the truthful
ness Of the remainder But why should the Secretary
have written "a In the way he did on the subject Of
sending the sword to my headquarersf had nothing
whatever TO do with the sword until II was properly
placed my possession IL belonged TO the President 10
direct the way and manner Of IT, presentation The
Congress Of the United states had requested the Prcs
denit 20 sword to be presented 10 me The Pre-
sidcnt informed me that sword was com
peted and that I would "rcccive u ut
early day through the War Department" With
the knowledge Of the existence Of this letter
what the duty Of the Secretary Of War; Simply TO
send me the sword. II, however he desired my opinion
in regard 10 any other disposition of the sword
designated by the President, consequence OF my ex
pcccd return, ntmated in his recent letters why did
he not inform officially OF the fact In the usual way
required by the regulations Of the army and inquire
such whether the sword should be sent 20 in
California deposited elsewhere than In the War De
partment until returned New York; The position in
which previously stood towards each other forbade
any other than official communications between But
such would have been too direct and sraghor
ward Secretary Davis n he had adopted H. however
he would have been saved from the degraded position IN
which he placed himself by his private and silly letter Of
November &C. 1856 the like Of which viii venture TO as
seri before written dictated by Of his
decessors officer But did he expect return
dount h. from the fact that he refused the 18th Of No
vember fs5s comply with the application Of Lieutenant
General scott 10 have relieved by Brigader General
Clarke and ordered 10 the command OF the Department Of
the Fast.
Finally would observe that the sword voted to me by
Congress completed and received at the War Depart
men May l. 1865 On the 18th OF September the Presi
dent informed mo that II had been but "rccenty compet
ted " and that would "receiyeh al early day through
hn nct ttcarly dayfi we'd