Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-03
TUESDAY. MARCH ), 1868.


Gen. EoStcr anu NHehs
A correspondent of the New York Tribune,
writing at Hilton Head, gives some account of
the difficulty between Gen. Foster and Gen.
Hunter, and imputes all the blame to Gen.
Foster. But he writes at Gen. Hunters head
quarters and writes as partizan; therefore
his statements cannot be received as entirely
reliable. 1t is universally known that Gen.
Foster prepared an expedition in North Caro-
lima to attack Wilmington, Charleston, or
seme other point on the southern coast.
He bestowed great care upon that eXpe-
dition; his orders were received from WASH
ington; Gen. Hunter was not named in con-
nection with the matter. was not consulted,
did not visit North Carolina, and had nothing
whatever to do with selecting and organizing
the troops. Nobody thought of it as Gen.
Hunters expedition, and it seems that Cen
Foster idnotsupp that anybody but himself
would have command of it. And yet, when
Gen. Foster and his men reached South Car
DINA, his movements were Immediately OBJ
structed by Gen. Hunters assumption OF the
chief command.
The country was excited by eager expecta-
ton. News of an attack on Charleston or Sa-
vannah was expected by every arrival after
the expedition left Beaufort; and there was
great disappointment when it was discovered
that Gen. Fosters command had disembarked
near Hilton Head and was kept there doing
nothing; and that he had gone to Washington
4, { in
way of further operations. At first it was de-
MED that difficulty had arisen between gem
erals Foster and Hunter in regard to the COM
mand; but the truth came out at last, al
though it did not come attended by satisfactory
explanations; yet nothing could hide the fact
that the expedition which left North Carolina
with so much hope and enthusiasm had been
turned from its purpose. At last accounts 1t
was still encamped near Hilton Head. Gen.
Townsend was there from Washington TO set
tie the difficulty; and report says that general
Hunter is to have command of the troops,
and that Gen. Foster has gone back to New
bern.
1t may be true that Gen. Hunter could as
sumo command of all troops that came into
South Carolina; but we cannot understand
why he was willing to do anything to hinder
the important work Gen. Foster had been or
dered to undertake, and for which he himself
4. had made such faithful preparation; and,
above all, we do not understand why the or
der for the expedition to sail from North Caro-
lima was not accompaniedby arrangements that
would have made such difficulty impossible.
Neither Gen. Foster nor anybody else sup
posed this important expedition would be
transformed into a mere reinforcement of
Gen. Hunters command. 1t went to attack
rebel strongholds. We presume it was the
sa T te 16f 6n u itrtd 9ep
cities. He was not permitted to do anything,
and Gen. Hunter has not attempted anything.
1t may be hoped, however, that the cxpedi.
ton will soon emerge from this difficulty and
do its work under command of some compe-
tent oficer,-either Gen. Hunter, Gen. Eos
ter, or somebody else. 1t matters little who
leads those gallant men to victory pro-
vided the victory is won. But Gen. Foster
has shown bravery, skill, and good judgment,
and he had the entire confidence of that army
1t is not unreasonable to suppose that he
could do more with it than any new comman-
der likely to be made its leader, and therefore
not improper to regret that he is to be separ-
ated from it.