Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-29
A DEFENCE or GENERAL RosEcAANs.
From the Cincinnati Gazette Of October 2ith.

ibo aLIocous puDnsned IN some OF the EhstcTu
paers 10 regard to the removal Of Gen. Rosecrans some
of which, from the Washington Chronicle, appeared in
our tegaphic dispatches Friday makes it incumbent
on US to notice its character although would prefer to
avoid it, and to let the reputation of Gen. Rosecas rest
upon his great services the confidence of his soldiers and
OF the country These form foundation thai will survive
al the present assaults 1t appears that the most dsn-
gusbed career is no protection against charges that could
only be believed against untred preender; and even
that sefpt session tried many battle fields and
tanned under the most trying ordeal to which the mind of
man can be subjected does not shield General from vile
rumors against his fortude.
The character of the American people is dsgraced by
this calumny that is set aAoat at Washington and the
authors of it will do we'll to look to their covering from
the just indignation Of the people The Chronicle labors
to give character to its report by announcing that the
whole country will be stirred by it But when it comes
to specify it is that Generals Crttenden and McCook have
prepared charge that Gen Rosecrans left the battle field
during the crisis and fled to Chattanooga and reported to
officers there that the day lost Generals Crittenden
and McCook to be tried for their conduct in that bat
tie, which is said TO include this very charge If they
havemade it, who would give any weight to such charge
by these men in such circumstances7
To prevent msapprehension will mention here that,
as we informed confidential Assistant Of the Sscre
tary of War Chattanooga during the BATTLE aud that
Ne gave report OF TO department,
Gems Ctttenden aud McCook removed by an order
from the Secretary Of War II they have made this
charge, they have not appreciated the magnanmity of
Gen. Rasecrans toward them.
We do not need to be informed from Washington where
Gen Rosecrans during the battle. He was where
the commander should have been II there any
ssption, it when he threw himself under fire the
effort 10 rally the broken troops When the rout became
hopeless, hs decided upon line Mission Ridge,
and gave his orders accordingly Then his only pracca-
Bile communication with Tbomass corps by way of
Chattanooga and Rossve, aud he rode back to place
from which his orders could reach the whole army H
orders directed it through the day. and when the left fell
back in the night g. Mission Ridge, it found the rest Of
the army there in line AMI in order.
1t was the duty of the corps commanders to stand by
their corps and carry out these orders The direction of
the other parts of the army not their hands, If
they followed Gen Rosecraps Chattanooga aud there
remained helpless giving up all for lost or declaring that
ther troops could not be rallied short of Chattanooga
they make Gen. Rosecrans' movements
than skulker his rerograde by the plea
that the field officers 10 the We have hitherto
Teained from abiding to the affair of these tp'o corps
commanders, desiring not to prejudice the investigation
and hoping it would relieve them from Imputation. We
refer to hem only because it is forced by this charge
made upon their responsibility
The of charges put af Dat at Washington are I'M
worthy of serou reutaon They contradict each other
We know they are entirely false They seem to have
source AMI to have been circulated industousy
BY the use of organized machinery that indicates design
the opposite of desire to have the truth known The
purpose will fail The aim is too papabe, and the
vile that they win stir up universal Indignation which
will make them recoi on the pCtters.
The charges concerning the previous to the
battle contradictory to each other and unworthy
Of until one is settled upon and the others
inconsistent with that abandoned. An attempt was iii st
made to threw the blame Burnside for not Joining
Rosecrans, thus pretending that the Washington military
authority had premedtaed the taking forces from East
Tennessee, which would have been a monstrou. crime
As we SAID, We unwilling to give any of these con-
Trajectory charges character by replying them But
all these preenres that Rosecrans did move when he
ordered, aud when be was ordered rot to
that he did not fight when he ordered to- and that he
fought when he ordered not to- if they have any off
cal authority would show that the military authority at
Wastig sssuung give orders 10 del all TO con
duet campaign ten twelve hundred miles o-a thirp
which would be folly Ifa Cabinet General at Washing
ton b to direct battles and marches for General on the
ground who has the Information Of the conditions which
he has to meet the reign Of folly is established our
military conduct.
These charges, If they are official, show that the off.
cial knows nothing Of the situation 1t s now known
that portion of Bagg's army Withdrawn to succor
Johnston when he operating against Grant; and the
charge made that Rosecrans did not divert h by attack
ing Bragg shows that Rosecrans knew situation and
that The Washington official did not
The charge that be ordered to remain at Ctalta
nooga until reinorcements arrived false Furthermore
no reinorcements ordered unn after his repuse
While they being transported with he utmost speed
the communications with Chattanooga were reduced to
pack mules mountain paths Yet the reativ str pgth
of the two armies about the same.
Can not from th that had Rosecra1s gone into
Chattanooga, relying the strength Of the place. while
Bragg bad superior army outside it would have struck
his Communications aud then captured his army by star
vaon or forced him to fight ia their chosen position
The only safety for Roeecraus out Of Chattanooga
was to have army able to meet Bragg the open field
Had ne gone into Chattanooga and his posi-
ton there, while Bragg had superior force Rosecrans
would have sacrificed b trmy And that is what the
military authority at Washington would have brought
about if this charge presents it's plans There was then
no intention TO reinforce He had asked rein
forcemens but they denied and be was perempto-
ry ordered forward. when he crossed the Tennessee
drive it from that part Of the country rersce his cross.
ing while he could
To the crcumstantial lie Of professional misconduct is
added the lie direct OF disability from physical and mental
hsaa Lob. Al,