Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-05-02

70 OEuoN NOs % tnu t1tb Dibml8S6l
from the Command Of the Army of the
Potomac.
The WaahIngton National IntslHgsneer, Of
April 81, prlnts General Burnside's "Order No.
g." which has already appeared In the srArEs-
MAN. II relates, as our readers will remember,
to the dismissal Of certain oficers, and was
overruled by the President, who relieved Cen
eral BURNsIDE from the command Of the army
on the Rsppahannock, and appointed General
HooxER as his successor. The. .IatslHgsnesS en-
tertains no doubt Of the genulneness Of the or
der as published, "as the internal evidence founi
In It's contents corresponds exactly with The char
acter Of the order described by the Congress
aional committee" T
This order, taken In connection with General
BURnsiDra testimony before the committee OF
the same subject, becomes Important, as ex
planning how his movements were intercepted
and prevented BY the direct order Of the Pfesi
dent. fi-4 +'%ls -I+
II may be proper here to remind the reader
that at the time General BuRNsDE's plans were
matured. Generals CooHRANE and NEwroN came
to Washington to SEQ Senator WILSON, of Mas
sachuset.s, and Representative ODELL, Of New
York, to confide to them their opinion of their
commanding General. Those members of
Congress being absent, the two Generals sought
an interview with the President, who consulted
with them, adopted their suggestions, and sent
an order which put stop to General BURN-
SIDES projected movement. I
General BUnNsIDE then went TO Washington
and had conference with the President He
returned toahe srmy, and issued General Or
der No. g." This order he did not publish, but
sent Il with the resignation Of his commission
as Major General to the President. In bis tes-
tlmony before the Congressional committee,
General Burnside states the facts about the Or
der and bis being relieved of bis command as
follows
went to my Adjutant Generals Office and
issued an order, which termed General Order
No. 8. That order dismissed some officers
from service, subject to the approval Of The
President, and relieved others from duty with
the Army Of the Potomac, also had three
sentences Of death upon privatss for desertion,
which had reviewed and approved, subject, of
course, to the approval of the President, ss I
had no right to do any Of these things without
that approval. had sent my own body guard
over into Maryland, and bad succeeded 10 cap.
turing large number Of deserters l had or.
ganizsd court martial, the one which is now
10 session down there, trying some two hun
dred and fifty deserters.
der mo. 81 at once. One OF my advisers-only
two persons knew Of this--one OF them, who is
a very cool, sensible man, and firm friend,
told me that, In his opinion, the order was Just
one, and ought to be issued; but be said that be
knew my Views with reference to endeayoring
10 make myself useful TO the Government of
the United States, instead Of placing myself In
opposition to 10; that all Of these things had to
be approved by the President Of the United
States, at any rate, before they could be put In
force; that he did not think intended to place
the President ina position where he either had
10, assume the responsibility Of becoming my
enemy before the public. at any rate, thereby
enabling o certain portion Of my friends to
make martyr Of me to some extent, or he had
10 take the responsibility. OF carrying out the
order, which wonld be against the views Of q
great many Of the most influential men of the
country, particularly that portion of the order
In reference to the officers l proposed to have
dismissed the service. | told tho staff officer
that had no desire to place myself In oppos-
tion to the President Of the United States in any
way; that thought his (my staff oficer's)
view Of the matter was the correct one; but
that had indicated 10 that order the only way
In which l could command the Army of the
Potomac.
II accordingly took this Nrder, already signed
and Issued In due form, with the exception of
being made public, to the President Of the
United States, and handed him the order, to-
gether with my resignation of my commission
as Msjor-G General. told him that he knew
my views upon that subject; that 1 had never
sought any command, more particularly that Of
The Army of the Potomac; that my wish was
10 70 into civil life, after Il was determined
that could no longer be of use In the army;
that ! desired no public position Of any kind
At the same time / said that de-
sired not to place myself In opposition to him |
In any way, or to do anything to weaken the |
said he could now say to me, |
'You may take the responsibility OF issuing |
his order, and will approve Of it," for |
would take that responsibility, II he would say
hat it would be sustained after 10 was issued, |
because he would have to approve It, for had |
40 right 10 dismiss o man or condemn man to |
death without his approval. In case that or
Ter mo. 81 could mot be approved BY him,
here was my resignation, which be could ac-
,ept, and that would end the matter forever, so
ar az was concerned; that nothing more |
Eould be said in reference to Il. / told him he
,ould be sure shat my wish was to have done
Ehich was best for the public service, and that
Eas the only way In which could command
he Army Of the Potomac. The President re.
lied to me, "I think you are right.
TThe Impressions here. in the body Of Gene
al Burnsides,s report the Pfesident's answer,
re the cemmitee's, not oure.l But must
consult with some Of my advisers, about this
said to him, /" II you consult With anybody
Iou will mot do Il, in my opinion lie said, IL
,annot help that; mutt conault With them."-
replied that he was the judge, and would |
lot question his right to do what he pleased.
Tie President asked me 70 remain ell that |
lay. replied that L could not remain away |
rom my command; that he knew my views and |
was fixed and determined In them. He then |
.sked me TO come mp that night again. / 70.
urned to my command, and came up again that |
light, and got here ct elk o'clock in the morn
ng. went to the President, but did not see
lin. Iwent again after breakfast, and the
President told me that he had concluded TO re-
ieve me from the command Of the Army Of the
Potomac, and place Gen. Hooker In command.
told him that was willing to accept that as
he best solution Of the problem; and that nei- |