New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10

psnIons In arms. heard one Of bis officers tell
iaughabls s,sry Of applying to him for ten days
furlough, when The. rule against them was Impera
| tive. Sumner pcremp,oriIy refused H. Bnt toe
officer sat down beside him, and beg'n 10 talk a6ou
tho Peninsula campaign, ,hs battles in which be had
Jone his duty, Immediately under Summers syei
and il was not many minutes before TIC Genera
granted bis petition. lfhs had only wsitOd,' sait
the narra.or, until reminded hiA OF some scenes "a
An.istau, aiu sure he would have given me twenty
days instead Of ten." -s
He was charged with raSiinsss, especially at An
tieta-au accusation of the business OF which lbad
no opportunity of judging. But knowit was The
node about McClellan's headquarters, W sayof oai
mos, gallant oficOrs-HoOker, Kesrney, and others
40 yes, he fights well; but then be isn't die
Greet; be has not tho head to mansge e battle. ="
Aud veterans of the Army Of the Po.onas--men on
whose judgment have learned to reiy-te,iiy That
il was Sumner who saved the field at Fair Oaks,
who fought and won the battle Of Malvern Hill, and
rho would have pursued the stricken onemy from
that field straight into Richmond, bad mot ordern
from headquarters restrained him.
He possessed great kindnesso Of heart; he was in
trinsicslly gsntismsn-su example which some oil
our r-Gensrals might study to sdvaStage. His
iutsrcourso with women and children was character
lied by peculiar chivalry and gentlonoss. There
was much about him TO revive tho old IDEAL Of The
soldier-tsrrble in bs:ls, but with heart open and
lander az a chilss.
To Lia youngest son-s Captain upon his etaft-he
was bound by Ties of unusual affection. Sammy p"
was bis constant companion; 10 private he leaned
upon him, caressed him, and consulted him upon the
mort trivial matters. /. was touching bond which
united the gray, warworn veteran TO the child Of bs
old rye. Heleaves another son in the Sryice-Capt.
Il. Y. Sumner, Of Gen, stoueman's staf-sud the
son.in.la,y a. whose house he died-Lieut.-Co.. w.
w. Teall Of the Commirsary Department He
leaves ala. two sops-inaw-bOtb native Firgnisns
in the Rebel army.
Tho order assigning Gen. Snriner 10 succeed Gen.
Curtis in command Of tho Department Of tho Wet
was written before the battle of Fredericksburg,
bu, pos,pnned q, tho special request Of Gen. Burn.
zide On Saturday, tho i4,h inst.-ju,ta week be-
foro Es dea,h--he had received his inal orders aud
lcft Washington for Syracuse, 10 spend few days
q. home preparatory TO starting for St. Louis.
While the carriage was waiting st tho door TO
take him 70 .he train, went into bis room to bid
Kim adieu. Allaacn was made TO The charges Of
speculation brought agins. his predecessors, IN the
new department.. 81 trust" said BE-, they arc
untrue. No Gcusgal has right 70 make one collar
on, OF his official position beyond the salary which
bic Government pays him." He talked sOmewhasin
detail OF his plans, and remarked, For tho pres
cut, shall remain In 81. Louis; but whenever there
i, prospects Of meeting the enemy, shall take tho
field, und lead my troops IN person. Some men Gun
fight battles over Telegraph wire, but you know
have no talent In ths: direction"
With his friendly grasp Of the hand, aud his old,
kindly smi,, hs started for boue. II has proved to
him Home indeed. We may Lave greater Generals
ls but We hsve no better soldiers pursr patriots.
May his memory DO green forever in the hearts VI
bis country ID. r.