The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-07
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune.
The Freaks Of Major Geu. Foster.

HILTON HEAD, FEB. ~, 1868.
Those that have watched the successive stages
of the temper of the loyal people since the out.
break of the civil war, will agree that the present
depression Of the public mind is due not go much
to lack of patriotism and faith in the Righteous.
ness Of the cause of the Union, as to ditidence
If not despair, of the competency of those trust
ed with the rescue of the nation from the vita
perils of disintegration. The rack of deferred
hope, created by the elemeuts Of unfitness, sell
ishpess, and want of Iectitude in the directing
Influences 10 the national councils and the ex-
ecutive agencies in the field, has well-nigh un-
strung the popular nerves. One should think
that, after the narrowing lessons of the last two
years, the criminal sacrifice of national to per-
sonal interests by the countenance and support
Of incompetent individuals and individual aspira.
tons that has been the source of 80 many of our
misfortunes, would cease.
But it seems that, even at this time of national
agony, the country is still to be tantaized by
instances of petty Jealousy and reckless ambition,
With all their ill.gotten fruits, on the part Of
men occupying the most responsible positions
One OF these-the difficulties between Maj Gems
Hunter and Fosser-I feel it my painful duty to
record in the following: I,have so far only made
Incidental illusions to this paiaiul subject; but
as certain Northern journals have taken it up
and INDUCED. either from ignorance or inten-
tional distortion OF the facts in the case, ID I'M
Just comments, it is but proper that the truth
should be known and the blame mads to rest on
the right shoulders 1 state plain, unvarnished
facts, long before this laid before the authorities
in Washington. ~ y -.
After his last expedition toward tie interior
OF North Carolina, it will be remembered, Gen.
Foster. paid visit to Washington. There he
was met by Gen. Hunter. who, being about re-
turning to this DepaI tmept, and knowing his fa-
miiiarity Will the Earbors of Savannah and
Charleston, and their old defenses, invited his
suggestions in connection with the offensive
movements against those cities. Desiring to
have the more direct benefit of Gen. Fosters ad.
vice, Gen. Hunter, in the intercourse thus
opened, proposed that he should participate in
the coming campaign. To this Gen. Foster as
sented, provided the consent of the War Depart
ment could be obtained. At the request of
Gen. Hunter, the Secretary of War granted the
required permission.
At the time this took place, Gen. Hunter had
already the promise of the War Department of
re>enforcements, and orders directing them to
be sent from General Dix's Department and
North Carolina, had gone, or were about going
forward. 2@sa $500
Upon his return to this point Gen Hunter, Of
course, expected Gen. Foster to arrive with the
requirements, according to what had been
arranged in Washington. As General Foster
was not formally assigned to duty in the Depart
ment of the South, General Hunter expected
him only as aguest or temporary visitor. Still
he intended to invite him to act aaqs4cond in
command, should he be found dispose.iso accept
that position. Little did he suspect what was
to follow. s o. died
Upon his arrival With the feet of transports,
General Foster verbally reported the troops to
General Hunter. The latter received him with
all possible courtesy, and showed his supposed
guest the utmost attention during the week fol-,
lowing his arrival. 80 10 9s5d9reI sas
At the end of the week, no reports whatever
having been received from the achievements
Gen. Hunters Assistant Adjutant General ad-
dressed letter to Gent Naglee-their presumed
commander, by virtue Of seniority, iuquirng for
the reasons of the strange delay. GENT Naglee,
happening to be absent upon an excursion, did
not receive it until tie following day In re-
ply, be stated, in substance, that he had received
instructions from Gen'l Foster to take command
of the troops lately arrived, and exercise indie
pendently of the Department of the South, and
continue to do so during his (Gen'I Foster's) sb-
sence.l Almost simultaneously with this reply,
information reached Gen. Hunter that General
Foster had left for the North. '+t
His astorishfhent at these unexpected devel-
opments may be easily conjectured. Ia all prob
ability he felt in doubt whether to be more sur
prised at the arrogant assumption of authority
on the part of his invited visitor over troops sent
to his Department for service under him BY spe.
cial order of the War Department, or at the want
of ordinary civilty displayed in the sudden de-
parture of his guest without any notice or ex-
PLANTATION whatever. 9ap ga.bI99 s42 I'd
With bis habitual decision and promptness of
action, Genl Hunter proceeded at once, however,
to assert his rightful authority. He issued the
general order embodied in'my last but one letter,
by which he formally assumed command of the
re-enforcements, and constituted them part of,
the 10th Army Corps. p re : re2c sa1's ,lgfa
Upon receipt of the order, Genr Naglee wrote
out protest, based upon instructions to the
contrary from Gent Foster, and forwarded it to
general headquarters. As he expressed, how
ever, in the same communication, hrs readiness
to yield obedience to the general order, Gen'l
Hunter took no immediate notice of the protest.
but simply sent it, with other documents bearing
upon the subject, to the War Department, for
consideration and ultimate decision. n 1lai
Gen. Naglee having recognized Gen Hunters
supreme authority, and acted since under it, no
more trouble has been experienced with him
The officers Of Gen. Fosters staff, however. not
only obstinately refused to comply with the re-
quirements of Gen. Hunters orders, but also
undertook to Undue those around them With the
spirit of Naturalization they themselves mani
tested. The heads Of the various Departments.
the Medical Director, Chief Commissary Quar-
te.master, ETC., continued to decline maxi
their returns to the proper officers Of General
Hunters staff, SO that acquisitions could neither
be made out nor filed, aud the troops of Gen.
Sagee we're in the end actually suffering from
want of means OF sustenauce u Gen Hunter
brought them at last to a sense of their duty
by holding out the certainty of summary pun
ishment, whereupon they finally yielded with the
exception of the Quartermaster, who was put
in arrest for refusing to turn over che marine
transportation. 44 4ag Hsa Ii. y,
The immediate staff officers of Gen. Foster
committed still more fragrant acts of insubordi-
nation. They sent off surreptitiously, and with
out the knowledge Of any one at Department
Headquarters, one of the best and most indis-
pensable steam transports with dispatches for
Gen. Foster. They used constantly and openly
language contemptuous of Gen. Hunter, crea-
tiveiof disaffection towards him among the off
GERS and men Of the reinforcements, and the be.
l;ncy bnx I hoxl