Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-27
FROM WASHINGTON.

FROM WASHINGTON.
Gen. Hallsck, as q Monster-Gen. Ct.rti
and schg he soas Rsmoved-Gen. Summer
Some Items about Cviiians.
| WASHINGTON, March 1S.
| Gen. Halleck is a good lawyer, and q maj
of brains. There is no doubt of that mucl
in his favor. He is, too, a forcible and per
spicuous writer Most men who have rea,
his writings will admit that. If anything
more can bc said in his favor l would like t
know what it is. He seems to be personally
a coward, for otherwise it is difficult to &C
count for his now being Commander in Chic
of the Armies, without having once been un
der fire in the whole course of his life. Hon
est Jesse K. Dubois, Auditor Of Illinois, tolt
the President once: "Your man Halleck is
id coward, and l know it." 1 reckon
Jesse knew what he was talking about. Th'
want of the least experience under fire, am
Dubois evidence, are enough to make out .
prima facie case. Halleck, then, is coward
He is, beyond all question, monster o
meanness. Very rarely do men of much in
tellectual power exhibit the vulgar prejudces
of the ignorant and debased. l think nc
man is more governed by ignoble prejudices
than Halleck. No man exhibits more of the
baser qualities, jealousy, envy, hatred, illibcr
ality. He puts down the best men in the
service. Witness Butler, Fremont, Sigel
Curtis, Wallace, Warren, and others. He
kept incapacity in command till the Nation
thundered at him the denunciations Of the
people. Witness Sherman, Buell., Mcclellan,
Wright. He knew that Hooker was the man
who ought at once to have succeeded McClel-
Ian, but he was jealous of him, and fastened
upon the country Burnside and Fredericks-
burg. He kept even Rosecrans in an incon-
siderable command as long as he dared. To
descend at once from great things to small,
he insisted upon making Trimble and Will,
liams of our State, Brigadiers, and that, too,
over such men as Crocker, Vandever, Mat
thies, Reed and Busy, which last he swore
at as IAN apostate Democrat and miserable
Abolitionist.' He gave up Trimble, but had
Williams name sent to the Senate, whence
it was unceremoniously and unanimously
kicked out. Without further particulariza-
ton, one might conclude from a thorough
survey of his conduct that his infexible rule
was, to treat good Generals shabbily and bad
Generals handsomely. When he has done
otherwise, it has been upon compulsion.
The latest exhibition of Halleck's power,
which is also one of the meanest, is in the
case Of Gen. Curtis, of our own State. As
predicted in my letter of January 9th, Gen.
Sumner takes the place of Gen. Curtis in
command of the Western Department. Why
IS Curtis removed? Ostensibly, believe, be-.
cause he is accused of speculation in cotton.
The real reason is, because he has not been q
pro-slavery dog. 1 now predict, and upon
reasons founded upon a not unthorough
knowledge of Gen. Curtis conduct, that it
will be shown, if this matter of cotton spec
ulation ever comes to be examined, he not
only has not "grown rich in the business"
as charged upon him by his enemies here,
and in the West, but that he has not made a
dollar by reason of his position in the army,
whether by cotton or by any other means
whatever. | believe do not state the case
too strongly in saying that he is a poorer man
to-day than he was when he entered the army.
But, barring his unfortunate, unwise and ILL
timed assistance in the removal of Fremont,
he has been constantly true to the country
and to freedom, constantly inimical to slavery,
and hence his downfall at the beck of Halleck
We may well take pride in his military Ca
reer. think it must be generally, and might
be universally admitted that the battle of
Pea Ridge was the best fought battle of the
war, which had then taken place, and that if
it has been excelled by any military achieve
ment since, the battle of Corinth only can be
compared with it. In fact, troops were never
handled more rapidly and more effectually
than were the soldiers Of the Union at the
battle of Pea Ridge. Strategy was called for;
it was not wanting. Artillery was needed :;
it was just where it could be most servicable.
The infantry was handled with as fine effect
as though Frederick were in command. The
most difficult evolutions, which well trained
troops sometimes fail in, even in bloodless re-
views on close-mowed meadows, were per-
formed in the face of an enemy quadruple IN
number, assisted by savages, and that on a
field of battle not favorable to even ordinary
movements. AT last after three days hard
fighting, the enemy fled in panic from little
band which they might have literally destroy
ed but for its own heroic fortitude and the
splendid manner in which it was handled.
Gen. Curtis has done many other good
things. He safely led his army through
barren country, and terrified a State, while
this very Halleck was swearing that mortal
Missouri of enemies. He has conducted all
his campaigns well. In practical results, he
is inferior only to Butler and Rosecrans. He
has served the country faithfully, and admir-
ably, and behold how the Commander-in-
Chief rewards him!
Gen. Sumner, who succeeds Gen. Curtis, is
a good soldier of the solid, substantial sort,
who has done considerable hard fighting
who has always behaved with great personal
courage, and handled troops in battle with
considerable skill. He is not great General
in the estimation of those who know him
best and like him most, but far superior to
the average. 1t is not likely that he will &C
complish any splendid achievement, nor will
he fail to do the country good and valuable
service. He is earnest, honest, faithful. 1t
is no little consolation for the removal of Cur
tbs that he is not succeeded by do-nothing,
semi-secession imbecile. 1 think it will not
be long till Halleck will be pestering Sumner,
whose appointment to his new command is
due entirely to the President.
The four new Brigadiers from Iowa-Crock-
er, Matthies, Vandever and Reed-have well
earned their stars. They have all fought well
in strongly contested battles, and have exhib-
tied skill and attention in the care of troops
in camp and on the march. So much far war
matters-now at the civilians.
On Al street, not far from Pennsylvania
Avenue, widow of sense and accomplish
ments, besides being handsome, keeps the
best boarding house in Washington City.
called there the other evening on business
with lodger. On seating myself in the par
lor, was struck with the beauty and singu-
larity of the scene. The papering was rich
and gorgeous, not shiny, reminding one of
the costly tapestry which hung upon the walls
of the magnificent kings who in the days of
glorious chivalry plundered the wealth Of the
East for the adornment of their palaces