Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-13
WIZ Rosecraps was Removed.

Why Roaecrans was Removed
The true reason for the removal Of Ger
sral Rosecrsns is being got at, at last. In
justice to that able and gallant commander
it should be published. Cruelty has he
been made the target for foul abuse to be
hurled at, since his removal. The people
have been astonisbed at the tales put in
circulation. butthe truth is being reached
at last. The removal was not caused by
any personal infrmitiss as has been al.
legged, nor to his failure as q military man.
he suffered a check, rather than defeat
at Chickamaugs, for lack of being rein
forced in time, and by one Of those uncon-
trolable events which will somstimes hap
pen in battle, the failure Of a corps, relied
upon for efficient aid, 10 come within sup
porting distance in due time. The battle Of
Chickspsugs was substantial victory to
US. The rebels claim it as q victory. If
it was one, it was bOotless victory. The
sole object of the battle was the possession
Of Chattanooga. They failed in the accom-
plishmsnt Of their prime, central object.
Rosecrans held Chattanooga, and that too
without reinforcements.
MeCOOk's corps failed to make con-
nection with Thomas corps. By this fail
ure, owing to the slOwness of McCoOk, the
greatly superior force of the rebels, en-
sbled them to penetrate our lines, and they
were actually getting to the rear, when the
battle was saved by General Steedman, Of
Ohio, taking the responsibility Of march
ing up with the reserves. Having pre-
missed this we give an answer to the ques-
tions, why was not ROsecrans reinforced,
and why was he removed, in the words of
a correspondent Of the New York Times,
writing from the Bseches under date Of
November 9Th, says:
One third the Tsilforcemsnts which ten
days later were sent Rosecrsns, were amply
sufficient to have gained q great victory at
Chickamsugs, and to have put our victori-
GUS army in Atlanta, Rome, and the heart
Of Georgia Why were they not sent ?
The answer to this concerns the authorities
at Washington. Is it not notorious that on
the surrender Of Vieksburgh, the greater
part Of Grants army was set loose2 Is it
not known that the enemy, knowing what
ought to have been done, confidently ex-
pected large part Of Grants army to join
Rosecrans Instead Of which, that army
was scattered about Arkansas, Mississippi
and Louisiana. Concentration in time to
make 8 Fall campaign on Atlanta, was
pointed out by me in the columns Of the
Times three months ago. The rebels west
Of the Mississippi were Of no consequence
in regard to the war. But, for the present,
let that pass, till can comment upon it at
length. Roseersns was not reinforced in
time; the Amy Of the Potomac suffered
Lee to send off q whole corps before its
eyes, without finding it ont and the army
of Bragg, with greatly superior force, was
thus able TO check our army (tdid no more, }
and thus lose the precious time for an Au-
tumn campaign. AT last, instead Of send
ing corps Of Grants army through Mem
phis and Nashville, tive corps Of Mesde's
army we're sent over tho mountains. No
sooner, however, had they arrived, and
Rosecrans has some chance Of again taking
The offensive, than we find the Secretary Of
War flying at railroad speed to Nashville,
there to meet (by prearrangement) General
Grant, and turn over the Army Of the Cum
berland to new commander. We may
now ask-why was the change mads ? 1t
admits Of a very easy and natural solution.
It was necessary, in the present contingency
of affairs, that the Armies Of the Cumber-
land and the Mississippi should Be united
No military man can fail to see that, and
no sensible man will complain of it. Who,
then, shall be the commander? General
Grant was the superior in rank, and (if I
am correctly infoFmed) was unigiIiing to
servo with ROsecrsns the Government
then had little alternative but to put Grant
in commsnd. Nobody fears that the army
will suffer on that account or that General
Thomas will not ably command the special
Army of the Cumberland"