Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-05
UNITY OF oMMANp.

the authority of a New York contemporary which
we have generally found to be accurate in its infor
nation from different departments Of the army
that on the arrival of Gen. Foster, late Of North
Carolina, within the military jurisdiction of Gen.
Hunter In South Carolina, some misunderstand-
ing arose between these two commanders as to
their respective jurisdictions Assuming the intel
igence to be true, we expressed our regret at the
occurrence, and at the same time avowed the con-
vction that it furnished new illustration in sup
port OF the argument we had then recently made in
favor OF confdiDg to the Generain- Chief The actiue
direction Of all military movements 1t was impos-
slb!e for us to suppose that such contretemps
could have arisen under the administration of a
single presiding mind, especially if that mind were
lmbued with proper views of military discipline and
subordination, as is supposed to be the case with
Gen. Haeck, from the nature and rank of the post
he nominally holds.
day or two after we had made this repre-
sentation, we learned from leading officer con-
nected with the military branch of the Government
that the alleged dissenson between Gen Foster
and Gen Hunter was wholly without foundation.
We accordingly made announcement to this
effect correcting the statement we had copied from
the New York journal. We have since been led
to suppose, however, that there was more founda
tion for the allegation made by our New York
contemporary than for the denial it received at the
hands Of military officer, who, from his connection
with the Government, was presumed by us to speak
of his own knowledge.
Rut Uhatavar NAV boyo hoan +ba foot. &c AZ =
case as they existed two weeks ago, it would seem
that some dssension has lately occurred in South
Carolina between the staff of Gen. Foster and Gen.
Hunter, insomuch that the latter has proceeded to
the harsh step of expellng the former from his
military department. Such at least is the an
nouncement made by the "Morning Chronicle
Of yesterday, in giving publicity to the following
statements
Lieut. Thomas j. Stevens of ofMassachusetts was ar
rested by Gen. Hunter the 10th instant for publicly de-
carng that he would rather be beaten by the rebels than
fight with negroes Lieut.. Stevens recently pro-
| NOTED for bravery in North Carolina.
Gen. Hunter peremptoriy dered all the staff of Gen
Foster ont Of the Department Of the South for the
81 statements tending to create disafecon, nsubordina
tiOn, and mutiny"
These dissensious in the army are a source of
great regret, because of the weakness they must
introduce into cur military operations Doubtless,
as men are, such dissensoLs are inseparabe from
all combinations which require the cooperation of
coordinate and previously Independent commands
within the same sphere of duty But we must still
be permitted to think that if the Generalin- Chief
could have supreme and uncontrolled conduct
of all dctioe military operations, part at least
of this confusion and disagreement might be avoid
ed For instance, we find the following explana-
tion of the circumstances under which Gen. sher-
man was recently charged with the operations set
on foot for the reduction of Vicksburg The state
ment is copied from the Chicago Tribune, lead
ing organ of the Administration in Illinois, and
which, from the particularly of its dates, would
seem to speak by authority. We quote from its
number of the 23d instant:
We have noticed several paragraphs in different public
journals charging Gen McCernand with the responsibility
of the failure Of the Federal attack upon the enemys works
Vcksbug is true that the Secretary of War had
assigned to him the command of the Mississippi exped
tion and that the President had sgued to the General
nChie his deeire that Gen McCernand should have COM
mand of that expedition But it is equally true that while
Gen McClernasd was on duty at Springfield, Illinois, in
forwarding troops from Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa for the
expedition Gen. Halleck the command of the expe-
don to Gen Grant This far back as the 9Th Of
December last; and Gen. Gil ant gave the edate
maud 10 Gen Sherman.
"On the 18Th Of December, the President coming TO
know this fact caused Gen Haleck dir Gen Grant
place Gen. McClernand la immediate command; but
the latter not notified of this until the 22d by de-
,patch dated the 2ls In the time Gen Sherman
had descended the Mississippi at the head Of the exped
tion and when Gen. McClernand reached Memphis and
reported Gen. Grant for orders the expedition had been
already repulsed Vicksburg
This conflict of authority and orders s Mysterious 1t
clear however, that the President designed and had
ordered that Gen McCernand should have command and
that Gen. Haeck frustrated the design. The RESPONSE
biy f the failure of the expedition attaches to others
than Gen. McCernand
''Gen McClrrna assumed direction of the expedition
after it had returned to Mken's Bend and the same
day sailed for the Post Arkansas and reduced place.
capturing than ty-fve hundred prisoners and all
the enemys material of found there This blow pro-
badly would have been followed by another upon Little
Rock and the enemy would have been driven south of the
Grant to return to Miken's Bend who censured Gen
McCernand for bis operations in Arkansas The country
however, fully sstains him. 1t wants results and this
which came upon it as suddenly sgreeably.
Returning to the vicinity Of Vicksburg Gen. McCler-
nand dembaked his forces and took up positions opposite
above and below the city, cut off the enemys communca
tons by water below the city by planting batteries
river bank and in this position awaiting the co opera
ton Of Gen Banks when Gen, Grant arrived and on the
29th ,umed control of the expedition and reduced Gen.
McCernad to the command of the 18th army corps and
charged with garrisonng the west bank Of the Miss
sippi river from Helena south.
1t is understood that General McCernand protested
against this contrary to the order Of the Pre-
sitn and Secretary Of War; and unjust TO him as the
protector Of the expedition 1t remains to be what