The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-12-26
GENERAL RosECRANs.
He Denies Certain ISLANDERS and
Puts Himself Right ON the Becora

lowing, IN your Issue OF tnis morning:
"RosEcRANs AND STEELE.
"The removal of Generals Rosecrans
and Steele from their late commands in
Missouri and Arkansas is the subject oil
much discussion, especially among the
Missouri delegates here. Perhaps | ought
not to say "discussion, because when
there is general acqniescence there can
be very little discussion, and l have not
heard any body complain of the action OF
the President in either of these cases. |
have conversed with those who pretend
to know exactly why General Rosecrans
was relieved, and learn that it was, in
general terms, because of the comparative
failure of the Missouri campaign. 1t is
said that he kept General A. j. Smiths
corps inactive at st. Louis for three days,
when he should have sent it on in pur-
suit OF Price Immediately on its arrival.
He sacrilic- d General Ewing's garrison
at Pilot Knob when he could have reliev-
ed l., and he permitted Price to cross the
Usage river when he had fifteen thousand
men at Jefferson City. and there was but
two fords at which the rebels could cross.
No resistance was offered, except by few
cavalry, which we're easily disposed of.
1t is charged, also, that R1secrans had
been guilty of the frequent disregard of
the Presidents order in relation to affairs
in Missouri. Added to all this is the
charge that the General has been addict
ed to the use of opium, to such an extent
as at times to seriously impair his mental
faculties
| submitted in silence to the aspersions
which pursued me last year, on my removal
from the command of an army whose
confidence and affection / still enjoy.
That silent submission, which had for its
motive tho good of the country, by many,
who did not know me, was interpreted as
tacit admission of the trHth of the SIAN
ders, to the injury Of my public useful
ness aud reputation. The hope that it
would benefit the country, then outweigh
ed the apprehension of this result, as we'll
as the certainty that Temporary shade
would, thereby, b. allowed to rest on nv
good name which hope to leave the un-
stained, if the only, legacy to my child
rem
But | am satisfied that if / did not
then, should now, mistake the national
interests, as well as my duty to my FAM
lily, by permitting the injustice aud SIAN
ders contained in the foregoing paragraph |
to 90 unnoticed aid upcoDtradicted.
Fsseho d and injustice Injuries nations
as much as they do Individuals. Our
country has double interest in taking
care Of the good name of it's Generals. |
Their honor is part Of its glory; their
capacity for usefulness part OF its wealth;
and he who detractS from either iilches
portion of the nations goods.
While ! I'm not prepared to say what
may have been the real reason for nv re-
nova from the command OF the Depart
meut Of Missouri. | am fully prepared to
assert that il was not the "compara.ive"
or any other kind Of "lailare' of the late |
camplian in Missouri; for military critics
aud all sound thinking aud right-judging |
citizens Of Missouri, when the facts are
known, will agree with me that it was not
only Que of the mos complete and deci-
sive, but. considering the forces and at
tendant circumstances, one of the most
fruitful OF good to the country, Of any
during the present war.
BY making knoSn the number and
strength of my forces, | could have salts
fed the public of the wisdom of my eau
tious movements; but this qualification Of
vulgar love popularity might have cost
us che loss of ST. Louis and the campaign
/ assure the public who only wish to know
the truth, that had the full concurrence
of Major Generals Smith and Pleasanton
and Brig idier Generals E wing, San Born,
Mcneil, Fisk and Blown, in the wisdom
af all the important MEASURES of the oam-
paign. That Major General Candy has
expressed to me his high qualification
thereat, as well as with the general man
nagement of affairs in Missouri; and Brig
adler General acknowledgements G en-
eral Grants Chief Of Staff who was in
ST. Louis, and had the facts laid before
him, expressed his conviction that every
thing had BEEN well done-"that few, If
any, could have managed matters SO sue
cessiully" as | had done. | have M
doubt this will be the opinion of the Gen
received and examined the official reports
OF the campaign.
The allie led items of military misman-
agement given in the article, are, there
fore, without foundation. This will ap.
pear to the public from the facts given in
my General Order No 235, published in
yesterdays Commercial, and more fully
from my official report of the CAMPAIGN,
should that be permitted to be published.
TIE statement that there were fifteen
thousand men at Jefferson City to oppose
the enemy's crossing of the Usage. is not
only a notorious falsehood, but base i'm
putation against Generals Mcneil, San.
born, Fisk, and Brown, who were there,
and are not the men to skulk from fight
ing the enemy, when they are likely to in
jure him more than tho country.
But says the paragraph, tit is charged
that Rosecrans had been guilty of frequent
disregard of the Presidents order in re-
gard to the conduct Of affairs in Mis-
souri," This is the first time | eve,
heard. directly or indirectly, even ths
slightest hint of such CHARGE. and 4,