Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-21
SUPERINTENDENT OF WEST POINT ACADEMY

The Northern journals announce that Brig Gen ZEAL
GUS b. TOWER, atregular army officer who was badly
wounded at Bull Run and has not since been active
vice has been appointed to the Supernendency of West
Point in place of Col A. ii. BOWMAN, u. s. Engineers,
| relieved"
This announcement reminds Of report of the
val of Col BOWMAN which obtained publicity two three
weeks ago. but which ncrsduity at the moment led
US to withhold from readers and the circumstance
had been almost forgotten in the wh of events attendant
upon the military campaigns in progress, and the
cent hostile demonstration upon own immediate Dor.
ders when il brought to recollection by the para
graph above quoted
We now place upon record the annexed article, copied
from the Cincinnati Commercial "a Republican ourna of
the 9th instant disclosing the assigned for this
change in the comm andant at the Military Academy Col
Bowman is veteran officer Of the Regular Army which
he entered in 1925.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Of July Och !
II will be remembered that the Association organized for
the purpose Of erecting Battle Monument at West Point
to the memory of those of the Regular Army who have
fallen in battles If this war; invited Gen. Mcclellan 10
deliver the dedcatory address
The invitation was accepted apd the GRAFTON delivered
That portion of the Grafton relating to the Of the
war and the necessity of its prosecution have already
published 1t was significant in view of the possible
nation Of Cen Mcclellan at Chicago 1t definition
of his views sntsgonstc to those Of the Pescs Democ
favor of The General There nothing in the Grafton Of
personal hardly of political character. There
r, Elections upon Administration upon the conduct Of
the WARM short not word that could give offence at
the War Office or to any fair. minded, loyal man
Soon after the delivery Of the address the Boston Courier
briefly stated that Lieut.. Lol Bowman in command at
West Point had been removed by the Secretary OF War
because he had permitted Gen Mcclellan to deliver the
Grafton so utterly absurd did this appear, that
universally regarded strike OF partisan malice. eff
fort to sympathy for the deposed General by hold
ING him up 10 the public in the light Of individual OBJ
no1ious TO the War Department that it followed him
bis retirement to plague him with apety display Of power
But the New York World repeated the assertion in direct
and postiye language and the New York Herald reer-
ated it with additional particulars.
There seems to be no doubt that 1t Col Bowman has
been removed the Secretary Of War, with his usual in.
felicity choosing time for doing it that gave color to the
assertions of the Boston Courier aud the New York jour
nails We not prepared to say ON what grounds the
Commandment at West Point has been removed We have
only one sided statement Of the for it, and those
reasons insufficient utterly upjustfabe, that we
cannot bring Ourselves to the conclusion that they formed
the real ground Of the removal Even had Lieut. Col.
Bowman been active 10 securing the rhetorical Of
Gen Mcclellan this OCCASION nay, had ii been chiefly
entirely through his personal Influence that the invita-
ton was extended to the General tie country would not
have sustained the War Office in removing the command
ant for any such course. But it does not appear that
Lieut. Col Bowman took any partn the matter ltseems
TO have been act of the association OF which, possibly
he may be a member The association was governed in
its action by the proprey Of inviting one OF the Oldest and
most dsugu shed members of the regular army to pro-
nUunce the euRy upon Dls laien comaus nuu ucuCato
the monument erected to their memory. There was moth
ing partisan in their action and had there been called
for reproof from the War Oice and, least of all, re-
proof administered by dsgracDs an oficer who had no
hand in the matter
The Secretary Of War should be assured that the only
party likely to be damaged by this petty ac the cause
assigned turns out to be trueis himself Neither Gen NC
Celan nor Lieut. Col Bowman will suffer in the estimation
Of the American people by such procedure II the Sec
reay Of War has read history TO any purpose ne VIII hnd
that has been the almost unvayng result OF such acts 10
cir Ia n ID
Of those against whom official power is so unreasonaby
directed.