The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-16

ment-StsntAcent Runners from WASH
ingten.
From the day Of tho promotion OF General
Grant to the active command OF all the armies
OF the United States we have been apprehen-
sive that his greatest embarrassments In work
ing out his plans and combinations would be
found in Washington. From certain rumors
aHoat 1t appears that these apprehensions were
well founded; but from the facts communi-
Gated to US upon the subject, by careful cor
respondent, We are happy to say that President
Lincoln refuses to interfere, and that General
Grant, therefore, remains, and is likely to re-
main, the master, even at Washington, OF the
military situation.
For some days past there had been mystic
rious whisperings Ia that quarter of difficulty
between the General and the War Office about
some question of red tape; and the little breeze
Of excitement thus created the Tribune yester-
day undertook to set at rest by the following
statement, to wit:-That "there is the best
authority for denying the truth Of rumor cur
rent here (in Washington that General Grant
has had trouble with Secretary Stanton respect
ing the movements Of troops, and that the Ere
sideut had sustained General Grant. 1t Is
averred. however that General Halleck had
been remiss in carrying out General Grants
instructions" Quite likely; for his official
correspondence shows that In any movements
conflicting with his peculiar notions he is yer!
apt to be remiss or exceedingly obstinate.
But still we prefer the statement Of our own
correspondent upon this matter, which is Sub
stantially this:-Tbat Mr. Stanton had com
planned to General Grant that in ordering the
transfer to the front Of various detachments Of
veteran troops garrsoning certain forts, and
the substitution in those forts Of new recruits or
men from the Invalid corps, the General had
assumed authority which belonged only tc
the Secretary of War. General Grant con
tended that his action in the premises was
clearly within his authority as Geueral-in-
Chief, and moreover that, having issued the
order in question, IL could not we'll be changed
The Secretary appealed to the President, and
he, washing his hands Of any further response
bility as military leader wisely decided that
as General Grant had been called by Congress
to take the command of all the armies of the
Union, ii would be best to let him have his
own way.
Such, we presume, was the difficulty and the
settlement We think it altogether probable
that General Halleck may have supported the
technicality Of his brother lawyer, Stanton
and 50 we leave these two Marplots and marti
nets to divide the honors Of this affair between
them It's redeeming feature is the decision o.
the President He rightly construes the action
of the two houses in reference to General
Grant. The responsible representatives Of
the people expect him to be allowed to man
age our armies in the business OF this impend
ing campaign with full authority, and with
out restraints or embarrassmen,s from the War
Office, or from the President himself Mr. Lin
colin, we are glad to believe, has fesolved so to
recognize the wishes Of Congress. and tina,
General Grant shall be supreme and untram
melled in his control over the Union forces
whether in garrison or in the field.
This il point Of the first Importance gained
ia behalf Of General Grant. We are thus as
surcd that he will not be McClellanized b!
remonstrances, gripping orders or any inter
fcrences from The War Office. In this yer,
matter too, Of transferring to the front the yete
ran troops doing garrison duty, and in supply
ing their places from the new levies OF the in.
valid corps, the intelligent reader will cor
daily recognize the wisdom OF Grant, aud the
stupidity Of the War Office in attempting TO in
terfere with him. With all the teachings OF the
numerous disasters and failures resulting from
this great mistake OF retaining large bodies Of
veteran troops to hold useless or uninportant
places when they are wanted in 1.-The front, y
the blunderers OF the War Department still adj
here 10 their folly. We congratulate the coun-
try, therefore. that General Grants war policy
is sustained by the President. and that theirs Is
rejected.
For The last two or three years we have from
time to time urged upon the administration the
policy Of calling out for six months, or for
three, forty or fifty thousand of the militia OF
the loyal States TO garrison the forts around
Washington, Baltimore and other places, in
order to strengthen the Army Of the Potomac
By the addition Of the forty or fifty thousand
veteran troops that would be thus relieved.
General Grant, as far as possible, without call
ing out the militis, is now pursuing this very
course. His object is 10 crush the main armies
Of JEFF Davis, and, first of all, the rebel army
Of Virginia. which is the life sand soul Of the
rebellion. He is right. aud the President is
right, in yielding again, as at vicksburg, 10
General Grants superior military sagacity
Let General Halleck obey orders; let the
Secretary Of War keep quiet and cheerfully
supply the ways and means; let Congress, hav-
ing disposed OF Mr. Long and Mr.. Harris, do
what il can to strengthen our armies and the
Treasury, and let President Lincola continue to
trust in General Grant. and as sure a. the re-
turn Of summer will be the suppression Of the
rebellion before the summed IL ended.
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