New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-26

knowledge but in defiance of both of them. And
this was accompanied by the military offense of
Hallecks dsregarding atruce aud actually invading
another military department TO assault an enemy
under terms Of surrender. Ii was fortunate that
this order WAS countermanded in time or an actual
collision might have occurred in violation of truce
between two armies of our noble heroes. For this
Gen. Halleck ought alone 10 be held responsible.
If he was Of any service OF all other than an ex-
peDsive luxury, tried and labeled away where At
was supposed he was harmless, he should, as a
writer on military law, have been tho last man to
advise the breach OF q truce-the soldiers higher
law" He knew that Johnston had surrendered,
was awaiting the action of the President upon that
surrender and that Grant mis- superior officer, was
conveying that action 10 Sherman; and yet he all
yised a course that could only be justified by the
clearly ascertained fact that both Grant and Sher.
man we're traitors 10 their country.
And then, why publish this order! What mo-
tive could possibly induce this I IL some grave
exigcncy justified the order, il should have been
kept secret as the grave. II they found sherman
was playing the traitor, their prccaupon shonld
have been concealed. In any aspect the publica-
ton of this paper seems the grosscst folly OF the
meanest malice. If justified by events II was
blundcr to publish their plans, but when viewed py
the light of events il was most gross pubic IN
sult hcaped upon soldier while in the successful
discharge Of the highest duties. The writer OF TINS
does not know that either Stanton or Iialleck au-
thori2cd its publication, but he does know the
whitening effect il had upon Shcrnans reputation,
not for what was alleged in il, 5m fran mhat tcas
fGfriV implied from 4. Why IS not this explained
Who published III Where was the public censor
thenl Why not now announce III an equally spe-
ci6c order that the fears upon which IL was based
proved utterly groundess II Mr.. stanton pub
lishcd this order. and will not now openly acknowl-
edge that il WAS founded IN error he continues an
insult and eyinccs malice. Then he must expect
open defiance and insult, aud neither his person
nor rank can shield him.
il cannot be denied that after this order was Is
sued while the telegraph was under strict mill
tsTy censorship the public mind was poisoned
against Gen. sherman by telegrams since shown to
be false as that he refused 10 obey the summons OF
the Congressional Committee, and that facts re-
leying him from blame were not stated a. that the
order of Gen. Weit1ol vas approved by Mr.. Lin
coin, but afterward withdrawn. And this, too
while Gen. Sherman was beyond the reach OF letter
or telegram, actively engaged III lis Official duties
IL is true that Mr. Stanton neither can or ought to
control the press and is often roughly handled by
il. Yet had not an officer in Gen. Shernan's posi-
ton the night 10 expect effort on the part Of
his department Ia stay the tide Of calumny, the
very moment the return of Gen. Grant with the
surrender of Johnston proved how
groundess and foolish had been the idle fears at
Washington.
Now, II is plain that the true course is 10 publish
the official report 10 respect the natural resent
mont of soldier sensitive on account Of palPable
wrong; 10 avoid mingling personal feelings with
the general joy over great triumphs; TO neither
force or oppose public Judgment upon the merits OF
controversy no longer important 10 the NATION, |
and leave to the country and history 10 settle the
credit due TO the prominent actors in the war; The
writer OF this is not disposed to belittlc either the
services of Gen. Sherman or the energy of Mr.. |
on and would rather both expended the
common enemy.