The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-06-22

.. There is but one other point in Gen
Sherman's complaint that deem it neces
sary to notice. | refer to the suppeat;on
made to you in regard to orders to Gems,
Thomas and Wilson for preventing the .s
cape OF Davis and his cabinet Although.
these officers were under the nominal COM
mand OF General Sherman, yet after he left
Atlanta, they received their instructions
and orders from yourself and General Grant
direct not through Gen. Sherman. This ia
recognized and provided for by the regula-
tions of the War Department, and has been
practiced for years. have transmitted
hundreds of orders in this way, and General
Sherman was cognizant of the fact. The
movements of Generals Thomas. Stoneman,.
Wilson, A. j. Smith, &c, while Within
Gen. Sherman's general command, have
been directed in this way for more than six
months. In suggesting that orders be sent
to these officers directly, and not through
General Sherman, suggested no departure
from well established official channels. But
even if had, the responsibility of adopting
that course must rest upon the authority
who sent the orders 8. ASSN. eis,.3 =,
If his complaint is directed against the
form OF the suggestion, | can only say that
was innocent of any intended otfense. NV
telegram was hurriedly written, intended
for myself not the public, and had reference
to the state of facts as reported to me. 1t
was reported that orders purportng to come
from General Sherman had been received
through rebel lines for General Wilson to
withdraw from Macon, release his prisoners
and that all hostilities should cease These
orders threw open the door for the escape
OF Davis and his party. This knew was
contrary to the wishes and orders of the
Government; but had no means of know.
ing whether or not Sherman had been 80 in
formed. /, at the time, had no communi
cation with him or General Grant, and /
was not aware that either could commune
cate with our officers in the West, except
through rebel authorities. who, of course,
could not be relied on. Il repeat that my
suggestion had reference only to the facts
aud wishes of the Government as known to
me at the time, and was intended limo re-
spect to reflect upon or be disrespectful to
Cen Sherman. If had been able to COM
municate with Gen. Sherman or had known
at the time the condition of affairs in North
Carolina, there would have been no necessi-
ty or occasion for any suggestion to you,
aud most probably none would have been
made. t...s s. iug r.4ls e
With these remarka, respectfully sub
NIT that Gen. Sherman's report, so far as it
refers to me, is unjust unkind and contrary
to military usage, and that his statements
are contrary to the real facts in the case.
beg leave further to remark that have in
no way, shape or manner criticised or re-
Elected upon Gen. Sherman 8 course in North
Carolina, or upon mis- truce, or as Gen. Grant
styles it, arrangement" with Johnston
and Breckenridge, but have simply acted up
on the orders, instructions and expressed
wishes Of my superior, as communicated to
me and as understood them.
| Very respectfully, your ob't serv't
II. W. HALLECK, Maj. Gen.
Hon. E. N. Stanton, See'y of War.
TELEGRAM FROM MAJ. GEN, SLOVENIAN.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, June 4, '65.
Hon. EDWIN M, STANTON, Sec q of Var:
| have just seen iii print the letter of Gen.
Sherman to Lieut. Geu Grant. Of April %,
in which appear the following words:
''Mr. Stanton, in stating that my orders
to General Stonenan were likely to result
in the escape of Mr.. Davis to Mexico OF
Europe, is in error. Stenenau was not at
Salisbury, but had gone back to Statesville
Davis was beyond him. BY turning towards
me he was approaching Davis, and had he
joined me as ordered, would have had 9
mounted force greatly needed for that anc
other purposes" &c H''
General Sherman directly and by impli
cation, i'll these remarks and assertions does
me great injustice, and makes assertions
without a knowledge of circumstances, and
which are not borne out by facts General
Thomas has assured you that obeyed or.
ders strictly, and consider it duty | owe
to myself to state that am ready to prove
and show, think to your satisfaction, =
FirSt-that had obeyed General Sherman'i
orders, Davis would, in all probability have
escaped. tSecond-That had not Sherman.
orders, proclaiming that peace had been re
stored from the Potomac to the Rit
Grande," been received when they were
Davis would most likely have been captur
ed by my cavalry in April, such was tn,
disposition had made Of the command fo
that and other purposes; and, Third, tina
had not afterwards by direction paid NJ
attention to General Sherman's orders
Davis, in all human probability would
have escaped to the Mississippi River
unmolested.
The object of Gen. Sherman, when he
wrote the letter, was evidently to throw tb,
responsibility of the escape Of Davis upon
myself, and inasmuch as his letter has been
published to the world, and the poison has
been imbibed by the public mind, l have tc
| that fI,ic 70
public as the antidote.
,. - GEORGE SToNBMAN, -
l. trs .f.ta now .. Mai General,