New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-15
PROGRESS OF THE CONTROVERSY.
Communications from Gems. Halleck and
Etoneman.
THEIR STATEMENTS IN DEFENSE.

Special Dispatch to The n. Y. Tribune.


RICHMOND Va, june 7, 1869. Il
Hon. E. NJ STANTON. Secretary Of WdT. II
SIR: have Just received The hrmy and {
Nspy Ga,en. Of May 30 containing official pubhea'
ton of Major.Ge en- Shermans letters of May and DO
With other papers on the subject parts OF which
had been previously published in the newspapers. In
these letters and papers Gen. Sherman has made state
ments aud reflections on my official conduct which are
incorrect and entirely unusfed by the facts OF the
case;
l. He charges that encrolchedupon bis military com
,nand by directing portion of my troops to march
mon Greensborough in North Carolina. by direction
Of the President the 10Th of April last assigned
70 the command of the Military Division OF the james
which included such parts of North Carolina as were
not occupied BY the command of Sherman at
the time nv troops we're ordered TO Greensborough
Gen. Shermans troops did not occupy that part OF North
Carolina 1t was occupied by the enemy, and conse'
ouently within NY command. and defined by General
Orders No II of the War Department
But whether or not Greensborough or any part OF
North Ca DINA was in my command. Gen. Shermans
remarks are equally without justification. On the 2d
Of April Lieut. Gen. Grant notified me that shernans
arrangements had been disapproyed and orders given
to resume hostili.ies, and directed me TO move my
troops on Danvle and Greenborough precisely as did
move them there TO await his further orders My in
structions TO Gems. Meade and Sheridan and Wright
were inst such instructions Gen Grant had directed
ne to give.
The oiense or whatever he may please to call it II
any there was Of marching my troops within territory
claimed by Gen. Sherman was not mine but Cen
Grant, and all the abuse which he has directed upon
me for that act must fan upon the Geueral.in Chief.
q Gen Sherman charges that by marching my troops
into North Carolina violated his truce which he Is
bound TO enforce the cost Of many lives by a
collision Of respective armies. Gen Sherman had
never sent bis truce had seen il and did not
know its terms or condition only that bis truce
arrangement whatever was lad been disapproyed
and set aside by the President and Gen. Grant in or
aering the movement of my troops. simply
titled OF this fact and of the renewal of hostiites.
Even If Shermsn's truce had been binding on me,
which it was not. had knowledge Of the
clause relating 10 forty eight hours notice.
It il strange that he should seek to bind me
by conditions of the existence Of which ] was
ignorant. and of which he had taken no measures
u inform me; but had known them 1 could have
acted otherwise than did I simply carried out the
orders Of my superior officer who had the truce and
knew its terms. II Gen. Sherman was under the cir
cumstances justified in stopping the movements of my
Sheridan and Gen. Wright the responsibility
of this sacrifice Of human life must have
rested either upon len. Sherman upon Gen. Grant
for simply obeyed the order Of the latter in regard to
these movements. Gen Sherman reflects Inc for
not going person violate lie is pleased to call it.
4 truce which be twas bound in honor 10 defend and
maintain even at the cost of many lives and upon the
marching powers of the troops which sent into North
Carolina.
In reply to this only say that was not ordered
TO 90 with these troops but to send them under their
commanders to certain points, there TO await further
orders from Lieut. Gen. Grant, precisely as was di
Sected The troops were mostly selected by Gen
Grant NOT by me and as be bad commanded them for
year he probably knew something Of their capacity
for marching whether not they would "march their
legs off to catch the treasure for their own USE"
3. Again Gen. Sherman complains that my orders Of
Of April &C. TO push forward against Johnstons army
were given the very time that that army surrender
sng 10 him. making this statement he forgets time
and circumstances. He must have known that did
not have and could possibly have had at that time
any official information OF any new arrangements be-
tween him and Johnston for the surrender OF the ater
army neither Gen. Sherman nor any one else could
have sent such official information otherwise than
by sea- which would have required several days only
knew from Gen. Grant that Sherman's arrsr gemen's
had been disspproved that orders had been given TO
resume bosttes and that was directed by bin to
push forward my troops TO Greensborough where they
would receive further orders. All other information
from North Carolina came from Rebel sources.
L. The burden of Gen. Shermsns complaint on this
subject is that ordered Gems Sheridan and Wright
push forward their troops directed by Gen. Grant
regardless Of any orders from any one except Gen.
- III L.. Al. ;.s,oP
instructions from Gen. Grant. lie had notified that
orders had been given TO resume hostites and had
directed me to send certain troops to Greensborough to
await his further orders AS these troops approached
fhe boundaries Of North Carolina. Johnston, Bcaure
rnrd and Other Rebel officers tried the alleged
grounds arrangements with Sherman TO stop the move
nent ordered by Gen. Grant. When informed Of this,
directed my officers TO execute the commands winch
Gen Grant had given to me- regardless OF orders from
any one except Gen. Grant himself respectfully sub
init that could not have done less without negecting
my duty.
s. Gen. Sherman sneers at my sending troops from the
direction of Burkesye and Danville against Davis in
North Carolina as hardly WORTHY Of my Hilary educa-
>ion and genius However ridiculous Gen. Sherman
NAV consider these movements they were made pre-
c,sely as Gen. Grant had directed them.
G. He complains that did not notify him 10 regard
10 Davis and his stolen treasure for the reason that
had no communication open TO lin. My most direct
way OF communication with him was through the De-
partmeHt in Washington, and sent all Information u
the Department soon as it was received. However
absurd Gen. Sherman may have considered the inlorma
ton IL was given by of the most respectable ana
Trustworthy business in Richmond. through gen
,lenan whose character and position would prevent me
from pronouncng his statements absurd and OF saying