The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-28
Letter from Col. Belton. G. S, A.,

Letter from Col Belton, c. S. A.,
/ NINDICATING OFFICERS CHARGED WITH EHlBITING IA
FAITH, IN GEN. GRANTS REPORT OF THE SUREE,
DER OF TIE TRASs-MIsstssIPPG DEPARTMENT.
To the Editor of the Nea York Neps:
: The pen is mightier than the sword" To tn
potent point Of the former, rather than to the kee
edge of the latter the federal cheftains indebte
for many OF their Victories and consequent reputatio
in the late war-or rebellion, so-called :" Go Ee
history it's lie !" said sir Walter Ragh when Amer
ca was in its infancy Had he lived till the presen
day, the mendacity of those chronicles known mill
tary reports, fled at the department in Washing
ton, would have left him speechess with asonishment
let these perhaps the only data from which pos
terity is to learn the history of the desperate struggle
for the fight of selfgovefnment made by peop
now without nams-allnost without hope. Traii
ton may in after time throw new light upon tht
deeds of the past. The halpased tongue of senilft
may hereafter dvulge certain they we're know
to some of the particpaors but these will be merely
local corrections and the probability is that the grea
body of truth will forever remain at the bottom Of tt
well, crushed meath the weight of the bloody bay0
nets of the heroes of '65-the present champions d
I freedom, progress and cigilisation
The attention of the writer has Just been called tc
certain portion of the report of Lieut.. Gen. Grams
United States army respecting the surrender Of the
trans Mississippi department. Confederate States arms
| commanded by Gen. E. Kirby Smith, in May, 1868.
The statements therein made RSsailing the reputation
OF brave men, require contradiction. Manhood for
bids silence, even under compusion. Errors of fg-
uTes, flights Of fancy, simple exaggerations when onl
intended to add new glitter to the stars of yankee
generals, are pardonable fctons, fully understood BY
Intelligent renders at home and abroad In the pres
ent tranmeed state Of the free press of the south
they can, with difficulty, be corrected, and indeed
( scarcely worth serious contradiction. Were those
Who know better to review seTtdtim the report in
question: as has been partially done in instance
By Lieut.. Gen. Early, Confederate States army there
might be but few facts left therein to aid the historic
muse IN making up a true record To dsarm IN
antagonist even to slay foe in fair fight, is legt-
mate. To stab at the honor of vanquished and de-
tenCeless soldier is not right is not manly is to
be tolerated Fortunately the oense is rare, almost
unknown in civiliscd countries; committed by mag
unanimous men, never.
Kirby Smiths bad faith" is the sensation heading
of that portion Of the United States lieutenant gqn
erals report which now claims attention. printed in
the New York Times of Wednesday, December G.
1865. The text is thst
"On the 4th day of May, Gen Dick Taylor surren-
dered TO Gen Candy all the remaining forces east of
the Mississippi 4 force sufficient to secure an easy
triumph over the enemy under Kirby Smith west of
the Mississippi was immediately put in motion for
Texas, and major Gen Sheridan designated for It's
immediate command, but the Goth dav Of May
and before they reached their destination Gen Kirby
Smith surrendered his entire command to Gen CanbY
This surrender did not take place. however until after
the capture OF the rebel president and vice president
and the bad faith exhibited of first disbanding his
army and permitting an indiscriminate plunder Of
public property.
lowing to the report that many OF those lately IN
arms against the government had taken refuge upon
the soil Of Mexico, carrying with them arms right
fully belonging to the United States, which had been
surrendered to us by agreement-among them some Of
the leaders who had surrendered in pcrson-and the
disturbed condition of affairs the Rio Grande, the
orders for the troops to proceed to Texas were not
changed"
Now for facts. Kirby Smith did not dfsband most
of bis army. Kirby Smith did not permit an ndis-
crimnate plunder of public property. Kirby Smith
exhibited bad faith On the contrary Gen
Smith not present at his headquarters at the
breaking up of his army, issued orders in relation
thereto, and at the time had no control over the
matter
About the 15th of May, Gen. Smith issued an order
directing the removal of the department headquarters
from Shreveport, La to Houston, Texas which last
named place had for some weeks been in process Of
tertheation under the immediate direction of major
Gen. MagrQder Gen Smith leaving at once in an t
ambulance with lis medical attendant, directed his
staff to follow with the headquarter train as soon as
could be prepared Demoralisation, which had COM
menced with the citizens, Immediately upon the an.
nounccment of Lees surrender, now spread to the
army Soldiers deserted by companies and by regi- /
ments Courers left their posts telegraph lines we're
broken down. communication with distant commands |
was longer possible The troops we're not dis
banded, but the gallant army of the trans Mississippi
melted away despite the efforts of its leaders under
the blighting influence of demoralisaton. i
This alone had accomplished what the enemy had
ever failed to do. Fortunate it for the enemy
that it was so, otherwise instead of the easy tr
umph' anticipated, they might have found on the arid
praires of Texas only such aures as they once gath
cred in the wilderness in Virginia
The events which ranspired at Shreveport upon the
breaking up Of the army, and which were repeated
with but little variation, al: all the ports were such as
might have been expected the failure of any great
revolutionary movement Anarchy prevailed.
Owing to the difficulty Of communicating with the
ci8 Mississippi, from whence all the funds were de-
rived, the army had not been paid for many months
Men who had hundreds due them, found themselves
without dollar, of Confederate money, then
become useless. They claimed division of public
property simple justice. 1t was in vain that
Shreveport declared entrenched camp and
marshal law proclaimed within its Imits There we're
10 means Of enforcing it. The Missouri troops almost
alone remained with their colors from excess Of
but because poor fellows they had no
lomes to go to- Upon them deyolyed the police of /
he town. They were too few to restrain the turbu 4
ent mob. The public stables and stores were plur.
Tered.
Lieut.. Gen. Bucknc., who, in addition to Ills duties
IS commander of the consolidated districts of west
Louisiana and Arkansas, was also charged with those
If chief of staff having found 1t impossible to carry
)Qt the INSTRUCTIONS OF LHe cOnlHldnQNe general,
the order for the removal Of the head
quarters to Houston; teegraphed Gen Smith that he
would arrange for the surrender of the department
lpon terms similar to those granted Gen. Lee, and
eft Shreveport at once for this purpose The terms
we're finally agreed upon and the articles signed at
Baton Rouge on the 26th of May. Thus was Kirby
smith separated from bis staff.
When the state of affairs in the trans Mississippi is
lightly understood the conduct of the troops is not
Without excuse For years they had defended against
fee vastly superior III numbers armed and equipped
ully in all respects, and supplied more bountfully
With stores of all kinds than were ernies before
While they themselves with scany clothing and indif
erent food, tortured with anxiety for impoyer
shed families Without railroad facilities and with
)ut worn-ou transportation these shoeless oot.sore
had marched back and forth from the Rio Grande
0 the Mississippi They had tracked the ercny by
he light Of their burning homes to his gunboats on
he Mississippi and the Red to his stronehods in Lou
siana aud Arkansas. The smoke of Alexandria and
1ampt6 yet smartng their nostrils the remains
# their shattered penates, srewng the path Of the
ieeing foe, we're still present to their sight. What
wonder then, that these were anxious to return
md give to their deenseess families such protectloh
IS their presence might afford -Four years experience
If war had well taught them what to expect from the
legro allies and foreign hreings Of that best Of gov
rnments which had not spared feeble women and
title children in its wrath IF they took their arms