The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-26
FIRST EDITIO N
THE REMOVAL OF GEN. SHERIDAN
Correspondence Between the Presi-
dent and General Grant.
Grant Protests and Mr.. Johnson Insists
on the Change.
PreaIdent Johnson to General Grant.

ESEeALuenB JOhhbOh 20 OGheEAA OHahNs
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. O.,
August IL, 1S67.-Dear Sir:-Before you issue In
structions TO carry into effect the enclosed
order, 1 would be pleased to hear any sugges-
assignment 10 which the order refers.
Gen. u. s. Grant, Secretary of War dd Interim
The Order OF Removal.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. c.,
August II, 1867. - Major-GeneIal George H.
Thomas is hereby assigned to the command of
the Fifth Military District, created by the act
Of Congress passed on the second day of March,
Major. General p. II. Sheridan is hereby as
signed TO the command of the Department of
The Missouri.
Msjor. General Winfield s. Hancock is hereby
assigned to the command of the Department OF
The Secretary of War ad interim will give the
necessary instructions to carry this order into
elect. ANDREW JOHNSON.
General Grant to President johnson.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED
STATES, WAsH1E9ToN. D. g, August u, 1857
the United States-Slr:-I am in receipt of your
order of this date, directing the assignment of
General q. Il. THOMAS to the command of the
Fifth Military District General Sheridan to the
Department of the Missouri, and General Han
cock TO the Department of the Cum berland: also
your note of this date (enclosing those instruc-
tions), saying, before you issue instructions to
carry into effect the enclosed order, l would be
pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem
necessary respecting the assignments to which
the order REFERS"
TO urge, earnestly urge-urge in the name of a
patriotic people who have sacrificed hundreds
OF thousands of loyal lives, and thousands of
millions of treasure TO preserve the integrity
and union of this country-thaL this order be
not insisted on. 1t is Enthusiastically the ex-
pressed wish OF the country that General Sheri-
dan should not be removed from his present
command. This is republic where the will of
the people Is the law Of the land. beg that
General Sheridan has performed his civil
duties faithfully and intelligently. His re-
mOVal will OnlV he rpQardad q 81 m In
feat the laws of Congress. 1t will be inter-
preted by the unreconstructed element in the
South-those who did all they could to break
up this Government by arms, and now wish to
be the only element consulted as to the method
bolden them to renewed opposition to the will
OF the loyal masses, believing that they have
the Executive with them.
The services of General Thomas in battling
for the Union entitle him TO some considera-
tion. He has repeatedly entered his protest
against being assigned TO either of the five
military districts and especially to being as
signed to relieve General sheridan.
General Hancock ought not to be removed
from where he is His department is a COM
plicated one, which will takea new commander
some time to become acquaint ted with. There
are military reasons, and, above all, patriotic
reasons, why this order should not be in
sisted on.
/ beg to refer to letter, marked private,
which wrote to the President when first con-
suited on the subject of the change in the War
Department 1t bears upon the subject of this
removal, and had hoped would have pre-
vented it,
L nave the nonor 10 BE- Win great respect,
u. s. GRANT, General United States Army,
and Secretary of War al Interim
President johnson to General Grant.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, d. G.,
August 10, l867.-General:-I have received
your communication OF the 18th instant, and
thank you for the promptness with which you
have submitted your views respecting the as
signments directed in my order of that date
When l stated, in my unofficial note of the
18th, that would be pleased to hear any sug-
subject, IL was not my intention To ask from
you formal report, but rather TO invite a
verbal statement of any reason affecting the
public interests which, in your opinion, would
render the order inexpedient Inasmuch, how
ever, as you have embodied your sug gest1ons
in a written communication, 1t is proper that
should make some reply.
You earnestly urge that the order be not In
the expressed wish of the country that General
Sheridan should not be removed from his pre-
sent command" While am cOgnizRnt of the
efforts that have been made to retain General
Sheridan in command OF the Fifth Military
District, am not aware that the question has
ever been submitted TO the people themselves
for determination. 1t certainly would be un-
OF the nation, he alone is capable OF command
ing the States of Louisiana and Texas and that,
were he for any cause removed, no other
United States would be competent to fill
his place. General Thomas whom have
designated his successor, Is well known to the
country. Having won high and honorable
distinction in the field, he has since in the exc
cutiOn of the responsible duties OF O department.
commander exhibited great ability, sound dis
cretion, and sterling patriotism. he has not
failed, under the most trying circumstances, TO
enforce the laws, to preserve peace and order,
20 encourage the restoration OF civil authority,
and TO promote, as far as possible, spirit oil
reconciliation. His administration OF the
DEPARTING ent of the Cumberland will certainly
compare most favorably with that OF General
Sheridan in the Fifth Military District. There
affairs appear To be in a disturbed condt-
ton, and a bitter spirit OF anlagonism
seems To have resulted from General Sheridan &
management. He has rendered himself ex-
ceedlngly obnoxious by the manner in which
ne has exercised even the powers conferred by
congress, ana Still more so by resort To autho-
MY not granted by law nor necessary to It's
iAishlul ana elncient execution. His rule has
IN IAct Deen one OF absolute tyranny, Without
reference TO the principles of our Government
or Jhe nature OF our free institutions. The
stale OF aualrs which has resulted from the
course ne mas pursued has seriously interfered
with harmonious satisfactory and 'sneedV exc
cuuOn OF Ine acts or Congress, and is alone sufi.
cienttolustlly change. His removal therefore
ct.hnos s as an effort to defeat the laws
Oi COngIesh lor the object is TO facilitate theiI
execution through an officer who has never
falea W 0Dey Ihe statutes of the land and tC
exact Wltnih nts Jnrlsdiction, a like obedience
unreconstructed element in the So1th }Hh0ss GO
who DID All they could TO break up this
Government by arms, and now wish TO De the
storing order-as a triumph" for as inteiIIaa,,
men, they must know that the mere ehansse "a a
military commanders cannot alter the law
bound by its requirements as Generst
SHERIDAN. 1t cannot "embolden than
30 renewed opposition TO the will of th
loyal masses, believing sb!g M Sna5 ~ Lnsy have tn
FAMILIAR with the antecedents Of the President
andsknoW,that he has not obstructed the faithfu
eTecution OF any act Of Congress
No one as you are ava Q, has higher appre
.--sSos, eiaan rovgaIf OF the aerViCeg of Clenars