The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-26
THE REMOVAL OF GEN SHERIDAN.
Correspondence Between the Presl-
dent and General Grant.
Grant Protests and Mr.. John
son Insists on the Change.



ExEcurvs MASaos,
WAsHnGroH, d. C.. August IT, 1901.
DEAR sn-Befors you instructions 70 carry into
effect the encoecd order would be pleased TO bear any
suggestions you may deem necessary respecting the a.
sgnments 70 which The order refers. Truly yours,
ANDREW OHNSON.
General q. 8 GIANT, Secretary Of War ad interim.
The Order OF Removal.
Executive MANSION,
WASHINGTON, ID. Co. August IL. 1851 .
Major General George H. Thomas hereby assigned to
the command Of the Fifth Military District created BY
the OF Congress passed the second day OF March,
1867.
Major General p. q. Sheridan u hereby assigned to
the command Of the Department Of tho Aisouri.
Major General Winfield s. Hancock Is hereby assigned
to the command Of the Department Of the Cumberland
Tho Secretary Of War I'D insvsm will give the neces-
sary instructions 70 carry this order into effect
ANDREW JOHNSON
General Grant g President johnson.
HaADou ARrus, Anr.s OF THE usnnD sranS
WAsHx0ToS, d. G, August II, 1861 }
His Kxcsllency ANDREW JOHNSON, President Of the
United Statss:-
.SlR-I am 10 receipt Of yosr order Of this date,
directing the assignment Of General G. Il Thomas TO
The cemmand q the FRsh Military District General
Sheridan 70 ths Department Of the Missouri and Gen.
esai HANCOCK 70 The Department Of the Cumberland;
also your note Of this date encosng these nsrucsions
saying "Bssors you issue instructions 70 carry into
effect the enclosed order would bs pleased 10 hear any
suggestions you may deem necessary respecting the
assienhSSts TO which the order rcfsrs."
am plsaSsd 70 avail myself Of this invitation 70
urge. earnestly uys-nrse in the name Of patriotic
people who have sacrificed hundreds Of thousands OF
loyal lives and Thousands Of millions Of treasure 70
preserve the integrity and union Of this ccuntythae
this order DO not insisted II Is enthusiastically the
expressed wish Of the country that General Sheridan
should mot be removed from his present command
fhis IL republic whore the will Of the people is the
law Of the land. bog that their voice may be heard.
General Sheridan has performed his civil duties faith
fully and inssIlgsnty. His removal will only be re-
garded an effort TO defeat the laws OF Congress- II
will be interpreted BY the unreconstructsd element In
the souththoss who did Ill they could TO break up
this governmsnt by arms and now wish to be the only
element consulted the method Of restoring order
as a triumph 1t viii embolden them to renewed OPP
position the will Of the loyal believing that
they have the Executive with them.
Tho services Of General Thomas In battling for the
Union eniiue him 10 come consideration. Hc has re-
peatedy entered his protest against being assigned to
either OF the Eve Military districts and especially 70
beng assigned 10 relieve General sheridan.
General Hancock ought 70 Do removed from where
he To- His department IL complicated one which will
take new commander time 70 become acquainted
with.
There ere military reasons, pocuniary reasons and,
above all, patriotic reasons why this order should nos
be insisted o.
Ibsg to refer 70 . letter. marked private, which
wrote 10 the President when nrs consulted the sub
ject Of the change IN the War Department Il bears
upon the subject Of removal and had hopsd would
have prevented It,
have the hosor 70 b. with grsss ssspscs yvsx obs.
dent servant,
U. s. GRAM General United States Army.
and Secretary Of War nd isssvim.
President yehsssn g General Crane.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
wAsmSoroS. D. c., August 10. 1867.
Gxxmn,-I have received your Communication Of the
18th instant and thank you for the pOmpsusss with
which yeu have submitted your views peeting the
sgnmsnts directed In my order Of that date. When
stated in my unocai Of the 17th, that would b
pleased hear any suggsssieus you might Doom
sary upon the subject. nos my inteasoa 70 ask
from you formal report. but rather to invite verbal
statemeot Of any Affecting the public interests
which, your opinion. would render the order inerpe-
dent Inssmuoh, however % you have embodied your
suggeasns written communication, is proper that
l should make some reply.
You earnestly urge that tho ordor be not insisted on
"
of the country General Sheridan should not DO re-
moved from his present command" While I am cogni-
xans Of the efforts that have made 70 retain Gene
raj sheridan In command Of tho Fifth Military District
en- NOT swzre that the question has been submit
ted 10 the people themselves for determination II cor
tanly wsod b unjust 10 tho army assume that in
the opinion Of the nation. be aoos capable Of
nandng The States Of Louisiana and Texas and that
he Cor any cause removed other general In The
military service OF the United States would b comps-
tent 70 IN his place. General Thomas, whom I have
Designated - his suoosssor. Is well known to the
country Having high and hcaorabIs dIstlscoa n
Shs nsl be hes since In the exscution Of the respoa
abls duties u department. commander, exhibited
grsaG ability, sound discretion and sterling patri-
osisn He hs not failed. under the most trying
crcumstancss, 70 enforce the laws, 70 preserve
psaos and ortss, TO encourage the restoration Of
civil sashsray end " promote, - far - possible,
spirit Of rsooaciasios. His administration OF the DE-
pszsnsat u The Cumbsrlasd will certainly compare
nes favesshay with that Of General Sheridan In the
Ffhh Military District There snAiu appear 70 b IN
disusbsA seaditoa, and btsr spiris Of antagonist
70 have resulted from Gsnsnl shsrdans manage
neat He has rsadsrsd himself sxessdiagly obsoxieas
BY the manner In which he has exercised svsn NE
pewsu conferred BY Congress, and stiil moro
% By resort to authority net granted BY Law nor
necessary - m htihfui and eaeSent sxecuton. HIS
rule has, In fsc been Of absolute tyranny without
sesrsscs 70 the principles eur ssvsrnmsns The
nature Of our free insssusiona the state Of anhin
which hes resulted frsm the course no he's pursued
hes seriously ntsrfersd With harmonioas satisfactory
snd spssdy sxscutios Of the ses Of Congress- and 10
alone SUFFICIENT 70 justly changs HIS removal, there
foss cannot bs regarded effort to defeat the laws
q Congress-" for the objsc4 facilitate their
cn, through ocsr Who he's failed TO obey the
statutes Of the lad, and 70 exact within his jursdic
non IKE oosdisocs from etherA II cannot "bs inter.
psstsd By tho anrsoeassructsd element in the South
those who did Ill they could 10 break up this govern
nsas BY AID 80 wish 70 Be The only element cor
sslssd ~ 70 the rnsAhed Of restoring ordsras . tr
umph;" for, - intelligent men, they must know THAI
the mere change Of military commanders cannot alter
the law and that General Thomas will bs IS much bound
BY in requirements a. General Sheridan. Il cannot
snboden them to renewed eppositos 10 The viii Of ths
loyal nassss believing that they have the Executive