The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-15

General HalIcclS Tells Why General Thon,ns
was not Relieved mt Nashvillc-Sheridan's
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette
CINCINNATI July S.-As a general thing one wouldi
expect TO learn OF the secret acts OF the War No
paltment during the Rebellion in.Washington rather
tnah allornla. But the occasion OF General Hal
iecks departure from the Pacific coast for the East
mas % @ brought to light the facts connected
WIN tne order relieving General George H. Thomas
wnen ne was at the head OF his army, and before the
Among number of friends who had called in San
francisco TO say goodbye to General Halleck he
was asked concerning his part in that Transaction
President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton. and himself
all had the greatest faith in General Thomas Tbev
were anxious to have him move, but trusted his
Judgment implicitly, as he was on the ground One
morning, few days before the battle of Nashyile
the President received request from General Grant
that General Thomas should be Immediately re-
moved. Az
The President took the note over to Mr.. Stanton.
saying that 1t was avery had business that he deeply
regretted the STEP and but for dsregardng a direct
request Of the General-in-Chief he would not con-
the mpolicy Of the step. General Haleck was
called in and opposed the measure very earnestly.
Interfere but he would ike to have the order show
that he was not the first mover in the matter Genes
raj Halleck then drew an order covering the case
though not placing the entire responsibility upon
General Grant.
Upon seeing this Mr. Stanton directed it to be
changed, to read so as to show that it was done by
the special request OF the General-in-C Chief and
neither Mr.. Lincoln Mr. Stanton were willing to
General Halleck felt that great military mistake
and outrage was being committed, and that. in some
way, it should be prevented.
The conference over the matter was a long and
earnest one. At length General Haleck asked MIR.
Stanton if he would report him for disobedence Of
orders If he should delay the publication of this par
ticular one for few days. Mr. Stanton said he
would not General HalIeck pocketed the order A
few days after General Thomas had completed his
preparations moved upon the Rebels, and defeated
them dsastOusy. As 1t is well known, the order SO
much talked of since. was never issued
been the received 10
was the officer designated by General Grant to super
sede General Thomas. This it seems is mistake.
According to General Halleck, the request OF Gene
raj Grant also specified General Schoheld the sue
cessor, and the orderas finally written did designate
him for the place. The name OF General Logan did
not at any time come up in connection with the
change either ON the part OF Grant OF the autho-
aware of the request made by Grant General
Thomas army OF friends-arger now by many times
than the great army he commanded-Will read this
with interest
ANOTHER RIDE SHERIDAN
Since General Sheridan rode down to Winchester,
is doubtful whether he has ridden faster than when
from Deseret, on the railroad, to Salt Lake City.
With three members of his stan and Governor Camp
bell Of Wyoming. he had met the party OF Mr. Wade
and Senator Conkling and both parties, each making
a stage load, started for Salt Lake. The distance
was twenty-eight miles, the day hot, the road half
mountainous, half plain all rough, and for the most
part dusty Wells, Fargo 4 Co. send out their
stages under orders. The trips are to occupy ex-
actly so much time. And no express train is more
regular, perils Of mountains and ditches Of
course, excepted. Mr.. Wade's party started first.
The second stage was not quite ready: The orders
driver to push matters. He pushed them. The
first three hundred yards was over field now hard
stone, but once furrowed by the pow. The route,
it may with propety be said lay directly the
waves. How that good stage rode them it is hard
to relate, though it is impossible to forget We had
thus bounded over plain, had crossed noun
again, and were half way to Salt Lake
City, when Sherdan's stage came up
1t would be more accurate to say, dropped down
upon us. They had been delayed half the time we
had been driving. They had not ridden slow All
the signs were against that. II there was any spot
from the foretop of the leading horse back over all
the rest, oyer oficers, Governor and alike, not
covered with mud, it was not discernible. We met
at a relay house, and fresh horses were attached.
Then came the start The time from Deseret to the
city was to be three hours and quarter The
usual time Is five hours, and deemed short at
that
on they dashed those noted gentlemen, in mud,
the General on top where he could see the ground,
hold his own, and watch the column, the other in
side, where they sat, almest beyond recognition,
awaiting second coating. In five minutes they
were moving in a whirlwind Of dust, which for them
plunged through the brooks. Our party followed.
We, too, were enveloped in cloud and always when
least expected there came to us, too, through
windows which must be open, the same splash
be unfair to tell who oftenest bounced
TO the roof, or how hard our experience showed
heads TO be- or whose heads they were. Mr.. Greeley
has the copyright for all such descriptions. He
would change 1t now, If he had been with us. Nor
stopped work In the fields to see stopped teams
in the road to look back, crowded to doors and win
see what all this rush of Gentiles meant And so
Sheridan rode down to Salt Lake. 1t must be con-
fessed that he came out ahead. We attributed 1t to
the fact that he sat on the box and directed the
movements. The driver made his time, and reported
at the stage oflice in three hours and quarter.