Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-20
SECRET HISTORY.

| UHdHt HoStiuty 10 ten. InOmaS-1h 4
Intrigues Of q Small Great MAN.
| 1t is very well-krown to all who kno,
anything of army matters, that Ger
George H. Thomas was one of the especi
al objects of Grants malevolent ill-wil
The reason was that Thomas always re
fused to join the Mutual Admiration
Society Of Grant, Sherman & Co. Tn
following extract from a letter to tn
Cincinnati Gazette, by Gen. Boynton
throws additional light on this subject
and shows Grant still more strongly a.
the smallest great man of the country:
'As general thing one would expect
to learn Of the secret acts Of the War De-
partment during the rebellion in Wash
ington rather than California. But the
occasion of Gen Halleck's departure
from the Pacific coast for the East has
accidentally brought to light the facts
connected with the order relieving Gen.
George H. Thomas when he was at the
head of his army and before the enemy
at Nashville.
"AmOng a number Of friends who had
called in San Francisco to say goodbye
to General Halleck, he was asked con-
cerning his part in that transaction, when
he gave the following history of it :
President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton
and himself, all had the greatest faith in
General Thomas. They were anxious to
have him move, but trusted his judgment
implicitly, as he was on the ground.
Zone morning, few days before the
battle of Nashville, the President re-
ceived request from General Grant that
General Thomas should be Immediately
removed.
"The President took the note over 10
Mr.. Stanton, that it was very bad busi-
ness, that he deeply regretted the step,
and but for disregarding direct reques t
of the General chief, he would not
consent to it. Mr.. Stanton was equally
decided as to the impolicy of the step.
General Halleck was called in, and op-
posed the measure very earnestly. Final>
ly, Mr.. Lincoln said he did not feel at
liberty to interfere, but he would like to
have the order show that he was not the
first mover in the matter. General Halls
leck then drew an order covering the
case, though not placing the entire re
sponsibility upon General Grant.
"UPon seeing this, Mr.. Stanton direct>
ed it to be changed, to read so as to
show that it was done by the special
request of the General~in- Chief, and
neither Mr.. Lincoln nor Mr. Stanton
were willing to go before the country on
anything less than that.
'Gen. Halleck felt that great militia
ry mistake and outrage was being COM
mitted, and that, in some way, it should
be prevented.
"The conference over the matter was
a long and earnest one. At length Gen.
Halleck asked Mr.. Stanton ifhe would
report him for disobedience of orders if
he should delay the publication of this
particular one for few days. Mr.. Stans
ton said he would not. Gen. Halleck
pOcketed the order. A few days after
Gen. Thomas had completed his prepa-
ration, moved upon the Rebels and des
feated them disastrously. As it is well
known the order, so much talked of
since, was never issued.
at has been the received OpiOion that
Gen. Logan was the officer designated
by Gen. Grant to superssde Gen.
Thomas. This it seems was mistake.
According to Gen. Halleck, the request
of Gen. Grant specified Gen. Schofeld as
the successor, and the order as finally
written did designate him for the place.
The name Of Gen. Logan did not at any
time come up in connection with the
change, either on the part Of Grant or Of
the authorities in Washington, nor was
Gen. Schofeld aware OF the request
made by Grant. Gen. Thomas army
friends-larger now by many times than
the great army he cOmmanded-will read
this with interest"