, 1870-05-20
GENERAL GEORGE H THOMAS.
Ilts Stcndfast Loya1ty--Lette- From,
Ohc OF His St5hIf.

~AG "a 3k4h
Editors AMa California:
Dispatch, which appears in vour eolunns to-
day is but repetition OF the oft-npaated
,alander upon General Thomas that va = fa-
Torite article during the war, After Il, close
Of the war, and Southern papers became ecces-
: sible to the people of the whole country. thesa
ISLANDERS ceased, as General ThQm.a cold too
easily 1efute them: but nor that the greE man
is dead, il is thought s.fo to renew them. =
It is known to all who knew ,Gen,rs1
Thomas, that one Of his great charactcristca
was truthfulness, entire t9uthfulpess' W;tI,ss
reservation, and It il for the people Of t.
United States to Judge botweeu what he sa1
on this subject while living, and what the en-
.c1uies Of our country ssy, now that he ia dead
Aids-de-Camps, had the privilege of having
manr conversations with General Thomas
-npon matters relating to the rebellion.
The more important Of these conver-
8.tions I made notes Of 1t the time, With
lis knowledge and consent Among them h
cue on the snbJect Of FiEhuEh Lees letter,
which here copy from nv notebook:
"a Islander upon the General was often re-
peated in the Southern papers during and i'm
mctliatcly subsequent to tho rebellion. It Was
given upon the authority of prominent rebai
officers, and not denied By them; it WEE to the
eject that he was disappointed in not getting
a high command in the rebel a1my be ha1
sought for, hence his refusal to join in the re-
be11ion- In a conversation with him On this
subject, The General said thus was. IN entire
not line eve1 passed between him and The
rebel authorities; they had no genuine iet-
t.rs Of his. nor was word spoken By him tn
any one that could esen LEAD to sucl,
an inference He deied any
to sustain such m allegation; ho never enter
tanned any such. for his duty WAS clear to him
from the beginning. He said that thess slan-
ders wero caused by men who knew they had
done wrong, but were endeavorinG to justify
themselves BY claiming their action 70 be
virtue which al tzue men Hould have followed,
and By blackenine the character Of those who |
lad done right It was evident they were de-
terminea that no Southern-boru man who had !
rcm.ined true 10 Ills country should bear 3 |
repntah1e character, il repeated snd continued !
abuse could effect stain upon it
Another conversation, showing the opinion
Of the authors of these ISLANDERS, and his Own
views al the breaking ont Of the rebellion, it is
well to give also. II is as follows: ~ In dis
cussiou upon the eauscs given for their action
By some Of the officers who deserted the gov
eminent at the rebellion, ventured the asser-
fiou TINT perhaps some Of them, at distant :.
nosta, had acted igno1ant1y; that had been
informed that some Of them hsd been imposed
upon by frnuds or relatives, and LEO to
believe there was to bo q peace4ble disso-
luton Of tie Unions that there would p. be
1ho'e cou11tss, and BY reasning their
coumissions .hey were only taking the
necessary steps toEard returning to the allie
1iaace Of their respective States. He replied
that this was butt Eoor excuse he could not
oelievo that of6cen Of the army we're 80 ignor-
mt OF their form otgoTerument as to SUPPOSE
sch proceedings cold occur, and As they hsds
aN,rn allegiance TO TIC government they were ~
bolnd TO adhere to it, nd wonld have dono so J
If hsy had bce3 80 hdinod. Ho said there
Esas 10 excuse Hhatese5 IN United States OIL 1 j,