Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-01
ROSECRANS WAR RECORD.
His yindieation of HIMSELF.
Address to the Society of the
Army of the Cumberland,
Dec. 16, 1869.


following remarks Of Gen. Rosecrans,
made in the banqueting hall at the time of
the reunion of the society in Indianapolis
on the 10th of December; near the close
of the banquet, in response to long con-
tinued and deafening calls for a speech,
Gen. RoscranS said:
My CoAIRADES:-I have not had the
| pleasure of meeting so many of you since
/ rode the lines In front of Chattanooga.
And now, when | look upon your faces
and receive from you so many kindly
manifestations of your regard, and when
l remember that may never see many of
| you again, l remember too that there is
much unwritten history connected with
our struggles when together in the field
which may never be told. If you will
indulge me for a few moments l propose
to tell you how Gen. Thomas came to be
the last commander of the Army of the
Cumberland Cries of "Good, Hear, I"
''Hear," "SilenCe.
As look upon your faces and remem-
Der that you are my equals, that you are
the men l honor, that you are the men
who constituted part of the Army of the
Ohio when came TO that command, |
think shall discharge a duty quite in
cumbent upon me, and probably crafty
ing to you, when | tell you some few in
cidents connected with that change of
commanders.
Comrades, you will probably remember
that when | was ordered to relieve Gen.
Buell. of the command of the Army of
the Ohio | came from another line of
duty; but you probably are not generally
aware of the fact that, although l had
been in the war from the beginning,
had received no promotion, until the night
after the battle of Iuka, when | received
commission as Major General of volun-
! teen, dated the 10th of August, 1862.
Yen well remember that after this came
the battle of Corinth, on the Sd and 4th
of October, 1862. When we were called
from the pursuit of the enemy and re-
turned on the 1lth. On the 18th, having
| completed my official report of the battle,
| received orders tC repair TO Cincinnati,
where | found an autograph note from
General Hooker, directing me to proceed
to the headquarters of General Buell. and
assume command of the Army of the
Cumberland In order that mi hit assume
the command to which | was assigned, it
was necessary that a Major General of
Volunteers, whose commission had but
| few months date, should assume the COM
mand of those menwho had grown up with
the Army of the Ohio. Major Gen.
Thomas, Maj Gen. Crittenden and Mai.
| Gen. McCOOk had been promoted for gal
liant fighting in the field, and many others
had been promoted, bat was a JUNIOR.
1t happened, in some way or another,
that ] was chosen, but what were the in
| fluenCcs which led to the selection of NY
! self to relieve Gen. Buell., | never knew,
nor did | inquire. l believe il will be
borne out by my record that never asked
for command, nor sought influence to
obtain command orpromotion. Voices
THAT was right - "We believe it -
"God bless you; sect every word;
Take it all down." Several enthusiastic
admirers of the General frequently, dur
ing the speech, addressed these last, and
words of similar import to the reporter. |
Now cones the point | wish to speak
of with reference to Gen. Thomas; and I
shall have TO beg your indulgence for
little while, because the story may be tif-
teen minutes long, or possibly longer.
| Voices, Go on, - eco on"
i arrived at Bowling Green before Gen.
Thomas reached that place. l felt a natu-
raj difidenoe, which / ought to have felt,
in being assigned to the command of an
army already distinguished in the annals
of war-already the foremost in the West.
| had known Sen. Thomas from the
times when he was a cadet ! had the
| opportunity OF recommending him as a
proper person TO take the place which was
rendered me n the Virginia Military In
stitute; and, subsequently, with a brother
officer OF the Engineer Corps-Su-
perintendent of the Military Academy
to recommend him for the pO
sition of Chief of Artillery, at West
Point. Upon his arrival l sent for him
TO come to me, when ! said : Thomas,
have been assigned to the command of
this army you are my senior in service
and in years and in merit; do not come
| TO take this Command without q great deal
of diflidenCe, but as it has been so ordered
by the government, | wish TO say that il
viii be necessary for me to have the aid
and assistance of the officers of this com.
mand, and most of all | want a perfect
understanding with you, and l wish &c
know what you think about it, | wan
10 say now, tefore you give me your an,
swer, that whatever you want you car
have. l will divide this army-to be SURF
Fcan not give legal title-but will d
vide it and i've YOU the largest of The
three divisions, or you msy be second IL
{ | command"
Gen Thoma- replied that he had tht
most perfect confidence and highest re
gard and friendship for me. Applause.
He said that he Lad always placed entir,
confidence in me /; that he had always
2 | dislike for violation of the regular sys
| TEN # promotion by sJpi0rity in the army
and that when it was Anticipated that hc
r would decline taking command of tn
r Army of the Ohio, he tLought Of asliin:
service in Texas. But he could not re
fuse, Under all the circumstances of tn
S case as placed them befole him, for
: showed him that the efficiency Of tn
j I army, il fact its success IN agTcat meas
p ure, depended upon his cooperation; an
5 so he said he would serve with me. II
t simply desired to know if my Coslmissio,
was dated before his | was notified tha
l. it was ante-datcd. Why it was done
never knew. but that is none of OtT bus
a ness. told him l believed it was date
e the Dist of March, 1862. Well, sal
he, "that is older than mine, and Iemsve
II the last objection have" Applause.l
: You remember that divided the arm
= and made lin commander of the Centc
We talked it all over, and he said
2 have had experience as second in con
ot mand, and found that was nobody
" with you know Il viii be different; hu
g nevertheless, if you desire it, l will tai
IN the second command. ! leave it to yo
h judgment; perhaps it might be better f
me to have portion of the army?
a thought it best for him to have the fo
y divisions constituting the center of Il
Army of the Cumberland Cheers al
10 applause.
le That is little piece Of history, Il
M / e ,,,l;,I, 7 ,..,-Iol e..