The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-05-26
General Thomas,

Islander first started by Fltz Hugh |
lee, that General Thomas had
offered his services to the Rebel |
Junta, at the opening of the war.
Nobody acquainted with the charac-
ter and sturdy patriotism of the hero |
of Nashville, could be led to believe |
for a moment that this vile libel had
any better basis for it's origin than |
in the malevolence and envemoned
hate the rebel leaders bore to q man
who done such heroic, services in
grinding to powder their revolution,
and who unable to seduce him from
the path Of loyalty, or overcome
him in battle while living, must
needs now pursue him into the
grave with their baseless calumnies.
But to put all these stories at rest
we quote the following extract from
an article in the San Francisco Alta
Californian, written by Colonel
Alfred l.. Hough, confidential
officer on General Thomas staff dur
ing the war and up to his death:
"a SANDER upon the General was
often repeated in the Southern papers
during and Immediately subsequent
to.the rebellion. It was given upon
the authority of prominent rebel Of
ficers, and not denied by them it was
to the effect that he was disappointed
in not getting o high command in
the rebel army he had sought for,
hence his refusal to join in the rebel
lion. In conv ersation with him on
this subject, the General said this
was an entire fabrication, not having
an atom of foundation not q line
ever passed between him and the
rebel authorities; they had no gen.
uine letters of his, nor was word
spoken by him to any one that could
even lead to such an inference. He
defied any one to produce any testi-
mony, written or oral, to sustain such
an allegation he never entertained
such an idea, for his duty was clear
to him from the beginning. He said
these SANDERS were caused by men
who knew they had done wrong, but
were endeavoring to justify them.
selves by claiming their action to be
a virtue which all true men would
have followed, and by blackening
the character Of those who had done
right. ltwas evident they were de.
termined that no Southern born man
who had remained true to his coun.
try should bear reputable charac.
ter, If continued and repeated abuse
could effect stain upon it.
Col. Hough made notes Of General
Thomas remarks at the time, and
gives another extract from his note
book, as follows:
In a discussion upon the causes
given for their action by some of the
officers who deserted the Governmc
at the rebellion, ventured the asser
ton that perhaps some of them, al
distant posts, had acted ignorantly
that had been informed that some
of them had been imposed upon by
friends or relatives. and led to believe
there wau to be a peacable dissolution
of the Union /; that there would b.
no actual General Government fol-
the whole country, and by resignine
their commissions they were only
taking the necessary steps by return
ing to the allegiance of their respec
tive States. He replied that thit
was but poor excuse; he could no,
believe that officers of the army
were SO ignorant Of their form o
Government as to suppose such pro
ceedings could occur, and as they
had sworn allegiance to the Govern
ment they were bound to adhere K
it, and would have done so If they
had been so inclined. He said Their
was no excuse whatever in q Unitet
States officer claiming the right o
secession, and the only excuse any
of them could have had for thei
desertion OF the Government wa
what none of them admitted havin,
engaged in, a revolution against
tyranny, because the tyranny did no
exist, and they we'll knew it. l thel
asked him, supposing such q state o
effairs had existed, that arrange
ments were being made for a peaceful
dissolution of the Union by tn,
Government, the North from tn,
South, and that it was in progress
! what would you have done? II,
promptly replied, that is not sup
possible case the Government can
not dissolve itself it is the creatur,
Of the people, and until the peopl,
had agreed by tneir votes to dissolve
it, and it was accomplished in accorc
ance Herewith, the Government te
which he had sworn allegiance re
NAMED, and as long as it did exist hi
should have adhered to it"
"This testimony is direct and con
elusive. It will be accepted as 9
complete REPUTATION of post morton
s anders upon a character singularly
pure, disinterested and hon orable.'