New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-05
THE ROCK OF OHICAMAUGA


IrcIsI AZURE FIDELITY IN sERNich-
HABITS AND TAsTEs-HIs MODEsri, ETC.
Tho announcement of Gen. Th0mass death
has becn accompanied. in journals OF both parties
throughout the land by heartfelt words OF grief ana o
enthusiastic euloges OF the man and OF his recoru do
soldier We have few words OF dsparagemeh'' eVen
in columns which have been devoted to bitter assaults
no or covert sneers against tho cause In which tho
hero gained his reputation Since the murder vi aura
ham Lincoln awed his enemies TO silence or W"'o ~
man has died whose character has commanded SUI" VIZ
form and enthusiastic admiration from men Oh All 0p'"
iona No that Of Gen Thomas The effect OF Tue hSV nov"
upou the people of various cities was geher' uof
sion Men met each other upon the streets anu III 'ue
business resorts TO exchange expressions Oh 'ne' o
Veterans everywhere recalled their recoieetiou' y.
old warrior with tenderness and anecuon' fuoi'o me-"
been held in every place large enough ior "o
a. ,brce 70 Gather together and resolutions eNpresso
o ,or the country loss and pride 10 her soiuef
.- have been approved, with far moro earnest leei
tnes than usually accompanies such lorinaii'ie'
B,eray true that the whole nation IL IN mourning
We are sorry TO mention trivial exception 10 'ne
general tone Of the press in its comments on the uean
OF GEN Tbomas-a an exception which gives emphasis 10
the rule few of the utterly irrecOnehaoio 'ooi
editors Of the South cannot forgive the Genera lo ~
fact that being Vlrgnian By birth' he was true " VIC
Government which he served rs an officer oilts regular
army In two such instances ne sspoAon VI WIN
bitterness and excessive rancor.
"iN' A""''-S uull alJer tue
of Grant Gen Thomas was stationed in Ten
nessee During the reconstruction OF that State and
subsequent disorder he governed with firm hand,
never interfering uselessy, but always protecting all
citizens and preserving the peace His course was 90
impartial and just that only the btterest Rebels found
fault with him; the proposition TO remove his por-
trait from the State Library obtained the support
OF no considerable number OF the Democratic
members OF the Legislature That proposition
brought from the General the following char
aeteristc letter. The rebuke elected apollo
gete explanation the who offered the resolu
ton interested in the honor OF the State The
explanation that the whole matter joke of
single member, who wished satirize certain falsely
economic measures before the Legislature. Whatever
the pretended motive. the Offering Of such resolution
and acceptance by the members without express
sion of shame and Indignation was insulting TO Gen.
Thomas and his spirited letter is honorable part OF
his record. - .
Hon. u. A. NUSN-Degr SIR: received your favor OF
the 10Th yesterday. and as sure of your friendly
feeling me. take great pleasure in giving you
inre Of tennessee the cost Of the portrait Of myself
ordered be painted by the Legislature Of 1885, and re-
state. 1 will premise, by stating that, although
m rf SaG Ordered re- R Sy n s S Portrait
of TO be painted and placed in the State Library yet
snip and esteem the joint resolution having been passed
without my knowledge, felt natural deieaey in de
the sincerity Of the act Fron that day until the extra
ordinary proceedings had in the present Legislature
had been led to believe that the act of the Legislature OF
ls6e had been generally approved throughout the State
ON being Informed Of those recent proceedings sefre-
Spect as well as proper appreciation OF the act OF me
Legislature of lSG6 required that should relieve the
OF seeing dsagreea6e picture every time they went INTO
the State Library. The reasons mpeled me 10 In
lean NewYork. where had deposited last Spring
Now let me- assure You that IN taking the course have
dlsclam any intention whatever TO reject the eompl
wish return the Legislature which repuQldteS
their act as far as In my So compensation for
former Legislature ON the people of the State IN my
behalf am, very truly yours, ~
GEO. H. THOMAS. Mai. Gen. U. s. A.
now GEN. THOMAS CAME LAST COMMANDER OF
InE ARMY OF TIE cUMBERLAND-A STATEMENT BY
At the banquet OF the surviving members OF the Army
of ibe Cumberland in Tnananolis, fast DovombNr Con.
Rosecrans said that there is much interesting un.
written history connected with the Army OF the Cumber
land and he would tell them briefly how it that Gen.
Thomas came TO be the last commander Of that army
The General proceeded TO relate how he designated
that command over his seniors in rank, and how the
question OF rank adjusted. Further on he said that
he felt a difdence about assuming the command OF SO
great and important and over so many officers
his friend and had received his recommendations for pre-
posts of honor said to Cen Thomas. g You are
especaily OF its best men 1 have not |
need your aid and will give command you want
in this army whether of of its three divisions the
place Of second command. Gen. Thomas, in reply,
marked that he had the greatest confidence and esteem
for me- he always dsked to violate the regular
TEN OF promotion by seniority. After he had declined
the Army the Ohio he had thought of service in Texas
but under all circumstances he could not decline to
serve with He asked me the date OF my commission
and told him believed that 1t had been antedated to
the 2lst of March. knew never inquired to
why ioy commission had been antedated. Gen. Thomas
sald that ended his last objection that my commission
IN command and II amounted simply to being nobody
SO divided the army ana gave NM as s Sei b
to he associated with US IN the Army OF the Cum
berland"
The next piece Of history when left the army
without taking leave or shaking hands Gen Garfield
thing that Gen. Thomas would nave spoken OF him
self but he felt great decacy Garfield said there were
pointed the command II tiat were done he tThomas
should think it great injustice to tue army ana to the
country aud would take the command unless he were
compelled to do so by duty told Garfield to say to
Thomas that had the greatest confidence in ms honor
would have no msanprehension OF misunderstanding
commanders that when took charge OF Chattanooga
was determined TO DO all IN my power 10
fSoUs to o" Sc constructed as speedily as pos
sbe. the 10 take possession OF Lookout
Valley This known to my young friend, Phil. sher
idan" Sheridan here interrupted, and said he had
tdden the with Rosecrans 10 make tie arrange
with Badly smith, vino had been sent as hieEngineer
Of the Army. examined the points TO cross The ilyer
and. upon my return IN the evening found telegram
announcing my relief. and the appointments OF Gen. |
TO Granger TO call at my headquarters al O'Clock D. m
When lac had the necessary orders prepared and
laid my table laid them before Thomas for him to
read lie read them with great embarrassment aud began
10 turn pale. told hun TO say nothing. Knew what
that nothing could come between him and myself. |
said To hun, " You can't desert this post All Will be
he didn't like H. The chiefs sent for and had
reports made OF how affairs stood IN each department OF
then the orders wrlttenlDine taking leave ana ms
assuming command when we 1ad dohe this; ana e e
Thomas that this change would pI0oaDy nave
nd