Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-05-26
Tac Case 0! iar Uap.rlsIa:isss B,.=esa
President GRAFT and General Hanrock
I CORRESPONDENTS HtrwLE> rmr IN
IiE iNn Chs. SHERMAN.

("RkE>roNpr>cE HirwLE> rnr INr-
IIE t>n "tN. SHERMAN.
W,>ul>oru>. Man -. GA thu 18Th
of April Gen. ", = Hancock address
e,i the following trlc-raphic dispatch
tu Gen. W. /. sherman. dated at II.
Louis II nv rank vii! no, cutiile ms.
10 4 division. AMI The changes Ia tie
departments are such ~ to make 1t
practicable. | would prefer hi, -.
Louis station. | leave at osrr for st.
Paul
HE next DAY Gen. Sherman replied
General / have laid yonr dispatch
Of the 18th from II. Louis before the
President. who auihurizcd IL, 10 say
that Your wishes and claims for the
succession 10 the command Of the Nil
itury Division OF the Pacific. made
vacant lay Gen. Thomas death. were
fairly considered, and your preference
tor the Department OF the Missouri.
IN ease of IA change in it, commander.
were also known To him: bnt he LA,
ordered otherwise The President
authorizes me Ia SAY to YOU that it
belongs 10 his office 10 select Com
maading t,cncrals Of Divisions and
Departments. and that the relations
that YOU have towards him officially
AMI priyatcl absolvc him from re-
gardlng your personal preferences.
The order announcing the change, will
br made public in a very few days.
and they will not touch the Depart
ment of Dakotah or the Military Div
I ision of the Missouri
AIN. with respect yours truly.
W. L. sherman. General.
General Hancock replied from st.
Paul. April y as follows;
General Your letter has been re-
ceired detailing the reasons the Pres-
( dent has given why my claims to
a more important command should not
be regarded. | intended in INV dis
/ patch To ask for a division. if the cx-
/ listing divisions were all contuu-
Y cd. or otherwise If the changes made
1 IL practicable. not rs a favor, but as a
CAIN 10 IA command to which thought
my rank entitled me. As the Presi-
/ dent leads me 10 believe that because
| have not his personal sympathy. nv
/ preferences for a command will not be
regarded. Notwithstanding my rank.
/ ! shall not again open the subject. but
will add III conclusion that think it
\ Is ali unfortunate precedent to establish
that military rank in times of peace, es-
peclally in the assignment Of general
officers To commands of divisions and
| departments. shall not have the CON
| slderation hitherto conceded 70 it.
| am. very respectfully. your obedi-
ent servant. WINFIELD ). HANCOCK.
Tho reference III Gen. Sherman's
| letter to the relations which Gen. Han
cock chose to assume towards the
President officially and privately, and
absolring the President from regard
ing Gen. HancOcks personal prefer
ences is thus explained: At the time
the reconstruction acts were put in
operation, Gen. Hancock was trans
ferred from the Department of Mis-
souri, TO the District of Louisiana.
President Grant, as General-in Chief
modified or revoked one of Gen. Han
cocks orders 10 which the latter took
strong personal exceptions. Shortly
after by order of the President, Gen.
Hancock was assigned to the CON-
mand Of the Division of the Atlantic,
and came to Washington. He went
to Gen. Grants headquarters, but in
stead of calling upon him personally
simply registered his name, which was
unusual and considered discOurteous.
General Grant. having no knowledge
or apprehension that Gen. Hancock
was offended with him, meeting him on
the street shortly affarwards aocoafod