The New York herald., 1871-02-27
Publication Of the Grant Han
cock Controversy.
~>c~~~~~~c~>~>~~~~-~~~~S~~
General Hancock Complains of
Being Overslaughed.
His Junior I'm Rank Placed
Over Him.
Denial That He Insulted The
President.
INTERESTING EPISTOLARY CORRESPONDENCE

OF General Hancock. The letters passed principally
between Generals Sherman and Hancock and the
first from the former states substantially the whole
case. General Sherman writes In May last:-
Prssidsnt Grant insults General HancocE This
article 70 so bitter in It's tone and states facts 80 posi-
from ms to nau9y us wSd
iorss General Grant publish, Or cause 70 Ss pub
sned ,s the actual have looked over
courteous IN note giving FAIR frank answer to
answer By telegraph for The very reason that ii might Be
seen by irresponsible asenis who might give i publicity
ter from ss viii be- Universal mat
SSi rH% s Ss e article sss
ssS @ ss the e he ne on % wo he
did see them ! nnderstood long ago that you took
order: made New oTiean. the power % do which
Military Division Of the xansc You positively
omay ana 81
all i6ls only know from others not from General
unsndy ntud yoar as
or but merely of regret that
should have led General Grant to
but older and named General schoaed 70 succeed
the Pacific think ought 70 write me letter. discaim-
~ ea9se na es an sS @ we % De fs 81 se
ceunersct Its damaging effect on all the parties interested,
GENERAL HANCOCK TO GENERAL SHERMAN.
This letter General Hancock found waiting him at
his new post-St Paul, Mlnn-and at once replied,
greatly modifying the statement as published; and
on the 9th of July he wrote at length, giving the
whole history OF the misunderstanding between
himself and Grant, as fo!lows:-
would have allowed the differences between General
Grant and myself to where the recent
to me contained in the article accompanying the publ,
Of May q aa wS Fssss
were thus disseminated broadcast over the country,
tom q the authority which gave that to
the from the fact that the article and the correspond
sa8s hs have
% but for he re
ssp S. Pa. a oss e h which
among other things that in your opinion -ough.
sSs cut ,1;s sss : %sis
then IN The newspapsIs and had not encouraged
am the authority for any injurious or correct
are Doubles. correct in your belief that The compiler of
you rssd n the M ca % &C. but
from one who did see T. or had heard card i p spoasr O
Sl for os
President, my to you reply, eonhden
published correspondence explains clearly what known
has gwen why, tas death Major General Thomas,
and why junior major general was assigned over my
than given to me "a military Department. and also why
military division IN which i was was then stationed
the other department commanders ma being bu. brgad,er
are Of are snH ps
not SS%s1 oo se Of for s Of
ago Of f. similar az Of my rank and no 1otSe
Complain want Of
IN e 1S reply not 'ars
on a no be doS s s
decision you communicated that made 1t appear The
asn
general nature mo- specific allegations we're mentioned
there anything that invite
rather it. am
have been expected to enter upon explanations under
ss Gss and private
occasions which you referred to In recent letter
hewas General Army, dsrsspecs. |
We're when v the TO
noticed notice sss@ and i he fact. not cor
chssral reply them. The subject has thus
80 @ y a my IA 2
perly dependent the favor with which may be per
ossa.on my
~ 'sH'p
commander ! was major general and the senior Of all
sss n
from long sAs saqsa,ntanes afe ws Il
% G my military being the
choice would be yielded to the department
had been regarded in other dlaeren. times
% but mo % ss %
although i was made year or more since The decision
a, departmen. then cOn.ieered the ieas. impor,an, nj
s rs Ssee one IN s 0n 70 command Which SEs
times the number of troops the other twice the number
Were were commanded BY my juniors The principle then IN.
e S1 Of an and
Of higher order The customs and traditions of he
in the recent decision wei the highest principle
your recent letter you Of the
sident disregard Of my superior rank
able IN principle Whether General shoaed a
had ssn ass sees se OF
ha% Sssa given q that grade
%aoa yoa aay uo %a es an no ben IN a1e %
that the principle involved seems % me 10 be the sane for
s a @ oss Of ssae
but the law establishing military rank does not contemplate
generals that Junior should be the
e apa Taes s so sa e
general placed over my head or junior major genera.
The rule that would place junior major general IN higher
Of q eh gave a be
save ,o one tsnd he not nn9 divisions and that
generals. and colonies, and not allow hun .
S pns 1s
well as the customs OF military service in all countries gov
General, who now commands q division, might be
4 a
! of the major generals had divisions
have thus stated grounds Of complaint
and have, am sure, established that have suffered
degradation OF rank the which comp ain.
told, before mentioned tho President claims
for his Office the right do he has done That he
has the arbitrary power, admit, have felt
| IL; but do not believe that the exercise of
4 such power Is conferred by existing laws; and IL
/ IL were allowed by law ! maintain that IL should
never be exercised except for valid public II such
supposed 10 exist certainly have
Informed Of them and as am loyal government
country and have feel quite discharged with fidelity
duties soldier for nearly the service
and only appointed major general shortly the
differences between General Grant OF the Army
and myself originated, ] believe that any such
valid public reasons exist why rank should be dsre
Gsrded.
A detailed statement OF the action OF General
Grant In overrung General Hancock's measures in
the New Orleans Council business follOwg but IL is
OF no Importance TO the question In point The let
ter continues
glad 70 be removed from that command; glad of
the opportunity thus presented might have retained
II Notwithstanding the humiliation ] had experienced,
but my pride forbade H. II well known that never