Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-23
THE LATE GEN. THOMAS.
Testimony as to His Sympathy with
the South Ina the Inception of Our
Civil War.

the South In the Inception of Our
Civil War.
From the Mobile Register.
NEW ORLEANS, July IL, 1671.-GeD.
Braxton Bragg--Dear General: l have
recently read in the papers what Mr..
Townsend says about Gen. Thomas say
ings and doings when at Carlisle Bar
racks, in 1861, as refutation of Thomas
reported sayings and action while in
Texas just prior to that date.
There is abundance of evidence that
Thomas was an openly avowed secession
list, prior to his sudden change of views
and decision to remain in the Northern
army. His obedience of orders to go 10
Carlisle Barracks was the turning point
with him; was the abandonment of his
allegiance to Virgins, and the adoption
of the cause of her enemies; and what he
said or did after that has never been
questioned by Fitz Lee or anybody else.
But we are familiar with his sentiments
and purposes prior TO that time, which
were earnestly loyal to Virginia, and
were openly avowed to be SO by him.
When the time came for US all to stake
sides" on the great question between the
States and the Union, Thomas complain
ed that Gen. Lee was 'too slow that
Virginia was "too slow" That, as for
him, he would go at once to Virginia,
offer her his sword, if she would leave
the Union; if not, he would join any
State that had left it. These sayings of
his in Texas are well remembered and
often related by gentlemen familiar with
him there. They are corroborated by
his own letter now on file in the Military
Academy of Virginia, in which letter he
applies for the office of commandment of
the corps of Virginia Cadets, with the
rank of Major, in the Virginia forces. A
copy of this letter has been filed in the
Southern Historical Society here. Also
Governor John Letcher's letter, stating
that on application of Thomas, through
his friends, he actually conferred upon
Thomas the position of Chief of Ordnance
of Virginia.
1t was about that time understood in
Virginia that Thomas ard Bob GaTnett
were the especial fsvorites of the extreme
Secession party in the Convention then
sitting in Richmond, and were discussed
for the highest military offices in the
State. Because at that time these two
officers were known to be extreme seces-
sionists, while we were not even sure of
the timely accession of either Lee or
Johnston to the cause of Virginia.
There is no doubt that the State su.
thorities of Virginia had been fully in
formed of the intention of George Thomas
to obey the dictates of the paramount
allegiance which he averred was due from
him to Virginia, and that when he went
to New York he intended to resign his
commission in the United States army
and return to Virginia and enter her SER
vice. But after reaching New York he
seems to have been delayed there and
overbOrne by influences which we do not
know nor appreciate, until promotion was
sent 10 him with orders to proceed TO
Carlisle Barracks. After having accep-
ted that promotion and obeyed those Or
ders, he was committed to the cause of
the enemies of Virginia, and, naturally,
we may believe that he became open and
extreme in avowing his hostility to Vir-
ginia.
No man knew better than he the depth
of his degradation when he arrayed him>
self with Sickles, Butler, Sherman and
other such men to degrade the people of
his home and hearth, defended as they
were against his parricidal hands by Lee,
Johnston, Jackson, Stuart, Ashby snd the
other gentlemen of Virginia who fought
and fell around her flag in the day of her
sore calamity.
Every tribute to the virtues OF Lee and
Jackson was q stab to the conscience of
Thomas, and be was self cOndemned,
whenever he heard of their glorious lives,
or thought of their heroic sacrifices to
their convictions of duty-which were
also his.
He hiss gone to his long account. His
arrsignment and theirs will be before 8
court where our views and feelings cans
not enter. And while we feel that it is
wrong to censure or accuse him now, and
while we admit that we ought to make
allowance for influences not felt or under
stood by us, which oVercame his forti-
tude in maintaining his convictions, the
facts of history are abundantly estab-
lished here which show that he was rene
gsde to his State, his people, and his con-
victions.
If this was virtue, he was eminently
virtuous, and having been promoted and
rewarded in this life, he will receive more
rewards in the dread hereafter.
While we, not having enjoyed any very
large privileges during our earthly pill
grimage, must content ourselves as best
we may, when our last march is ended,
with whatever one may receive along
with Lee and Stonewall. l ''accept that
situation" and pray for it every night.
have taken steps to have the papers
in this case sent to you, and am truly
yours. DABNEY Ii. MAURY.
COPY OF COPY OF GOV. LETCHER's LETTER
TO GEN. FITzHUGH LEE, WHICH IS ON
FILE IN THE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL 30
CIETY, OF NEW ORLEANS.
LEXINGTON, Va, June 20, 1870.-Gen-
eral have duly received your letter of
May 81, and have no hesitation in reply
ing to your inquiries. 1t is due to you
and to the country that the facts should
| be known.
Between the LIST Dec, 1860, and the
1st March, 1861, Col William Gillian,
then Professor in the Virginia Military
Institute, and who had been associated
with Gen. G. H. Thomas at West Point,
received letter from him, dated New
York, inclosing one to Gen. Smith, the
Superintendent of the Virginia Military
Institute "a copy of which is herewith
appended). Col. Gillian presented the
letter to Gen. Smith, who was then con-
fined 10 bed by sickness. He directed
Col. Gillian TO write to Gen. Thomas,
and say TO him that there was no vacancy
at that time in the Faculty of the Insti-
tute. But that if he desired a position in
Virginia, the office of Chief of Ordnance,
Chen recently organized) with the rank
and pay of Colonel of cavalry, was
vacant, and that his claims were such
that no doubt existed that l, as Governor
of Virginia, would confer the appoint
ment upon him if he desired it. To this
letter Col. Gilman received reply sub
staltiallY as fellows.