New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
CAMPAIGN. INTELLIGENCE.
A REAL SOLDIER ON BURNSIDE.

A REAL SOLDIER ON BURNSIDE.
THE COMMANDER OF sHERMAN's LEFT WING on
THE PITTSBURGH CONVENTION, GREELEY,
AND BURNSIDE-PUNGENTs SUGGESTIONS FROM
GEN. SLOCUM-SIDE REFERENCES TO FRED
EBICKSBURG, EAST TENNESSEE, AND THE
MINE EXPLOSION.
Gen. A. L. BURNsIDE-Deor General: 1have read
with great interest your address to the soldiers and
sailors who served in the Union army and navy
during the late war. As ] was ono Of the soldiers
alluded to trust you will not be displeased if say
few words in response thereto. You tell MS that
you and others, representatives, met at Pitts
burgh and adopted a series of resolutions which we
have already seen. You complain that Mr.. Greeley
has expressed the opinion that you assembled for
political purposes and that you hoped to accomplish
these purposes by revivinR the animosties and
hatreds engendered by the war. You further say
that these remarks Of Mr.. Greeley and his entire
lack of courtesy toward the soldiers and sailors
serve to confirm you in the opinion that he is quite
unfit to be trusted in any position where loyalty TO
his Government, just regard to the feelings OF
Others and an abnegation of self is required You then
proceed to inform in conclusion, that IT only Ie
mains for you to urge Us 10 organize 10 harmony
with the regular Republican organizations, and do
all in our power to reflect Gen. Grant.
The first thought that occurred to my mind on
reading this address was "What was there in Gen.
Burnsides military career that justhes him IN tell
ing tho hundreds of thousands of soldiers who
served during the late war what they should do in
time Of peacefD Did anything occur at the first
Bull Run, at Roanoke Island. at Fredericksburg IN
East Tennessee or at the mine explosion in front of
Petersburg which entities him to assume command
of all Of us in time of peace and order us to the
front TO fight in behalf Of political partyf
NV second thought was: " Is il creditable to the
soldiers Of the late war that one Of their number
should be permitted their pretended representa-
hveto spread broadcast over the land document
charging Horace Greeley with disloyalty" Thetruth
of the saying that the pen is miehtier than the
sword" is coming year by year to be more generally
acknowledged. In view Of the election Of Gen.
Grant the Presidency, and of the fact that he Is
candidate for reelection there are probably some
men in the country who doubt its truth. Ii, how
sver we were TO add TO the saying the proviso that
the pen should be handled by Greeley and the
sword by q Burnside, all dOubters would
disappear You and /, General know full
well that while we were in the field
lighting for the Union, Mr.. Greeley was welding In
behalf Of the same cause weapon far more power
ful than those used by either of u.s. We know, too
that ong after we had sheathed our swords he kept
ap III fight and continued it until every object was
accomplished for which even the most ardent AbO-
htionist had ever prayed. He did not cease the
fight until the Union was restored, Slavery ab0l-
ished, the blacks enfranchised, ard all their civil
and political rights solemnly guaranteed to them by
amendments to the Constitution. And yet, General
you have the hardihood of charging this man with
disloyalty. and uttering this foolish charge in
your assumed capacity as the representative OF all
the Union soldiers Of the land.
You say ne has been guilty Of n lack Of courtesy
toward us. IN my judgment. any man who eight
years after the close of bloody civil will ask
soldiers TO assemble in convention with q view of
controlling their action in political matters is
demagogUe unworthy Of courtesy at the hands Of
Mr. Greeley or any other person. When at the close
of the war we laid down our arms, we became citi-
Lens and we have no interests to-day except those
we have in common with all other citizens Why.
then should any Que ask u.s. in character as sol
diers to assemble in political bodiesf Why should
you extend TO us such invitation unless it iswith
the hope that from your former connection with us
in the army yOu may be able to influence our judg-
ments upon matters of public policy in time OF
peacei Do you not think, General that these as
sembles of soldiers for the purpose of perfccting
our elections have become slightly nauseating TO
the publicf Did it ever to you that as rule,
the officers most active III work of this nature We're
most unsuccessful in the field
Permit me, in conclusion, to say that do not be-
ieve that in your action at Pittsburgh, or in the
sentiments of the address to which have alluded,
you are in any sense of the word representative OF
the real soldiers of the army. On the contrary,
feel that very many of them unite with me in the
hope that this political campaign, IN which you seem
to have assumed the position Of commander may
prove to you and to the troops of your command
another Fredericksburg. Very truly yours,
BroOtlyR, Oct T. 1872. h. W. sLocVM.