New-York tribune., 1872-04-26
A SERIOUS CASE.

II is nearly ten years since military com
mission met at Cincinnati with closed doors 10
investigate the conduct of Gen. Don Carlos
Buell. in the management Of one OF the most
important of our Western campaigns. Buell.
had been relieved of his command under pc
cuIiar circumstances. He was an accomplished
strategist, but he was over cautious, and eau
ton in the earlier years of the war was a viz
tue for which neither the people nor
the Administration had much respect lie
was conservative in politics, ana
very free in his criticisms upon the policy OF
the Government. He was not on good terms
with either Grant or Sherman. There were
many, consequently, who believed that his re-
moyal was dictated by personal dislikes ana
iealouses, and to this day his offense, if he
really committed any, has not been made
public. The commission took an enormous
amount of testimony. They inquired into all
the operations of tho whole great cam
paign. and endeavOred to learn who de-
served the credit of its successes and VINO
was responsible for its imperfect results. 1hey
made report at last, and sent it to the Sec
rotary of War. Rumor asserted (and some
of the truth generally leaks out of these secret
court-rooms) that it vindicated Gen. Buell. and
tore to shreds the reputation of certain more
popular commanders. That it disposed entirely
of the imputations upon the Generals patriot
ism is evident from the fact that on two
occasions subsequently he was offered COM
mand. But what it contained has never been
told. 1t was not printed nor sent to Congress;
no official notice of any kind was ever taken
Of it; no satisfaction was given to Gen.
Buelrs repeated demands for justice; ana
when the wronged officer has applied for
copy of the testimony and report he has al
ways been refused. At last the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs was induced few
weeks ago to take action in the matter, and
the Secretary of War was requested to trans
NIT to that body copy of the proceedings OF
tho secret court. Gen. Belknap replied that
the papers were voluminous and he had not
force enough to transcribe them. Further
inquiry revealed the strange fact that they
have been removed from the files of the De-
partment, and nobody seems to know what
has become of them.
The investigation of this startling theft must
be no child's play it is well known with
what Jealous care the War Department pre-
tends to preserve its records. They are not
accessible to the outside public under any
circumstances, even for historical purposes;
but 1t is hardly secret in Washington that
they are accessible to the Military Ring. Now
if the Cincinnati and Nashville inquiry vindi-
Gated Gen. Buell., it must have irreparably
damaged certain other officers of distinguished
rank, and it will perhaps not be difficult to
ascertain who those officers are. Let us know
,Nipitit fhncn Inn
ant papers away. Let us know by what in-
fluence Gen. Halleck's report of the Shiloh
and DOnelsOn campaign has also been sup
pressed. Let us know why the War Depart
ment, reminded of this suppression by dis
tnguished public man, has refused to make any
explanation. Let us know whether it is true
that the records of various cOurts-martlal nave
been removed from the files, and whether 1t Is
true that Gen. Badeau has been allowed to
carry some of the most important papers of
the Department to Europe. And we may as
well know, too, what was the nature of the
service which the Presidents young friend,
Col. Leet, rendered, when he was arranging
army documents before his removal to New
York.
There is a widespread suspicion that the
Military Ring has been allowed to tamper
with these papers. The President must not
rest until thai suspicion has been removed.
While it lasts there is a blot upon his repu-
tation which his best friends cannot overlook.
If any officers fame is to be shielded by theft,
it does not follow of course that that officer is
Gen. Grant; but until it Is shown who the
guilty person is. the finger of suspicion points
at every man who has access to the records
and a possible interest in their suppression.
We call for an immediate and searching in
quiry.