New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-07

w ,ie'eSsaiy, the manner OF It's performance
ana my own record, official and personal, con-
hected win IL, with view to a final COM
plete settlement of the questions at issue.
and which have been so ANNOYING TO nv
friends, and such a prolific source of public
scandal.
Very respectfully,
o. .. HOWARD,
Brig. General u. $. Army.
submit also letter written TO the Gem
eral Commanding the Army, one of similar
import having been written to the President
OF the United States of the same, which
tends to show that deprecated any show
to a full and thorough Investigation, and in
cidentally gives what believe to be in part
the immediate occasion of the formal charges
preferred against me on the 18th of the fol-
lowing December.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Nov. o., 1879.
Gen. w. 7. SHERMAN,
Commanding Army United States.
GENERAL: On account of the steady con-
iidence you have rcpOsed in me, write the
following to you. | am constrained to fake
step that believe | ought to explain to
you and to the officers of the Army affected
by it. wish to be assigned to Army duty
wherever il shall seem best to you to select
my pace OF assignment.
You have twice offered me this opportuni-
ty.
My reason for not promptly embracing the
offer were two fold:-
!. was anxious to complete the work of
the Frecdman's Bureau, to which had been
assigned without any solicitation on my
part, but which, of necessity, developed into
enormous proportions, and which took time
properally to close. 2. | was. anxious that the
University, which had grown up under nv
eye, and which deemed all important as a
part OF the higher educational advantages
had been instrumental in securing especial
iiy for those classes of our people whose
interests were for 4 time SO largely committed
to my care, should be put upon a secure
basis in all its breadth of scope, before COM
hitting its presidency to a successor.
L have endeavorcd to give it an cndow-
ment worthy of the object.
Unexpected opposition, the usual mis-
representation OF the motives of one
engaged in such work, and hinderanccs of
public and private nature have made this
work slow and onerOus.' 1t is not yet done,
but am unable with my private income to
continue it. l had intended to ask to be
placed before retiring board, in fact, | did
so apply to the War Department. But |
was sent to Arizona and New Mexico very
soon thereafter, and was obliged to under
take duty equally ar1uOus with any that l
performed during the war; on this | with
drew my application. found myself as able
to undergo fatigue and privatiOn, and all the
labor that pertains to field duty as at any
previous time of my life. You will rcmcm-
Der also that the loss Of my arm never dis
ablcd me from the performance of any duty
demanded OF me rs Il general officer.
have, however, often thought of retiring,
hn hot hnr1
war, and the much harder services required
of me since the war, would be considered
in my favor. But under present circum-
stances it is not prudent for me to take this
step of asking to be retired.
While many who commanded a division
only for a time have been retired with the
rank OF major genera, l cannot lawfully be
so retired, because L was wounded so early
in the war, while brigadcr, commanding a
brigade, and would, therefore c, be obliged to
retire as a brigadicr.
This might seem to be ample, and would
be doubtless but for the obligations | have
been forced to incur in the work providen-
TALLY given me to do.
confess that weightier reasons affect me
now than any have given to influence my
return TO army duty.
Bulletins affecting me unfavorably have
gone broadcast. My integrity is officially
acknowledged l admit, and hold letters Of
high commentator, and further, my seven
years OF unremitting toll, anxiety and re-
sponsibility are known, and the good fruits
are seen by those who care to see and ac-
knowledge them.
Yet it is idle for me to try to conceal from
myself the plain fact that there is persist
ent effort to tarnish my record, and if not in
official quarters the result is precisely the
same.
All the books and papers of large Blu
rcau are transferred to other hands.
A lengthy examination is then instituted,
and, whatever the results Of this eXamina-
ton may be, from it grows public suspicion
and accusation against me and the honor
able officers who were associated with me.
Now from. all this l wish to free.
You have seen me in battle, and know
how can face death.
shall face accusation with the same fear
less spirit. wish to go to duty, to give all
accusers ample time and opportunity to
round out their charges, and if they see fit
tal as the tribunal just suited to one Of my
history and rank.
Again have another reason for service:
| Should we now have q war with Spain, to
| free more slaves from dire oppression and
defend the honor of our flag, the President
would surely give me the opportunity of SER
vice.
Isit not a good thing to cndeavor to preserve
and not destroy, the fair fame of men who
ardently love their country, and who have,
in q series Unsuccessful battles, demonstrated
that this love is no empty boast?
| BY the consideration Ofpast service by my
earnest loyalty to my country: by my desire
to preserve an unsullied record for my chill
drens' inspection, ask for my proper place
among the officers of the army.
| am not only conscious of integrity but of
fidelity. My work was of necessity incom-
plete, but no wrong on the part ofany officer
me, and l was as diligcnt as could be in
the pursuit of wrong-doers.
Continued on third page.