Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-30
The Removal Of Army Headuuarters

| CORRESPONDENCE ON THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES
OF THE eKNERAL-Ir.CHIRF.
The controversy In relation to Gen. Sher-
| mans proposed removal Of the army head
quarters from Washington to st. Louis has
brought out several letters Of old date, but re-
ferring to the matter at issue, and showing that
| the controversy which led up to it lie of long
standing.
GEN. GRANT TO SECRETARY STANTON.
The first letter is from Lieut.. General u. s.
Grant, dated January %, 1866, and addressed
to Secretary or War Stanton. Gen. Grant says
hat from the period of the difficulty between
Major General, then Lieutenant General. Scott
with Secretary Marcy during the administra-
ton of President Polk, the command OF the
army virtually passed into the hands OF the
Secretary of War, and asks that the old condi-
ton OF affairs be restored. He expresses the
opinion that the Adiutsnt's Office should be
under the entire contrOl Of the General-in Chief
OF the Army. No orders should go to the army
or the Adjutant General except through the
GeDeTafin Chief; such as require the scsion Of
the President would be laid before the Secretary
OF Wal, whose actions would be regarded as those
OF the President.
GIN. SHERMAN TO THE SECRETARY OF wAR.
The second letter, from General Sherman to
the Secretary OF War, is dated August IL 1870.
1t adopts General Grants views as to the proper
disposition OF duties and authority. Gen. Sher-
man holds that so long as orders are not Issued
through him he cannot in fact command the
army OF the United States, and Is not RESPONSE
BILE Tor it. He alludee to the regulations for the
army in 1868, and adds that they are but COM
such men as Davis and Floyd took pleasure in
stripping General Scott OF even the semblance
OF power, and purpOsely reduced him to q mere
cipher in the government Of the army. Not one
word can be found in those regulations speak
ing of the duties Of the Lieutenant General
commanding the army, or defining single act
OF authority that rightfuily devOlved on him.
Not single mention is maze of the rights and
duties OF q c0mmander-in. chief of the army.
He is ignored, and purposeiy too, as q part Of
the programme resulting In the rebellion, that
fha NJ Nrith nnf lsnf "a hAAA IL.
pass into the anarchy which these men were
shaping for the whole country. The letter con-
cludes: =" surely do not ask for any power
myself, but hope and trust that now, while We
have military President and military Secre-
tary of War, that I'm the new regulations to be
laid before Congress the next session the func-
tons Of the cOnmsnder-in-chief will be so
clearly marked oat and defined that they NAV
large"
GENERAL SHERMAN TO PRESIDENT GRANT.
Subsequently, on the I'd of September, 1870.
General Sh addressed q letter to Prs.i-
dent Grant on the subject. He thinks that the
field of duty for the Secretary of war and the
commanding general OF the army, 80 as to avoid
the unpleasant controversy that gave SO much
scandal in General Seott's time. He adds: .No
matter what the result, promise to submit to
whatever decision you may make. 1 also feel
certain that General Bel knap thinks he Is simply
executing the law as it now stands, but am
convinced that he does not interpret the law re-
viving the grade Of General, and that fixing the
peace establishment Of 1868, as construe
them. For instance, am supposed to control
the discipline OF the military academy as q part
OF the army, whereas General Belknap ordered
q court of inquiry in the case Of the colored
cadet, made detail, reviewed the proceedings,
and made his order, without my knowing q word
Of it, except through the newspapers; and more
recently, when went to Chicago to attend to
some division business, | found the inspector
70 so o 9m as s
business. All ask ia, that such orders should
60 to the parties through me. IL all the staff
officers are subject to receive orders direct from
the Secretary OF War it will surely clash with
the orders which they may be in the act OF ex-
ecutiDg from Inc, or from their immediate COM
mander. ask that General Belknap draw up
some clear, well-defned rules fer nv action,
that he chow them to me before publication, that
l make on them NY remarks, and then that you
make final decision. 1 promise faithfully to
abide by 1t, or give up my commission. Please
show this to General Belknap, and viii be-
back early in October"
GEN. SHERMAN TO SECRETARY BRLKNAP.
NO action having been taken in the mean
time, on the 9Th Of May, 1874, Gen. Sherman
addressed the following communication to the
Secretary Of War:
fully TO request that may be permitted to re-
move my headquarters to st. Louis, Mo-, in the
month Of October next, in the same manner and
General Scott, shortly after the Mexican war.
Strong reasons, official and personal, impe! me
to this step. and 1 make this request at this
COS ~ uoeO OCSau1c GIN uiOnluS uOttCo
OF me IN certain necessary preliminarles in st.
Louis"
SECRETARY BELKNAp's REPLY.
To which the Secretary OF War replied:
General: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt Of your communication Of the Sth
instant, asking permission to remove your head
quarters to st. Louis, Mo-, in the month of Oc-
tOber next, and tn inform you that ii has been
submitted to the President OF the United States
With the assent Of the President, consent IL
given to you moving your headquarters to st.
Louis rs you desire.
A copy Of the general order which 1t is pro-
posed To issue upon the subject is herewith in
closed. You win perceive that it does not change
the present order OF business with this depart
ment. 1t is only deemed best here to add to its
provisions the suggestion which was made and
carried out In the case Of General Scott-that
no material change shall be made In the stations
Of troops or commanders without previous ap-
GEN. sHRRMAN's HOUSE IN WASHINGTON.
General Sherman having decided to leave
this city, and the house he lives in having been
presented to him as q home, he at once wrote q
letter to Secretary Fish, who was one of the
donors, rendering return OF the house through
him to the friends who had presented it to him,
giving very frankly his reasons for taking this
course. Secretary Fish replied that they could
not receive 1t; that IL was presented to him for
the benefit OF himself and family, and that IL he
did not occupy it as q residence the proceeds of
1t belonged to his family. General Sherman
will therefore, sell his present residence il an
opportunity offers before he leaves the city; if
not, it will be rented.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.