The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-28
THE HISTORY OF THE WAR.
LETTER FROM GENERAL RosEcRAEs.

4
EGAS CANYON New. June II. 1876.
1 To THs EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
Your esteemed favor reached me by last mail
having been forwarded from my nome. san Rafael.
Cal
have TO thank you for the courtesy extended
20 me through the columns OF the HERALD FOR any
thing may desirs 90 write on the events or tho
war;
! A Union gener al who was a department com.
mander during part OF that period could hardly
fail to become special possessor or many facts I'm
portant to It's history.
Nor is 1t much TO say that this possession makes
him an Involuntary trustee Tor the oenent or the
public and OF posterity.
| have always felt the obligation OF this trust.
and endeavored to discharge IL. Officially. tho
public records OF my military aud civil admins
traTion. II not perfecS. wlL believe be found
/ Inferior 60 no Others.
Personally, when relieved nom the COM
mand or the Department or the Ohio TO
enable the President by the creation or
the Mountain Department., TO provide for
political exigency; when relieved from the COM
mana or the Army OF the Cumberland after the
campaign Of Cnat anooga, and when relieved
from the command or the Department or Missouri,
although abstained from laying before the public
facts due to the truth OF history because thought
their discussion would not suDserve the in ercst OF
the nation then in It's struggle FOR life, yet placed
Official record or publicly stated enough 10 con-
tradics the oflcial and personal calumnies by
which 1t was sought to disguise or justify these
latter removals from command, for witch neither
the public press nor the army could see good
reasons.
And, again, when in his annual report the Com
manding General or the Army signed his name to
an official statement respecting anairs IN the De-
partment or Missouri while under my command.
in testimony before the Committee the Con-
Duct or the war. and In my personal report to the
Adjutant General OF the Army, explicitly called
attention the falsehoods contained his state
menr ana gave the opportunity ror an inyestiga-
ton which would have INDICATED history.
To this extent have discharged the duties. per.
sonal and on1cal, which circumstances have I'm
posed upon me; and should tho custodisns OF she
archives which contain these records be truthful
TO their trust they viii in due time come before
the public.
Many OF them have already been published. and
that others are not known has been owing TO cir
cumstances over which have had no control.
The calumnies contained in Badeau's 'Life OF
General Grant, respecting portions OF my military
management have passed unnoticed by me. partly
because the facts TO refute them nave been scat
tered broadcast BY the press or In pub
lisned oflcial reports laid before the
public, and partly because thought the
time inopportune when the exigencies OF gov
erning party rendered It necessary 20 prevent
truths rom becoming known which would tend to
destroy the popularity Of leader whom-albeit
against their better nstinctslts chiefs have Ielt
IL necessary 10 set up.
These reasons ana the imperious duties OF q
aborious life have compelled me TO leave unful-
filed a minor portion o. what owe 70 my
country.
And as they stil remain. shall at present be
unable to avail myself OF tho courtesy OF the
HERALD BY contributions through its columns 20
add details to the history OF the war. Remaining
very truly yours W. ) KOSECRANS-