The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-31
Goneralsaeergo H. Thomas.
ma DESIRE 10 OUR rHs 10 srTEp STATES ARMY 4
& - THE cnAHENCEMs ,,r on rre waR. i

THE cnAAENcEAE asr OF rae wAR.
The friends of the late General George 81.
Thomas, . Ftrginia,a who distipgnishe him
self on the Fedora. side during the late war,
have recently .und ertaken to deny that ner-
eral Thomas CAV utterance to the sentiment
that be could never draw bis sword against
a State strug. Cling for its constitutional
rights In n ovemter last General II. iH.
Smith, supe rintendent of the Virginia Mill.
tary Institute, sent to the sfdee Of the South
ern Histo ricai Society, In this city, the fol-
lowing original letter and endorsement,
which throw great light upon General
Thomp4s's position at the beginning OF the
war. They also discredit the statement Of
the .CinciRnati Commercial that Thomas
was for time in despair because the Govern
ment displayed Christian spirit toward the
secessionists, and thought OF retiring from
the army, bot when the music Of war was Ia
the air he never hesitated for moment and
he did not suffer from the b!atherssiting
about State rights" II
NEW YoRg HorEI, NEW YORK crTY,2
~ 70 frSEsEz january 16, 1861.
Colonel Francis II. Smith. Superintendent
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington,
"a: 80
Dear Sir,-In looking over the, files OF the
National Intelligencer this morning 1 met
with your adv ertisement for commandant
or cadets and instructor of tactics at the In
stituse. If not already fiIled, will be under
obligations If you will inform me what sal
ary and allowances pertain to the situation,
as from present appearances fear 1t Will
soon be necessary for me to be looking up
some means Of support.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE H. THoAAs,
Major United States Army.
Endorsement
Moio- G.. 3. Thomas. JANUARY, 1861.
Original letter received by me from MsJor
George H. Thomas just before the secession
Of Virginia. This letter was followed by a
correspondence, which has been lost. The
substance of it was that Major Thomas, bay-
| ing made up his mind "neUer to dra.c ms
s,rord against Slate struggling for ITS
constitutional rights" was seeking through
me some appointment in the service of the
Virginia Military Institute or Of Virginia.
There, being no vacancy at the time 10 the
corps of professors, recommended him to
Governor John Letener for the appointment
of chief Of ordnance of Virsinie. My letter
to the Governor was supported BY one ad-
dressed Urquhar', then representing the
Southampton district. The appointment
was made out for Major Thomas by the or
der of the Governor, but before it was de.
livered be had taken q brigadier.generaPs
position in the United States army.
FRANCIS 81. SMITH.
Virginia Military Institute, November s, '75
Governor Letcher says in relation to
Thomas's desire to leave the United States
service at the breaking out of the war:
ssThomas applied to me for the appoint
ment OF Colonel of Ordnance for the State,
through Colonel Gillian, now deceased and
when the appointment was rendered, he held
it under adyisement for several weeks, and
then declined it. Several letters were written
! by Colonel Thomas on the subject while the
| matter was pending"
There is not the shadow of doubt that
General Thomas did purpose at first to unite
his fortunes with the South.
| Besides the correspondence with Genera
Smith and Governor Letcher, he repeatedly
told Fig. Lee and other comrades that he
would side with Virginia if there should
be war, and as he parted with Lee IN Wash
ingtop, when the latter was on his way to
join the Confederates, he said that he wa:
only remaining in Washington to settle some
business of importance, and would join bin
| iu Richmond within forty-eigbt hours. Hi:
last words to his comrade were: q Look ou
for me, Fitz., and tell our people that an
certainly coming"