Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-27
General Hancock's Reply.

H'DQ'Rs MILITARY DIVISION OF THE /
ATLANTIC, n. u, Jan. ., 1877. !
Gen. ". 7. Sherman, US. Army, Washing
ton, ID. c.:
GESERAL-An anonymous communi-
cation to the Secretary OF War, dated
Louisville, Nv, December 10th, 1876,
reached my headquarters on the 9th OF
that month. 1t represents that in the
contemplated uprising of the people to
iniorce the Inauguration OF Tilden and
Hendricks, the depot at Jeffersonville is
to be seized and it is expected 10 arm
and clothe the Indiana Army Of Demo-
Gratis. The endorsement on this COM
munication made at your headquarters,
dated December 10th, 1876, is as follows:
Official Copy
Respectfully referred to Major Gem
eral w. 5. Hancock, commanding Divi-
sion of the Atlantic, who NAV draw a
company from General Ruger, COM
manding the department of the South,
and post it at the Jefiersonville depot,
with orders to protect It against any
dangers.
The terms of endorsement imply the
exercise OF discretion on my part,
which leads me to write to YOU before
taking acton. In my judgment there is
no danger OF the kind OF the anony-
nous communication sets forth, or
any other kind, at the Jeffersonville de.
pot, to Justify the movement OF troops
to that place. Such movement it seems
to me would involve unnecessary ex.
pense, and would create or increase
apprehension. for which there is no real
foundation. There are no arms or am
munition ut Jefiersonville depot, and il
such force as is referred to could be
raised for rebelious purposes, it is not
likely it would begin by seizing the de.
pot OF army uniforms, and therefore, il
there are any grounds for the action Of
the Government, ] see no danger in de-.
lay which will result from this presenta-
ton OF the subject to you. II, however,
in your better judgment company
should be sent there it shal! be prompt
ly done as soon as you notify us TO that
effect. As have already said, do not
act at once, because in your instruction 8
you say "may" send a company there,
which / construe as leavingit somewhat
discretionary with me. ! returned on
the 3lst of December 1876, from ST..
Louis. am very truly yours.
Signed WINFIELD S. Hancock,
Moj.. Gen. Commanding.
Another Letter From General Hancock
New YORK, January ., 1877.
Grnsrdi W. +. Sherman, COm'dg L. y. i'-
my, Washington, ID. c.:
Ny DEAR GENERAL-I have been in.
tending to write YOU in acknowledgement
of your two recent notes, but have
been so much engaged in hunting a
place for the winter and gathering up
my affairs Of business as well as per-
sonal matters, owing to my recent alb.
scnce, that deferred doing SO. Now ]
write to enclose you copy OF a letter i
addressed, yesterday, 10 the editor OF the
World, in reference to an article Especial
dispatch) which appeared in that paper
Sunday, the eth. The World corrects the
matter in its issue Of this morning.
would have preferred the publ.
cation OF my letter, but as ] gave
the editor a latitude as to the manner
OF the correction cannot complain, |
suppose. ! have written TO no one on
the subject of my order to 70 to the
Pacific, as reported by the newspapers,
save yourself. have said nothing to
any one, ditieringin letter or spirit from
what | wrote You, and ! have not seen
Buford for years or heard OF him, nor do
| know of any person who has in that
time met or communicated with him.
enclose YOU copy OF the Worlds pub.
lication. | am very truly yours,
w. 8. HANCOCK,
MAJOR. .General.