The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-21

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R,cpwoxp. VA, August Is. 1880.
,r,,o so.fhSrn historical society Papers
:, ausn., and September will contain a
innc review entitled "Gencral Hardee ana
10 w,,,,ary Operations Around Atlanta"
wr,,fen be- Colonel T.. II. Roy, OF Selma,
Ale Tb;s pentIemau was on the stat OF
Gene, A Haraee. and the paper j. fepiy 10
certain CRITICISMS OF General hsrdee
contained Ia General Hoods book en-
sitIed :. Advance and Retreat" aud Is IN
,epdea "a n yindicstion OF The former
Among the most remarkable documents
rr.sen,ed by the writer Is the following re-
con, lelte, from jefferson Davis, which per-
hans sets at rest one and the most imporan.
~ The disputed pcints-that OF the cause OF
peydse,s removal from command OF The
Army az the Tennessee, besides giving also
atner historical data regarding that officer :
. RpAryo,s. HARRISON COUNTY, MISS,
February 20, 1880.
C,lonei r. b. Roy, Selma, Ata. j:
Dear sir,-Yours OF the 26th instant has
bcrp this day received, and l VIII make
such reply 10 your inquiries as Is possible
from memory and tue rempapt OF COT
respondence IN my possession.
I, is extremely painful to me that any
oneslion should have arisen Involving The
character and conduct OF one so highly es-
,cemed and afiectionately remembered by
me- az is ms deceased friend, the late Gene
raj Hardee. This Is intensified by The tact
that the discussion involves another most
HIGHLY respected. and whose memory IL
personally dear 10 me, the late General
Hood. Botb have gone where they VIII
r., ow as they are known. and both nave ieit
= renutatiop embaimed in the love az u
gratitude OF those they served faithfully
and well. ,s...
sympatbIxe in your desire to vindicate
General Han dee, ard recognize your right
IN call upon me for that purpose. The duly
= one which cheerfully perform.
The infeit nee you draw from the state
men, i'm General Hoods book that held A
conference with Generals Stewart and 5. ID.
Lee 10 determine the fitness OF General
Hardee for bis command. the propriety OF
lbs conduct in the operations around Al
Iapta. Is justified by the text, and was no
doubt desired by General Hood
i had, however, known General Hardee
TOO long. too Intimately, and In TOO many re-
lafions, 10 doubt bis personal or soloierly
qualities. Ny object in The conference ana
that for which visited the army was 10
learn its condition and what might be eX-
pec.ed from 1t 10 active operations against
the enemy. AT this day, so remote from
the event. I cannot claim to remember any
conversation upon incidental points 'hat
msy have occurred, but can say Win GER
ta,nty that General Hardee was not re-
lieyed because OF any depreciation oil h's
capacity, his zeal, or ndeiity. Ueherai
Hardee bad earnestly requested 10 DE re-
Neyed: Il had been the subject OF CORE
hpf0Fp
me army. and my objections to complying
with his wish were entirely complimentary
10 him. Nv assent TO his persistent request
to be relieved was finally given because OF
irrecoocilaDle difference between himself
and the officer acknowledgements.
Among tue motives which induced me TO
make that visit TO the Army OF Tennessee
il 1. hardly supposable that one OF Them
WAS 10 make inquiries about General Har-
dee,s fitness for command, as there was
prohably nc one in that army who knew
him Nc vel as |. He had first attracted my
attention by his good corduct ana cool
courage when, in the early part OF inc war
against Mexico, be, as junior captain OF
souadron OF dragons. eXtrlcated the pof-
lion Of The command more immediately I'M
der him from an ambuscade INTO when u
had fallen, and saved them from Impending
massacre. At later day, because OF his
professional accomplishments, /. as Secre-
iary of War, selected him 10 prepare the
system OF tactics which bears his name, ard
for a long time we daily worked together.
In bis appointment as commandment or ca
diets and i'm his selection for promotion In
new regiment of cavalry was manifested
nv appreciation OF him as gentleman ana
q soldier.
In his various high commands during the
war between the States my estimate OF MN
was confirmed and increased, but never d.
minished BY reference to his letters from
me received during the war you VIII ma
the frequent expression OF my confidence
and regard, espt ciaily. in those relating to
the appointment Of General Hood TO the
command of tie Army OF Tennessee. by
these il is shown that General Hardee was
not passed over from any want oil apprecia-
ton, but because be had previously defined
the position OF commandments OF thal
army for reasons which were still IN force.
His modesty put lower estimate upon MS
ability than did.
IJnon reaching the army after the battles
around Atlanta l learned from General
Hardee that Ne still wished to be transferred
TO some other field OF duty. The unfortu-
nate relations which had grown up between
General Hood and himself and the ex-
pressed desire Of both FOR a separation over
came nv reluctance TO remove General
Hardee from the troops be had commanded
so long, and whose confidence he was
known so fully to possess.
The assignment OF General Hardee TO an
independent and important command,
which was Simultaneous with bis being re-
lieyed from duty with the Army OF the
Tennessee, sufficiently eyinces that my con-
fdence in him had not been impaired, and
his conduct In that separate command fully
Justified the opinion continued TO enter
tain.
In this connection II may be appropriate
10 furnish you with an extract from letter
written BY me to General Beauregard or
the 4th OF February, 1S65-a period late IN
the course Of the campaign through Eastern
Georgia and South Carolina, and long after
the events TO which you refer: "You viii
assume command Of all the forces in the
district as defined before your departure to
the West. anG, should you deem II advisa'
BILE, will direct General Hardee to assume
the command Of his old corps when 1t ar
riyes and add TO 1t any other forces when
may be advantageously associated Win IT,
Thus il appears that In the hour OF our
djrest need | not only turned to Gen.
eraI Hsrdee as a soldier and patriot,
but expected Of him, at the head OF his old
corps, to exhibit the steady courage our
necessities required. and that the veteran
corps. under his command would emulate
the deeds which had won for him the hon.
orable sobriquet OK "Old Reliable" With
deep regret for the necessity that has occa'
stoned II have endeavored TO answer your
inquiries so rs to put finally at rest the sup.