Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-28
GRANT ATFORT DONELSON
Some Interesting Dispatches Un.
earthed From the Files OF the
War Department.

Gen. Adam Badeau has devoted him
self for the last twenty years to writing
a history of which Gen. Grant is the
hero. To make out his claim, it is as
serted by Gen. ii. V. Boynton, Washing
ton correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette, and a cordial hater OF both
Gems. Sherman and Grant, that "Ba-
deau has literally perverted documents,
| aud where point was TO be gained
ignored Others" Gen. Boynton, who
figured creditably in the Western army
as fighter, claims to have fastened on
one aggravated case which illustrates
many. After the capture OF Fort Donel-
son, u is claimed, Gen. Grant gave him
self up to excuses to such an extent
that his commander (Halleck) was
seriously alarmed for the army. Badeau
claims in his so.cslled history that no
evidence OF this could be found in
Washington, but Gen. Boynton produces
from the War Department files the
whole correspondence. Halleck tele-
graphed March 9, 1862, to Mcclellan:
al have had no communication from
Gen. Grant for more than q week. He
left his command, without my authority,
and went to Nashville. His army seems
to be much demoralizsd by the victory
OF Fort Donelson as was that OF the
Potomac by the defeat OF Bull Run. II
is hard to censure successful general
Immediately after victory, but | think
he richly deserves it. | can get no re-
turns, no reports, no information OF any
kind from him. Satisfied With his vic
tory, he sat down and enjoyed it with
out any regard to the future. ! am
worn out and tired by this neglect and
inefliciency. G. +. Smith is almost the
only officer equal the emergency"
A few days later Halleck, worn ont
with Grants conduct, sent him this
dispatch:
General Mcclellan directs that you
report TO me daily the number and
position Of the forces under your COM
mand. Your neglect OF repeated orders
to report the strength Of your command
has created great dissatisfaction and
seriously interfered with military plans,
Your going to Nashville without author
ity, and when your presence with your
troops was OF the utmost importance,
was a matter of very serious complaint
at Washington, so much so that | was
advised to arrest you on your return"
These dispatches Badeau seeks to throw
doubt upon, but Gen. McClellan's very
words are on file:
"WAsHINGToS, March 8, 1862, 6 I'M
Major General II. w. Halleck, st Louis:
Your dispatch of last evening received.
Tht future success OF our cause demands
that proceedings such as Gen. Grants
should at once be checked. Generals
must observe discipline as well as
private soldiers. Do not hesitate to ar
rest him at once, il the good of the SER
vice requires il, and place G. +. Smith
in command. You are at liberty to re-
gard this as positive order, II it will
smooth your way. l appreciate the
difficulties you have to encounter and
will be glad 10 relieve you from trouble
as far as possible,
"GRoRog B. McCi.EILAS,
"Major General Commanding, Us. A.
Approved: Edwin NJ. Stanton, Sec'y.
of War.
"HEADQUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF TIE
Missouri, st. Louis, March I, lS62.-To
General George Il. Mcclellan, Washing.
ton, ID. c.. A rumor has just reached
me that, since the taking OF Fort Donel-
son, Gen. Grant has resumed his former
bad habits. Ii so, il will account for his
neglect OF my oft-repeated orders. | do
not deem II advisable to arrest him At
present, but have placed Gen. Smith in
Command OF the expedition up tie
Tennessee. think Smith will res ore
order and discipline. l hear, unofficial
", but from a rebel source, that our
forces took possession OF Columbus this
morning. the enemy falling back 10
Island No. 10 and New Madrid. ] am
expecting oiIicisl kilograms hourly.
III. W. HALLEcE, Major General"