Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-06-03
Grant at Fort Donaldson.
INTERESTING DISPATCHES FROM FILES OF
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..

INTERESTING DISPATCHES FROM FILES OF
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
Gen Adam Badeau has devoted himself
for the last ten years TO writing q history of
which Gen. Grant is the hero. To make
out his claim, it Is asserted by Gen. III. V.
Boynton, Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette, and cordial hater of
both. Gems. Sherman and Grant, that "Ba-
deau has literally perverted documents, and
where point was to be gained ignored
others" Gen. Boynton, who figured cred
itably in the Western army as o fighter,
claims to have fastened on one aggravated
case which illustrates many. Alter the cap
ture Of Fort Donaldson, 1t is claimed, Gen.
Grant gave himselfup to excuses To such an
extent that his commander (Halleck) was
seriously alarmed for the army. Badeau
claims In his so-called history that no evil
dence Of this could be found in Washington,
but Gen. Boynton produces from the War
Department files the whole correspondence.
Halleck telegraphed March 2, 1862, to Gen.
Mcclellan:
81 have had no communication from Gen.
Grant for more than a week. He left his
command, without my authority, and went
to Nashville. His army seems TO be as much
demoralized by the victory of Fort Donald
son as was that of the Potomac by the de-
icut VI nun ibuii. IL 10 Ddfu w tcfibuIt u
successful general after victory, but |
think he richly deserves It, / can get no
reports, no information Of any kind from
him. Satisfied with his victory, he sits
down and enjoys IL without any regard to
the future. | am worn out and tired by
this neglect and inefficiency. G. +. Smith
is almost the only officer equal to the emer-
gency."
A few days later Haleck worn out with
Grants conduct sent him this Dispatch
General Mcclellan directs that you re-
port to me daily the number and position OF
the forces under your command Your neg
ect of repeated orders TO report the strength
of your command has created great dissats-
faction and seriously interlered with mill
tary plans Your going TO Nashville with
out authority, and when your presence with
your troops was Of the utmost importance,
was matter of very serious complaint ut
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:
WASHINGTON, March 3D., 1869, G Z. M
Major General II. w. Halleck, st. Louis;
Your dispatch Of last evening received. The
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 arrest him at once IL the good
Of the service requires II, and place 9. II.
Smith in command You are ut liberty 10
regard this as positive order, Ii II will
smooth your way. Appreciate the difficult
ties you have to encounter and will be glad
10 relieve you from trouble as far MS possible.
GEoRaE b. MCCLELLAN,
Maj. General Commanding U. s. A."
approved; Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary
of War.
General IIalleck's reluctance 10 degrade
Grant is testified in the last dispatch Of the
series.
"Headquarters Department Of tic Missouri,
ST. Louis, March A, i862.-To Gen. George
b. Mcclellan, Washington, ID. c.. A rnmor
has just reached me that, since the taking
Of Fort Donaldson, Gen. Grant has resumed
his former bad habits. If SO, II will account
for his neglect Of my oft-repeated orders |
do not deem II advisable 10 arrest him at
present, but have placed Gen. Smith in com
mand Of the expedition up the Tennessee.
think Smith will restore order and disci-
pline. hear, unofiicialy, but from IL
rebel source, that our forces took possession
Of Columbia this morning, the enemy fall
ing back 10 Island No. 10 and New Madrid.
am expecting official kilograms hourly.
II. W. HALLEcg, Major General