Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
Grant nj Fort DOnelsOn.

Adam Badeau has devoted himself
for the last twenty years TO writing a
history of which General Grant is the
hero. To make out his claim he has
literally falsified public documents, and
where point was to be gained ignored
others. Gen. Boynton has fastened upon
him one aggravated case which illus.
trates many. After the capture of Fort
Donelson, General Grant gave himself
up to unbridled excesses to such an ex.
tent that his commander, lIalleck, was
seriously alarmed for the army. Badeau
claims in his so-called history that no
evidence OF this could be found in
Washington, but General Boynton pro-
duces from the War Department files
the whole correspondence, which is
worth presenting. Halleck telegraphed
March =, 1862, to Mcclellan:
l have had no communication with Cen
eral Grant for more than week. He left
his command without my authority and
went TO Nashville. His army seems to be
much demoralized by the victory of Fort
Donelson as was that of the Potomac by
the defeat of Bull Run. 1t is hard to CEN
sure successful general after victory,
but | think he richly deserves il. can
get no returns, no reports, no information
of any kind from him Satisfied with his
victory, he sits down and enjoys it without
any regard to the future. am worn out
and tired by this neglect and ineticency.
G. +, Smith is almost the only officer
equal to the emergency.
A few days later Halleck, worn out
with Grants conduct, sent him this dis.
patch, which those who bear in mind
Grants dispatches to Thomas two years
later will be apt to relish:
General Mcclellan directs that you re-
port to me daily the number and position
Of the forces under your command Your
neglec, of repeated orders 10 report the
strength of your command has created
dissatisfaction and seriously interfered
with military plans, Your going TO Nash
Vile without authority aud when your
presence with your troops was Of the ut
most importance was matter OF very SER
ious complaint at Washington, so much as
that | was advised to arrest you on your
return.
These dispatches Badeau seeks to
throw doubt upon, but General McClcl
lan's very words are on file TO convict
him:
WAsHiNGToS, March 8, 1892 P. "
MAJ. GEN. II. W. HALLECK, st. Louis
Your dispatch Of last evening received
The future success Of our cause demands
that proceeding such as General Grants
should at once be checked. Generals must
observe discipline rs we'll as private SOL
dicrs. Do not hesitate to arrest him al
once, If the good Of the service requires II,
and place c. +. Smith in command You
are at liberty to regard this n a positive
order, If it will smooth your way. | ap-
preciate the difficulties you have 10 en-
counter and will be glad 10 relieve you
from your trouble as far as possible
GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN,
Mai. Gen. Commanding, L. >. a
approved EDwIS NJ. STASToS, Sec.
rotary Of War.
General Halleck's reluctance to de.
grade Grant is testified in the last dis.
patch OF the series:
HEApQUAETERs DEPr or rHE MIS-
SOURI,, ST. LOUIS, March {, 1862. I
To GES. GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN, Wash.
ton, ID. c. :
a rumor has just reached me that, since
the taking Of Fort Donclson, General
Grant has resumed his former bad habits
II so, 1t will account for his neglect OF my
oft-rcpeated orders. / DO not deem IL nd e.
yisable to arrest him AT present, but have
placed General Smith in command OF the
expedition up the Tennessee. think
Smith will restore order and discipline
hear, unotficially, but from a rebel source,
that our forces took possession OF Colum-
bus this morning, the enemy falling back
to Island No. 10 and New Madrid ] am
expecting official kilograms hourly.
II. ". HALLECK, Major General.