The National tribune., 1882-03-18

written his wife O. in his diary. But, ad
mitting that 1t hal a motive, the wording
does not point unerripgly TO duphcity.
If he desired the removal OF General Rose
Grams he must have had an object in view,
by which either himself or the country was
to be b melted. Evidently the man who
would succeed General RosecranS was the
man to whom the command of the army
had been rendered before it was offered to
General Rosecrans, and TO whom ii was
given when Posecrans was removed-Major-
General George II. Thomas. Now, no other
objection Is urged to General Rosccrans in
the letter except his delay in moving npou
the enemy. He admits that the interval
has not been wasted, for the army was
constantly growing in strength and dis
cipline, and Thomas and Rosecrans were
thoroughly agreed upon the improperly of
an advance sooner than the time which
Rosecrans had decided upon. If, then,
according to his ideas, the country could not
be benefited by Thomas superceding Rose
Grams, could ho personally reap any benefit
from it? The chief of staff is invariably
chosen ike the personal staff, by the com-
manding general himself. He had no reason
to believe that he would ne invited to
remain in his present position. The most
he could hope for in the present organization
was Il bricade-poOr compensation for the
position of power and trust which he then
enjoyed. If once selfinterest is thrown out
as factor in the calculation, and consider
ations of true friendship and patriotism is
allowed to have controlled his mind we
have the following theory The subject Of
an early movement by the Army of the
Cumberland began to be agitated by the
War Department as early as March Cen
eral Rosecrans actuated ny the broad and
patriotic motives made public in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE of last week, believed it
to be best for his army to hold Bragg from
reinforcing Johns:ons suCcoring army by
remaining quietly IN its front rather than Ivy
scattering 1t az he knew he would at any
time when he chose 10 strike the blow. In
the policy of inaction, for this and other
reasons, General ROsccranS was sustained by
every commander in his army in whose
Judgment and military experience be had
any confidence The subject was freely
discussed at headquarters for R1secCans was
by no means martinez, and all the staff
officers held strongly to their own opinions.
Then came the campaign of Tullahoma.
Meanwhile the tone of the telegraphic
dispatches indicated that the War Depart
ment was impatient of delay. General Rose
Grams, knowing That he was in no condition
to cross the Tennessee, was immo yta 80
in the opinion that his positioa
| and Garfield knew that rather .aa rios
before he was ready he would sulI.4,,-- ghe
command. Believing that his commanding
general was withheld from entering upon
! glorious campaign by influences which none
| but a cabinet officer could overcome, and
willing TO compel him if necessary to crown
his brow with the laurel Of victory, he wrote
confidentally to Secretary Chase, taking
| care TO breathe no word against Rosecrans
| personally, or to insinuate that the army
! would profit by a change of commanders; !;
! but stating his conviction that victory.
could be gained by an immediate advance
| The letter was written on the 9th of July
three weeks after the confederate army
had been expelled from Middle Tennessee.
(: WAS written at time when the "crust ="
idea had not been exploded by terrific
battles, and when newspaper generals wese
loud in their appeals to their subordinates
! in the field to follow and follow, and strike
and strike.n regardless of how far it carried
them from their bases of supplies, or, for
that matter whether, they had any supplies
| to require a base.
The following kilograms had just been
received at headquarters:
WAR DEPARTMENT, July 2ith.
General RosECRANs. Murfreesbnro:
You must not wait for Johnston to Join
Rragg. hut must move forward i'm mmediatelv
against the latter Take with you hard bread.
su"ar. coffee. salt. and push forward rapidly,
supplying yourself with forage, bacon, beef
and mutton in the country. Organize sup
ply parties nnder your quartermasters and
commissali,s ana live as much as possible on
tie country. Reduce your trains 10 the lowest
possible and move rapidly
II. W HsLLECK.
General-iu- Chief
WAR DEPARTMENT., July p, 1863
! Genera, R0sECRANs. Mulfvces borO:
The great object von will have in view is to
hr;rn I,rnr,r frnnn L ,Inn1csSn hntOre be ON