The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-03-17
! sGARFIEED on ROSEcRANs.

| tan, 0Ultln, OuEten, Allthan, Ultan.
GARFIELD ON ROsECRANs.
The Publications of an Old Letter
from the Late President Causes q
Sensation.
-s-E WASHINGTON, March 10.
Seine time during the last political canvass 8
paragraph was published in which it was said
| that Gen. Garfield had, during the war, pre-.
ferred charges of serious character against
his old commander, Gen. Rosecrans Charles
A. Dana made the original charge. This
brought out a note from Gen. Garfield to Rose
Grams, in which he di stinctiy said that he had
never been untrue to his commander in word
or thought, "Dana or any other liar
| to the contrary Mr.. Dana. to sustain
his original statement, has printed . d
confidential letter from.Gen. Garfield addressed
to Salmon P. Chase, during the war. Gen.
Rosecrans declines at present to say anything
about the fhatter. Heis taking steps to ascer-
tain whether or not the letter is genuine. The
letter is printed in. full below. It is marked
Confidential" and dated Headquarters De-
partment of the Cumberland, Nashville July
81. 1868 =" e9
My DEAR GOVERNOR: / have for a. long time
wanted to write to you. not only to acknowledge
your last kind letter. but also to say some things
conhdentially on the movements in this depart
ment; but have refrained hitherto lest do
injustice to good man, and say to you things
which were better left unsaid. We have now,
however. reached point upon which feel it
proper. and also due to that kind opinion which
| believe you havefhad of me, to acquaint you
with the condition. of affairs here.
/ can not conceal from you the fact that
have been greatly tried and dissatisfied with the
slow progress that we have made in this depart
ment sineethe battle of Stone River. I will say
In the outset that itwould be in the highest de-
gree unjust to say that the 1862 days which
elapsed between TIE battle of Stone River and
the next advance of this army were spent in
idleness. or trifiing. During that period was
performed the enormous and highly important
labor which made the Army of the Cumberland
what it. id, in many respects by far
9the best the country has ever known.
But for many weeks prior to our late move
m Mt could not but feel that there was not
that live and earnest determination to fling
| the great weight of this army into the scale and
MAX its power felt in crushing the shell of the
Rebellion. i haye;now words to tell you with
how FESTIVE and unsatis6ed spirit waited
and pleaded for striking sturdy blow. could
not justly say we were Ill any proper condition
to advance till the early days OF May. At that
time the strings began to draw sharply upon
the rebels, both on the Mississippi and in the
East. They began to fear for the safety of
Yicksburg, and before the middle of May they
beganquletly to draw away forces to aid Penn
berton. | plead for an advance, but not till
June began did Gen. Rosecrans begin seriously
to mediate an immediate movement The
army had grown anxious with the exception
of It's leading Generals, who seemed blind
to the advantages of the hour. In the first
week of the month a council of war was called,
and, out of eighteen Generals whose opinion
was asked seventeen were opposed to an adj
vance,. / was the only one who urged
upon the General the imperative necessity
OF striking a blow at once, while Bragg
weaker ana we stronger IMAM ever pefOre.
| wrote careful review of the opinions
of the Generals and exhibited the fact gathered
from ample data, that we could throw 65, 600
bayonets and sabers against Bragg's $1,000,
allowing the most liberal estimates of his force.
This paper was drawn up on the 9th of June.
After its presentation, and full canvassing of
the situation, an advance was agreed
upon, but it was delayed, through days
which seemed months to me, till the Oath,
when it was begun and ended with what re-
suits you know The wisdom of the movement
was not only indicated, but the seventeen dis
senting Generals were compelled to confess
that, II the movement had been made ten
days earlier, while the weather was propitious,
the army of Bragg would, in all human proba-
biity, no longer exist, | shall never cease to
regret the sad delay which lost us 50 great an
opportunity to intlict a mortal blow upon the
center of the Rebellion. The work Of expelling
Bragg from Middle Tennessee occupied nine
days and ended July 3, leaving his troops in a
most disheartened and demoralized condition,
while our army, with loss of less than 1000
men, was, in a few days, fuller of potential
fight than ever before.
On the 18th inst. the bridges were rebuilt,
and the cars were.in full communication from
the Cumberland to the Tennessee. have since
then urged with all the earnestness possess
rapid advance, while Bragg's army was shat
tered and under cover, and before Johnston
and he could effect a junction Thus far the
General has been singularly disinclined to grasp
the situation with strong hand and make the
advantage his own. / write this with more sor-
row than i can tellyou, for I love every bonein
his body, and next to my desire to see the
Rebellion blasted is my. anxiety to see HIM
blessed. But even the breadth Of my love is
not sufficient to cover. this almost fatal delay.
My personal relations with Gen. Rosecrans are
all that could desire. Officially, share his
counsels and responsibilities even more than
desire, but I'beg you to know that this delay
is against my Judgment and my every wish.
Pleasant as are my relations here, would rath-
81 COtiiulftnQ DSbbol1Oli Uudt NOulu 1OllQN HuQ
follow and strike and strike than to hang
back while such golden moments are passing.
But the General and. myself believe that | can
adomore service in'5ny present place than in
command of q division, though | am aware
that itisa posi- i'm that promises better in the
way of promotion or popular credit. But, if
this inaction continues long, shall ask to be
relieved and, somewhere where I can be
part OF asworklng army
But I do hope that you will soon hear that
this splendid army is at least trying to do its
part in the great work.
If the<War Department has not always been
just. it has certainly been very indulgent to
this army. But l feel that the time has now
come when it should allow no plea to keep this
army back from the Inost-vigorous activity.
lido hope that no hopes of peace or sub1nis-
sive terms on the part of the rebels will lead
the Government to delay the draft and the
vigorous prosecution of the war. Tirneo
Ddaa0s ct do71d fe1entes.
Letthe natiennow display the majesty of its
power and the work will be speedily ended.
/ hope you will pardon this lengthy letter !;
but / wanted you to know how the case stands,
and 1 was unwilling to have you think me Salts
fed with the delays here. With kindest regards
am, as ever, yourfriend, j. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. S. P. Chase.