Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-16
DEAD MANS SECRET.
Garfield and ROseerans An URpub,
Iished Letter of the Former in
Regard TO the Latter.
Gen. ROseerans's Answer - Conclusive
Evidence of the Late Presidents
Duplicity-A Queer Story.

II Will DC now OGu-
erel Rosecrans resented the lntlmatlon IN
Blaine's Grafton ON Garfield that the Army
of the Cumberland was demoralized when
Garfield became Rosecrans's chief of staff. In
making the denial Rosy" gave for publica-
ton copy of a letter from Garfield to him
SELF, in which the latter declared as follows:
81 nave never been untrue to you in thought
word or deed, Dana or any other liar to the
contrary Notwithstanding" The Dana" re-
ferred to was obviou-ly Charles A. Dana, of
the New York Sum- in whore paper has been
published the following interesting letter
from General Garfield to the Hon. 5. i.
Chase, which now sees light for the first time,
aud which Rnsecrsns Gays is evidence OF
Gsrheld's duplicity:
CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUA ETEEs DEFAETI'T OF THE Ct srEERIAND.
NASHVILLE, July p, 1866.
Ny DEAR GovERNoR-I have for long
time wanted TO write TO you, not only to ac-
knowledge your last kind letter, but also to
say some things conhdentially on the move
ments of this department; but | have re-
Trained hitherto, lest do injustice to good
man, and say to you things which were bet
ter left unsaid. We have now, however,
reached point upon which l feel it proper,
and also due to that kind opinion which 1
believe you have had OF me, TO acquaint you
with the condition of affairs here.
/ cannot conceal from you the fact that
nave DceD Sre3IlN anu Win
the slow progress that We have made in this
department since the battle OF Stone river. l
will say in the outset that ii would be in the
highest degree unjust To say that the l62
DAYS which elapsed between the battle of
Stone river and the next advance OF this
army were spent in idleness or trihiDg. Dur
ing that period was performed the enormous
and highly important labor which made the
Army OF the Cumberland what 1t is, in many
respects by far the best the country has ever
known. But for many weeks prior to our
late movement i could not but feel that there
was not that live an earnest determination
to fling the great weight of this army into
the scale and make its power telt in crushing
the shell of the rebellion. | have no words
to tell you with how FESTIVE and unsatis6ed a
spirit | waited and plead for striking
sturdy blow. | could not justly say We were
in any proper condition TO advance till the
early DAYS OF Nav. At that time the
strings began TO draw sharply upon the
rebels both on the Mississippi and in the
East. They begsn TO fear for the safety of
Nicksburg, and before the middle of May
they began quietly to draw away forces TO
aid Pemberton. / plead for an advance, but
not till June did General Rosecrsns begin
seriously TO mediate an immediate move
ment. The army had grown anxious, with
the exception of the leading generals, who
seemed blind to the advantages of the hour.
In the first week OF the month council of
war was called, and out of the eighteen gen.
erals whose opinions were asked, seventeen
were opposed to an advance. j was the only
one who urged upon the general the impers-
tive necessity OF striking a blow at once,
while Bragg was weaker and we stronger
Than ever before. | wrote 4 careful review
OF the opinions OF the generals and exhibited
the fact, gathered from ample data, that we
could throw 5000 bayonets and sabers
Irnf 4 i oil hn Nall
liberal estimates OF his force. This paper was
drawn up on the SIh Of June. After its pre-
sentation and a full canvs ssing of the situa-
lion, advance was agreed upon, but it was
delayed through days which seemed months
to me, until the 9th, when ii was begun and
ended with what results you know. The
wisdom OF this movement was not only vindi-
Gated, but the seventeen dissenting generals
we're compelled TO confess that, if the move
ment had been made ten days earlier, while
the weather was propitious the army of
Bragg, would in all human probability, no
longer exit. | shall never cease to regret
the sad delay which lost us so great an OPP
portunity TO inflict a mortal blow upon the
center of the rebellion. The work of expel-
ling Bragg from Middle Tennessee occupied
nine days and ended July Sd, leaving his
troops in a most disheartened and demon
allied condition, while our army, with loss
of less than 1000 men, was, in a few days,
fuller of potential fight than ever before.
Ga the 18th instant the bridges were re-
built and the cars were In full communica-
ton from the Cumberland to the Tennessee
have since then urged with all the earnest
ness / possess a rapid advance, while Bragg's
army was shattered and under cover, and
b. fore Johnston and he could effect a Juno
ton. thus far the general has been singu
larry Fisinclined to grasp the situation with
a strong hand and make the advantage his
own. | write this with more sorrow than |
can tell you, for l love every bone in his
body, and, next to my desire to see the re-
bellion blasted, is my desire to see him
blessed. But even the breadth of my love is
not sufficient to cover this almost fatal de-
lay. My personal relations with General
Rosecrans are all that | could desire. Off
cially, / share his counsels and responsible
ties even more than l desire, but l beg you
to know that this delay Is against my judg
ment and my every wish Pleasant as are my
relations here, / would rather command a
battalion that would follow and follow and
strike and strike than TO hang back while such
golden moments are passing. But the general
and myself believe that / can do more ser
vice in my present place than in command
of division, though l am aware that it is
position that promises better in the way of
promotion or popular credit. But ii this in
action continues long | shall ask to he re-
litNCu anu sSui cOlISN WHITE Ndh NC
part of working army.
But L do hope that you will soon hear
that this splendid army is at last trying to do
its part in the great work.
Ii the war department has not always
been Just, it has certainly been very indul-
gent to this army. But feel that the time
has now come when it should allow no plea
TO keep this army back from the most vigor-
GUS activity.
! do hope that no hopes OF peace or sub
missive terms on the part Of the rebels will
lead the government TO delay the draft and
the vigorous prosecution OF the war. IT",eo
Ddnaos Ct doHa (cre,tcs.
Let the nation now 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 was unwilling to have you
think me satisfied with the delays here.
With the kiDdest regards, | am, as ever,
your friend, J. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. Z r. Chasc.