Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-16

The Garfleld--Chase Letter.

Some silly friend, or more likely
some vindictive disappointed stalwart
enemy, has resurrected aud brought to
light what is alleged to be n prirate
letter written by Gen. Garfield while
chief of Gen. Rosecrap's staff in the
army of the Cumberland, which, in the
very best light it can be viewed, Is
piece of revolving treachery more
damaging to the reputation of the late
President than anything that has ever
been published. The letter is marked
confidential, addressed to the late
Governor Chase and intended serious.
ly to impeach the efficiency of Gen.
Rosecrans and damage his reputation
a Commander of the most brilliant
aud affective army in the service, made
so by the accredited courage and
ability of its chief.in-command, and
this, while acting in confidential rela-
ton with him. We trust for the sake
of the reputation of Gen. Garfield, now
in his grave, this infamous letter may
prove a forgery, and that the misera-
BILE scoundrel who committed it may
be detected and punished. Gen.
Rosecrans speaking of the letter says /:
regret that the letter was ever writ
ten that anybody could read 1t. II does
discredit to the memory of dend man,
for il is a mixture OF untruths and mis-
representations. am not prepared to
say that General Garfield did not write
il. Possible and probably he did. ]
shall write and find out whether Il is
genuine or not But what do you think
Of a man who held such n position ss
that filed by General Garfield who could
write such letterl II is piece of the
blackest treachery TO one who had al.
ways given the writer the fullest proofs
of his confidence. II is the first time |
had ever heard of the existence OF such
"A r,
General Garfield, in which such gross
Misrepresentation Of fact occurred, and
very much in the same strain as this let
ter. am not surprised Mt IL. At no time
during the period that General Garfield
was with me in the Army OF the Cum
berland did he express to me any such
sentiments OF impatience or dissalisisc-
ton az those given in this letter. He
Understood all my plans and objects,
and my anxiety TO move as soon as a
move could be made with proper regard
to effectiveness. You will oh.
serve the conference Of Generals is sup
posed to have taken place prior to the
campaign Of Tullahoma, which was over
by July 4, 1868. and yet this letter was
written on July 81 when we were work
ing with vigor TO follow up our adyan.
tares. had no idea at the time that
was hsrboring person capable Of such
lalseness and double. dealing, or there
would have been Courtmartlal at once.
did not look for such an exhibition oi
General Garfeld's character ne this, and
am sorry that the letter ever saw the
light.
Since the above was in type facts
have come to light, looking to the
genuineness of the Garfield letter, but
we still hope that some extenuating
circumstance may yet remove the re-
cord of dishonor which now clouds his
fame. The Washington correspon.
dent of the Phila. Times Of Monday,
says:
at is stated with some positiveness
here that the Garfield Chase letter was
procured from the secret archives OF the
War Department, and that Mr.. Chase
used General Garheld's letter to aid in
effecting the removal Of General Rose
Grams from the Army Of the Climber
land. Just az he employed the letter OF
McClellan's Chief Of Staff to assist in
removing Mcclellan from the command
Of the Army of the Potomac. Hon. p.
| II. Watson, the Assistant Secretary oi
War with Secretary Stanton, between
whom there had previously existed a
business partnership, is quoted "a hav.
| ing stated that the confidential letter oI
General Garfield to Secretary Chase was
exhibited to the War Department au.
thorities and it did the business for
| R0secraus.
Mr.. Chase's biographeT. Judge War
den, informed your correspondent to
night that at one time at Edgewood,
Chase's suburban residence. and at his
| (Warden's) lodgings, in this city, he had
in his possession all Of Chase's papers
"If," said he, "there was among the
papers any such letter as that from Gar
field to Chase, did not see it," To the
question, "Do you doubt the genuine
meas OF the letter 7" Judge Warden re
piled "From statements made to me
some time ago. have no doubt about
its genuineness."
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