Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-11

al office seeker. The Post announces that it
has the name of the author and will give it to
the friends of the late president if they desire.
The Post tomorrow will contain several
replies to attacks made upon the memory of
the late president by recent publication.
The Troublesome Letter.
| The letter to which the above refers was, it
| is said, written to Salmon P. Chase, and is as
| follows:
COnfideRtlal.]
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE I
CUMBERLAND, NASHVILLE, July ~, 1868.
My DEAR GOVERNOR: I have for long
| time wanted to write to You, not only to ac-
knowledge your last kind letter, but al so to
say some things confidential on the move
ments in this department.; but I b ave re
Trained hitherto, lest do injustice to a good
man, and say to you things which were
better left unsaid. We have now, how
ever, reached point upon which I feel
it proper, land also due to that kind opinion
which l believe you have had of me, to
acquant Won with the condition of affairs
here.
l cannot conceal from you the fact that
have been greatly tried and dissatisfied with
the slow progress that we have made in this
departing since the battle of Stone River.
I will say, in the outset, that it would be in
the highest degree unjust to say that in the
1862 days which elapsed between the battle of
Stone River and the next advance of the army
were spent In idleness or trlfiing. During that
period was performed the enormous and highly
important labor which made the Army of
Cumberland what it is, in many respects
by far the best the country
has ever known. But for many weeks
prior to our late movement, 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 make its power
felt in crushing the shell of the rebellion. 1
have no words to tell you with how FESTIVE
and unsatsfed spirit I waited and plead
for striking a sturdy blow. I could not just
ly say we were in any proper condition to ad-
vance 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
Vicksburg, and before the middle OF Mayi they
began quietly to draw away forces to aid Penn
berton. plead for an advance, but not till
June began did Gen. Rosecrans begin serious
lY TO mediate an immediate movement. The
army had grown anxious with the exception
of its leading generals, who seemed blind
to the advantages of the hour. In the first
week of the month council of war was called,
anu Out VI clSHt0eu ReutTdiS WHOSE OplnlOn
was asked seventeen were opposed to an ad-
vance. was the only one who urged upon
the general the imperative necessity Of striking
a blow at once, while Bragg was weaker and
we stronger than ever before. I wrote
careful review of the opinion OF the generals,
and exhibited the fact, gathered from ample
data, that we could throw Is, 900 bayonets and
sabres against Bragg's 41,00O, allowing the
most liberal estimates of his force. This pa
nor xvna fro ,Ir, 0n tho Ath Of JDro Affa~
its presentation and q 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 be-
gun and ended with what results you know.
The wisdom of the movement was not only
vindIcated but the seventeen dissenting gen
erals were compelled to confess that,
days earlier, while the weather was pro-
pitious, the army of Bragg would, in all au-
man probability, no longer exist. I shall
never cease to regret the sad delay which lost
us so great an opportunity to infict mortal
blow upon the centre of the rebellion. The
work of expelling Bragg from middle Ten
nessee occupied nine days and ended July 8,
leaving his troops in a most dishearteIed and
demOralized condition, while our army, with
a loss of less than ZOO men, was, in 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 I
possess rapid advance, while Bragg's army
was shattered 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. l write this
with more sorrow than can tell you, for /
love every bone in his body, and next to my
desire to see the rebellion blasted, is my anx-
iety to see him blessed. Bat even the breadth
of my love is not sufficient to cover this
almost fatal delay. My personal relations
with Gen. Rosencrans are all that could de-
sire. Officially, I share his counsels and re-
sponsibilities even more than I 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 rather com.
| mand a battalion that would follow and fol-
low and strike and strike than
to hang back while such gold
| eral and myself believe that can do more SER
vice in my present place than in command of
| division, though am aware that it is po-
| sition that promises better in the way of pro-
| motion or popular credit. But if this inaction
continues long, shall ask to be relieved and
| sent somewhere where I can be part of
| working army.
/
| 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 1 feel that the time has now
come when it should allow no plea to keep this
army back from the most vigorous activity.
| do hope that no hopes of peace or submis-
| sive terms on the part of the rebels will lead
the government to delay the draft and the Wig.
orous prosecution of the war. Timeo Danaos
ct dona .terentes.
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 kindest
regards, am, as ever your friend,
j. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. 8. P. CHASE.
What kosecrans Says.
When called upon by reporter, Gen.
Rosencrans was inclined to question the gen.
uineness of the letter. He regretted the pub.
LEGATION of letter of what he had often heard.
but In whose existence he had, in the face of
Garfield's denial to himself, refused to believe.
It was an embarrassing occurrence, and in