Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-03-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
An U"P"bHshed LITTER f,om the Former
Which Raises a Qnesfton of Veracity.

An Unpublished Latter +, om the Former,
Which Raises a Question Of peracity.
WASHINGTON. March 10.
Gen. Rosecrins declines TO say anything in
reply to the letter published below, purpor ing
to have been written by Gen Garfield in 1868.
He says he is taking steps to ascertain whether
or not the letter is genuine, aud will await the
result Of these inquiries before saying anything
upon the subject Gen. Rosecrans saws. "As
the letter erayely affects the character OF Gen.
Garfield for truth and veracity, deem 1t due
70 him TO first ascertain il it is genuine" The
Garfield letter il as follows:
NY DEAR GOVERNOR: have for q long time
wanted to write to you. not only to acknowledge
your last kind letter, but also to say some things
con6dcntislly on the movements in this depart
ment but / have refrained hitherto, lest do
injustice to good man, and say to Won things
which we're h<tter left unssid We EAve nav,
however, reached Q point upon which feel 1t
proper, and also due to that kind opinion which
believe you have had 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 since the battle Of Stone River. will say
gree unjust 10 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 trifllng During that period was
performed the enormous and highly important
labor which made the Army Of the Cumberland
what it is, in many respects by far
the best the country has ever known.
But for many weeks prior to our late move
ment could not but feel that there was not
that live and earnest determination to fling
the great weight Of this army into the scale aud
MAKE its power felt in crushing the shell Of the
Rebellion. i have no words to tell you with
how restive and unsatisied a split i waited
and pleaded for striking sturdy blow. could
not justly say we were IN any proper condition
TO advance till the early days OF May. At that
time the strings began to draw sharply upon
the rehel-, both o. the Mississippi and IA the
East. They began to fear for the safety OF
Vicksburg, and before the middle OF May they
began quietly 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 lis leading Generals, who seemed blind
to the advantages Of the hour. In the first
week Of the month council oS war was called,
and, out Of eighteen Generals whose opinion
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 opinions
OF the Generals, and exhibited the fact, gathered
from ample data, that we could throw $4,000
bayonets and sabers against Bragg's Al, 900,
allowing the most liberal estimates OF his force.
This paper was drawn up on the Sth OF June.
After It's presentation, and a full canvassIDg 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 vindicated but the seventeen dis
senting Generals were compelled to confess
that, IL the movement had been made ten
days earlier, while the weather was propltious,
the army OF Bragg would, in ell human proba-
bility, no longer exist. i shall never cease TO
regret the sad delay which lost us 30 great an
opportunity TO iutict a mortal blow upon the
center of the Rebellion. The work OF expelling
Bragg from Middle Tennessee occupied nine
days and ended July 8, leaving his troops in
most disheartened and demorallzed condition,
while our army, with n loss OF less than !, 0OC
men; war, in a few days, fuller Of potentia
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 q
rapid advance, while Bragg's army was shat
tered and under cover, and before Johnston
and he could effect junction. Thus far the
General has been singularly disincllned to grasp
the situation with strong hand and make the
advantage lis own. | write this with more sor-
row than can tell you, for love every bonein
his body, and next 20 my desire TO see the
Rebellion blasted is my anxiety to see hun
blessed. But even the breadth OF my love is
not sufficient 10 cover this almost fatal delay.
Ny personal relations with Gen. Rosecrans are
all that could dc, ire. Officially, share his
counsels and responsibilities even more than
desire, but beg you TO know that THIS delay
is against my Judgment and my every wish.
Pleasant as are my relations here, would rath-
er command a battalion that would follow and
follow and strike and strike than to hang
back while such GOLDEN MON, nts are passing.
But the General and. self believe that | can
do more service in my present place than in
command OF a division, though / am aware
that II /. poi / IN that promises better in the
way OF promotion or popular cred t. But, II
this inactiou continues loag, shall ask 10 be
relieved and sent somewhere where l can DO
part Of q working army.
But do hope that you will soon hear that
this splendid army ID at least trying to do Its
part in the great wo.k.
IN the War Department has not always been
iust, il has certainly been very indugent to
this army. But feel that the tmo has now
come when II should allow no plea to keep this
army back from the n.ost-yigorous activity.
do hope that no hopes Of peace or submis-
eive terms on the part of the rebels will lead
the Government to delay the draft and the
vigorous prosecution OF the war. Itneo
Ddndos et dond teientes.
Let the nation now display the majesty Of its
power and the work will be speedily ended.
l hope you will pardon this lengthy letter;
but wanted you to know how the case stands,
and was unwilling 10 have you think me satis-
fed with the delays here. With kindest regards
am, ss ever, your friend, J. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. &. p. Chase.