The National tribune., 1882-03-18
louisville CoMMERcIAL.l


There are always some people who sym,
rathize with the feeling which led the
+taenian citizen to vote for the banishment
. ristides because he was tired of hearing
80 ealled "The Just" The outburst of
.4ri0n-natural when man so attractive
.c-pmpIished and with SO many elements
r.atness died as Garfield died, but some
IS discriminating followed the
ID of our late President has naturally
red up people of that Athenian's turn of
nnd to criticism. Then there is baser
sort who are ready to soil his reputation in
spirit of toadyism, being base enough to be
unable to believe that honorable men can be
aisgusted instead of pleased by slander of an
opponent. Coming from these two classes,
there have lately been made in the news
papers number Of publications intended to
lessen the good opinion in which the nur-
dered President is held by his countrymen.
One of the last is letter purporting to have
been written by General Garfield, when chief
of staff of the Army Of the Cumberland, to
Hon. Salmon P. Chase, then Secretary Of the
Treasury. The letter is published to make
the impression that Garfield, while on the
most intimate relations with Rosecrans and
enjoying his confidence, was secretly under
mining him and assailing his reputation.
The letter, supposing it genuine, properly
considered with reference to its confidential
nature, the circumstances surrounding the
writer the political and military situation,
and the fact that he was only expressing
views concerning it which were well known
to his chief and to the principal officers sur
rounding him, not only does not show him
in the character of an unfaithful friend, but
is creditable to his military judgment and to
his patriotism.
In the first place, the chief of staff of
great army is not a mere personal attache
Or private secretary of the commanding
general He occupies far more considerable
and independent relation, and owes duties
10 the army and the country as well as to
the commander. In the neNt place, in
writing this confidential letter to an old
friend he was not conveying insinuations or
revealing secrets, or suggesting causes of dis
satisfaction with his commander. In the
next place, this letter does not now make
public for the first time a single thing ex-
cept that General Garfield wrote a conf
Dental letter TO Mr.. Chase. Everything
Else has years ago been published in history
FOR everybody to read. In Van Horns
History of the Army Of the Cumberland,
written at General Thomass request, and
based mainly Oh his military journals and
papers, in chapter xix of the first volume,
all the matters TO which General Garfield
refers are found fully discussed. Between
:he date Of the battle Of Stone River ending
IN the Sd Of January, 1868, and the 23d of
June, when orders for the advance On
Bragg were issued Rosecrans had been con-
jnually urged from Washington TO advance.
The military and other reasons which in his
.icw I2adc his inaction advisable are fully
{ forth in that chapter 'and in his letters
appended TO it.
Is 10 General Garfield's personal views
srceming the situation, this history, pub
ncG IN 1875. has in the same chapter the
wing:
General ROsecrans, however, still delayed
A. Il about the 10th of June he invited for
al expression of opinion with regard to an
iavancc against the enemy from his corps
md division generals He was sustained in
sis delay by his subordinates generally,
though General Garfield, his chief of staff,
lrged upon him a speedy movement for
:easons both military and political, and
chiefly upon the ground that he could ad-
rance with 65,l37 bayonets and sabres
against an army of Al $50 men, as he esti-
mated the strength of General Bragg's army.