Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-12-14

oOAnVys huu WIG SJCOuelu DO6Iu
him entirely, but throw some censure
upon him for having expressed lack
OF confidence in his commanding officer
Such conduct might be censured, al
though il every map in the army had
been punished Who had expressed lack
Of confidence in his superior officer, many
of our best soldiers would have been
punished. But, in fact, If this was not
stated in the cumming up of the case by
the board, I should not have found that
be had expressed any such lack of con.
hdence. On the contrary, to my mind
now, he was Jealous in giving support
to Gen. Pope. and more 30, possibly,
for the reason that he knew among his
former army associates there was q good
deal OF apprehension, to say the least, of
his htness for his new place. It must
be recollected that Gen. Pope was select
ed from western army and brought east
TO command an army where there were
. great many generals who had had ex-
per1ence in previous war, and who had,
like himself, q military education, and
there may Gmproperly) have been q feel
ing that it was reflection upon them to
go ont OF their own command to find a
suitable commander; and it is also very
probable that expression was freely Civ
en- to that feeling. But it would be we'll
to reflect what would have been the
sentiments in the west if an officer from
the eastern army had been sent out to
supersede oil of them, and to command
them, and whether or not there might
not have been some harsh criticisms,
even by men who proved to be among
our most gallant and devoted command
ers. Then, too, in re. re.examining the case,
my attention was called again to Gen.
Pope's early order in taking command
of the army of Virginia. I send you
copy of this order. You will see that it
was calculated to make the army, to
whom it was addressed. feel that it was
reflection upon their former services
and former commanders, from that of q
company to the commander of the
whole. and that even as amiable people
as Gen. Logan and myself are would
have been very apt to have made some
very uncomplimentary remarks if they
had been so addressed by an eastern
officer sent west to command over US in
our field OF duty. commenced reading
up bis case with the conviction that
Gen. Porter had been guilty as found by
the court, but came out of the investi-
CATION with thorough conviction that
and the public generally had done him
fearful injustice, and entirely satisfied
that any intelligent man or lawyer, who
will throw aside prejudice and examine
the case as I have done, will come to the
same conclusion.
As stated in my letter to the president.
feel it incumbent upon me, in view oi
the positions that I have held hereto.
fore and my failure then to do what
now wish I had done, to do all in my
power to place Gen. Porter before thu
public and in future history. and to re
pair my own unintentional injustice.
address this letter to you, knowing
that you will have desire to do JUS
what your judgement dictates as bein,
right in the matter, and that you vii
state to whomsoever IT may seem to 20,
proper and necessary my present con
vlctions upon this case.
II Very truly yours, US. GRANT.