Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-03-23
RosECRASs's REMOVAL.

The following editorial appeared in
the indianapolis Times of March IL;
RosEcRASs's REMOVAL.
The discussion which has been brought
on by the publication of the Garfield
Rosecrans letters, relative to the cause
of the latter's removal from the com
mand OF the Army of the Cumberland,
makes the following statement proper :
Immediately after the battle OF ChIcka
mauga, which was fought September 10
and 20, 1868, Gov. Morton received IA
dispatch from the then Secretary OF
of War, Stanton, stating that the latter
would pass through indianapolis on Il
special train, and asking Gov. Morton
to meet him at the depot at the ap.
pointed time aud had an interview OF
some length with Stanton. The latter
was then on mis- way South, with the
intention of relieving Gen. Rosecrans
from command. During the interview
with Gov. Morton. ne stated this to be
the object of his trip, and he further
stated that the cause of Rosecrans's
removal was a telegram which the gem
eral had sent to President Lincoln after
the battle, stating that his army was
useless to talk of putting down the re-.
bellion, and recommending an armis.
tice with view OF agreeing on terms of
peace. Gov. Morton was astounded by
this statement of Stanton, and more SO
because he had previous TO that time
had great admiration for Gen. Rose
Grams. The interview with Stanton fill.
ed him with apprehension for ehe sue.
cess of the Union cause, and with grief
at the discovery that Rosecrsns, whom
he had trusted and admired, should
have proved so weak and ialtering in
the faith. For some time after the in.
terview Gov. Morton was very despond
eut. 1t was during this time that he
informed his private secretary of his
interview with Stanton and the charsc-
ter of the dispatch which Rosecrsns
had sent to President Lincoln, and
which Stanton said was the cause OF
his removal. There must be some rec
ord of this dispatch in the Government
archives, and perhaps this dispatch
itself is in existence. II so, IL would
be most important addition to the
literature Of the present discussion.
Its contents, stated above from memo
~, are substantially as given by Gov.
Morton after his interview with Stan.
ton.
Gen. Rosecrans was found at his
residence last evening. The reporter
showed him the item and called his
attention to the fact that Col. w. L..
Halloway, the editor and proprietor Of
the journal in qustion, was a brother.
fa. - ha la
aud his private secretary during the
war, and therefore in a position to
have known most particularly OF such
an interview, had it occurred. Gen.
Resecrans read the item carefully
through, going over some portions
twice as if TO satisfy himself that there
was no mistake, aud that the letters
were not willfully spelling themselves
into unwonted and unheard of cOmbi
nations. "Well, what do you think of
it, General?' asked the reporter, after
he had finished his perusal and laid it
down in front Of him on the desk.
"There is a record" said he speak
ing slowly aud with great emphasis
"a record, sir, of that dispatch referred
to, and it will show that the writer OF
that article told lie. No such dis
patch as that described was ever sent.
If Mr.. Stanton, the then Secretary of
War, said that such a Dispatch was
sent to President Lincoln he show.
ed himself capable of calumniating a
man whom he desired to iDiure. There
were two dispatches sent to President
Lincoln during the battle of Chica.
mauga. These dispatches are yet in
existence, aud the time is soon coming
when they will be produced. The first
of these dispatches was telegraphed
about 3 p. M. At that hour there
seemed to be likelihood that the
Confederate troops would get down
into the Dry Valley road, aud cut our
wires. AS near as | can remember,
the tenor Of it was to the effect that
five brigades had broken off from the
right wing of my army"
'Did that dispatch contain any in
timatiOn that it was useless to put
down the rebellionf"
at did not. 1t stated the reason
why il was sent upon its face, and did
nothing further than intimate the pos.
sibility Of a defeat. Another reason
why il was sent was TO prevent any
slanderous reports of the battle from
being telegraphed."
"There is, then, no reason for doubt.
ing but that Halloway tells the truth
about the interview 7"
"No, sir; ii is my belief that the in.
terview between Morton and Stanton
occurred, and that HalIoway tells the
truth aud Stanton lied"
"What was Stanton's object in say
ing what he did r
Gen. Rosecrans replied with an in.
credulous laugh. Suddenly growing
serious, however, he said: IL don't
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