National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-25
GENERAL sTuRGrs.
Hts Military Record vIndiented by GEN
erals Grant mud sherman.

erals Grant aud shermHa.
The critic recently contained a statement that
DR.. q. A. Gcssner was here to cause an inquiry
to be made into the military record Of General
stursls, especially with reference to his expedition
Into Mississippi and the battle OF 0untown. This
Is very old story and Gcssner seems to have been
recting II q good while. on the 9th Of
February last General sturgis addressed to
the Adiutant- General ofthe army letter. IN which,
aiier reviewing the unfortunate expedition into
Mississippi he says that he has been assalod by
" false and libclous imputations in newspapers,
and that the attack has "now assumed the form
of petition TO the Senate and House of Repre-
scntntives of the United States circulated by one
g. A. Gessner." lie dcnounces rs I" a stupid false
hood, told with malicious intent" the statement
In that petition that he was ever required to or
ever did appear before any court Of inquiry. He
says that "a board of investigation was
convened for the ostensible purpose OF
investigating the causes of the disaster to the
troops under his command" lie says he was only
permitted 10 be present before this tribunal as a
tOitness; that II was not tribunal known to mill
tary law; and that he has never had made known
to him any conclusions nj which II arrived. Yet,
he says, "What appears to have been detached
portions of that record were circulated to injure
and defamo me-" Immediately after his return
from the disastrous expedition he demanded q
court of inquiry to examine into the matter.
None was ordered lie repeated the request
August II, 1861, and January II, 1865, but
oil to no purpose The authorities seemed TO
consider n court of inquiry unnecessary. April 10,
1866, General Surgis addressed letter to General
Grant, asking again for hearing. General Stur-
gis quotes from letters written by General Grlerson
and Colonel Mcmillan, Ninety sixth Ohio Volun-
teers in vindcation of his conduct in Mississippi
and also refers to Colonel Alex. wilkins Ninth
Minnesota Volunteers; Colonel Joseph Karje. Sec
ond New jersey Cavalry, and Colonel George f..
Waring, Fourth Missouri Cavalry. He quotes the
following letter, which was written without his
knowledge or request, and the existence of which
was unknown to him until the date of his letter
to the Adjutant- General, February q, 1882;
WASHINGTON, oct. "a, 1885,
Hon. f. NJ STANTON, Secretary of War;
would respectfully reco amend the promotion OF
BrcycCoonel s. d. Sturgis to the rank ofbrlgadlcr-
general by brevet Notwithstanding his failure at
Guntown. Miss, know him to be good and eff
Client Ofccr-far above the average of our cavalry
colonies. From the beginning OF the he has
suffered from having served in Kansas and coming
In contact with and opposition to
probably in the lead
[signedl U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
Official. II. @. DRUM, Acknowledgement
General Sturgis, in conclusion, alludes to the
"libelous imputations" published and circulated
by Gessner, and renews his application for court
of inquiry.
On the 2Sth of February, 1882 he received from
the headquarters of the army General Sherman's
answer through the Adjutant- General. II was
that no court of inquiry was "at all necessary, as
your record OF service in the armyiS full from
1916 to date, and charges imputdtions from diJ
authorized source Grist dqdistyo General Sturgis
was then authorized to print and circulate his
letter. which he has done in pamphlet form. II
is entitled The Other Side, as viewed by Generals
Grant, Sherman, and other distinguished officers, -
&C., and from 1t the above facts are given,