The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-17
GARFIELD ON RbSNCRANS.
The Publication "a nn Old Letter
from the Late I>rcsident Causes a
Sensation.

The Publication ~ nm Ola Letter
from the late I,resident Causes a
Sensation.
WASHINGTON, March 10.
Some time during the last political canvass q
paragraph. was published in which it was said
that Gen. Garfield had, during the war, pre-
ferrId charges of a serious character against
In Old commander. Gen. Rosecrans. Charles
A. Dana made the original charge. This
Wrought out note from Gen. Garfield to Rose
Grams, in which he distinctly said that he had
never been untrue to his commander in word
or thought "Dana or any other liar
to the contrary" Mr.. Dana to sustain
his original statement, has printed
confidential letter from Gen Garfield addressed
to Salmon p. Chase, during the war. Gen
Rosecrans declines at present to say anything
about the matter. He Is taking steps to ascer-
esin whether or not the letter is genuine. The
letter is printed in full below. 1t Is marked
Confidential, +" and dated Headquarters De-
partment Of the Cumberland, Nashville, July
~, 1881"
MY DEAR Governor: 1 have for long time
wanted to write to YOU not only to acknowledge
your last kind letter, but also TO say some things
confdentially on the movements In this depart
ment but / have refrained hitherto, lest de
u
which were better left unsad. We have now,
however, reached point upon which feel it
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
in the outset that il would be in the highest de-
gree unjust to say that the B2 days which
Il. NkA koNtI Of and
the next advance OF this army we're spent in
idleness trifIng. During that period was
performed the enormous and highly important
labor which made the Army Of the Cumberland
what 1t IL, In many respects by far
the best the country has ever known
But for many weeks prior to our late move
mtnt could not but feel that there was not
that live and earnest determination to fling
the great weight of this army into the scale and
maks its power felt In crushing the shell Of the
Rebellion. L have no words 10 tell you with
how FESTIVE and unsatiShed q split / waited
and pleaded for striking a sturdy blow. could
not justly say we were Ill any proper condition
to advance till the early days OF May. AT that
time the strings began TO draw sharply upon
the rebels, boln on the Mississippi and III the
East. They began to fear for the safety OF
Vicksburg, and before the middle or May they
began quietly to draw away forces to aid Penn
berton L plead for m advance, but not till
June began dld Gen. Rosecrans begin seriously
TO mediate an immediate movement. The
army had grown anxious with the exception
of lts leading Generals VINO seemed blind
TO the advantages of the hour. In tho first
week Of the month council OF war called
and, out of eighteen Generals whose opinion
was asked, seventeen were opposed to an adj
vance. l was the only one who urged
upon the General the imperative necessity
OF striking q blow at once, while Bragg
was weaker and We stronger than ever before
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 200,
allowing the most liberal estimates of his force
This paper was drawn up on the 9Th OF june
After its presentation, and full canvassing of
the situation, an advance was agreed
upon, but it delayed through days
which seemed months 10 me. TIL the oath,
when it was begun and ended with what re-
suits you know The wisdom of the movement
was not only indicated, but the seventeen dis
sentlng Generals were compelled to confess
that, ii the movement had been made ten
days earlier, while the weather was proptious,
the army of Bragg would, in all human proba-
bility, no longer exist. l shall never cease to
regret the sad delay which lost great an
opportunity TO lnfiict mortal blow upon the
center of the Rebellion. The work Of expelling
Bragg from Middle Tennessee occupied nine
days and ended July 3, leaving his troops in a
most dsheartened and demoraliZed condition,
while our army, with q loss of less than 1000
men, was, in a few days, fuller Of potential
fight than ever before.
On the 18th inst. the bridges were rebuilt,
and the cars were III full communication from
the Cumberland to the Tennessee. l have since
then urged with all the earnestness possess a
rapid advance, while Braggs army was shat
tered and under cover, and before Johnston
and he could effect Junction. Thus far the
General has been singularly disinclined to grasp
the situation with a strong hand and make the
advantage bis own, / write this with more sor-
row than / can tell you, for love every bonein
his body, and noxt to my desire to see the
Rebellion blasted is my anxiety TO see HIM
blessed. But even the breadth OF my love is
not sufficient 10 cover this almost fatal delay.
My personal relations with Gen. Rosecrans are
all that could dcsire. Officially, share his
counsels and responsibilities even more than
desire, but beg you 10 know that this delay
Is against my judgment and my every wish.
Pleasant as are my relations here, l would rath-
er command battalion that would follow and
follow and strike and strike than to hang
back while such golden moments are passing.
But the General and. myself believe that L can
do more service in my present place than in
command Of O division, though l am aware
that it is position that promises better in the
way OF promotion or popular credit. But, IL
this naction continues long l shall ask to be
relieved and sent somewhere where L can DO
part of working army.
But do hope that you will soon hear that
this splendid army il at least trying to do its
part in the great work.
If the War Department has not always been
just, it has certainly been very indugent to
this army. But l feel that the time has now
come when 1t should allow no plea 10 keep this
army back from the hiost-vigorous activity.
do hope that no hopes OF peace or submis-
sive terms on the part of the rebels will lead
the Government To delay the draft and the
vigorous prosecution OF the war. Timeo
Ddndos ei dond fe1entos.
Let the nation now display the majesty of its
power and the work Will be speedily ended.
hope you will pardon tins lengthy letter;
but wanted you to know how the case stands,
and was unwilling To have you think me salts
fed with the delays here. With kindest regards
/ am, ever, your friend, j. A. GARFIELD.
Hon. s. =. Chase.
GEN. RosECRANs is represented rs feeling very
badly over the publication of the Garfield