The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-03-10

reflects upon General Rosecrans. Il vii
be remembered that General Rosecran
disputed an extract in Blaine's eulogy OF
the late President Garfield relating to th
Army Of the Cumberland. The letter, It
thought, Is now made public by Genera
Garfeld's friends to show that Mr.. Blain
was not SO far from right as General Rose
Grams may have thought him TO be:
LcouhdentIGll.
HEADQUARTERS \
DEPARTMENT or THE CUMBERLAND,
NASHVILLE, July %, 1858.
''MY DEAR GOVERNOR have for Ion,
time wanted to write to you, not only to &C
knowledge your last kind letter, but also L
say something confidential on the move
ments Of this Department; but have re
Trained hitherto, lest do injustice 10
good man, and say to you things which
were better left unsaid. We have now
however, reached a point upon which
feel 1t proper, and also due 10 that kint
opinion which believe you have had O
me, to acquaint you with the condition o.
affairs here.
~ can not conceal from you the fact thai
| have been greatly tried and dissatisfied
with the slow progress that we have made
In this Department since the battle at Stone
River: l will say in the outset that il
would be in the highest degree unjust tc
say that the one hundred and sixty.twC
days which elapsed before the battle d
Stone River and the next advance OF this
army were spent in idleness or trifling
During that period was performed the
enormous and highly important labor
which made the Army OF the Cumberland
what 1t is, in many respects by far the best
the country has ever known. But for
many weeks prior to our late movement |
could not help but feel that there was NOT
that live and earnest determination to
hing the great weight Of this army into the
scale, and make its power felt in crushing
the shell Of the rebellion.
u have no words TO tell you with how
restiye and unsatisfed spirit waited and
pleaded for striking sturdy blow. | could
not justly say We were in any proper con.
ditiOn to advance till the early days Of
May. Atthat time the strings began to
draw sharply upon the rebels, both on the
Mississippi and in the East. They began
to fear for the safety OF Vicksbury' and be.
fore the middle OF May they began quietly
to draw away forces to aid Pemberton. I
pleaded for an advance, but not until June
began did General Rosecrans begin seri-
ously to mediate an immediate move
ment.
The army had grown anxious, with the
exception OF its leading Generals, who
seemed blind to the advantage Of the hour.
In the first week OF the month q council OF
war was called, and, out OF eighteen Gen.
erals whose opinions were asked, seven
teen were opposed TO an advance. was
the only one who urged upon the General
the necessity Of striking blow at once,
while Bragg was weaker and we stronger
than ever before. wrote a careful review
OF the opinions Of the Generals, and ex.
exhibited the facts, gathered from ample
data, that We could throw 700 bayonets
and sabres against B1gg's II 900, allowing
the most liberal estimates Of his force.
This paper was drawn up on the Sth Of
June. After its presentation and full can
vaSsing OF the situation, an advance was
agreed upon; but it was delayed through
days which seemed months to me till the
18th, when it was begun and ended, with
what results you know. The wisdom OF the
movement was not only yindicated, but
the seventeen dissenting Generals were
compelled TO confess that II the movement
had been made ten days earlier, while the
weather was propitious, the army OF Bragg
would, in all human probability, no longer
exist. shall never cease to regret the sad
delay, which lost US so great an opportu-
nifty to lntiict mortal blow upon the CEN
tre OF the rebellion. The work OF cxpellinp
Bragg from Middle Tennessee occupied
nine days, and ended July Sd, leaving his
troops in most disheartened and demora-
liZed condition; while our army, with a
loss OF less than one thousand men, was in
a few days fuller OF potential fight than
ever before.
"On the 18th inst. the bridges were re-
built and the cans were in full communica.
ton from the Cumberland to the Tennes-
see. have since then urged, with all the
earnestness l possess, q rapid advance
while Bragg army was shattered and under
cover, and before Johnston and he could
effect a Junction. Thus far the General
has been singularly disinclined to grasp
the situation with strong hand and make
the advantage his own. ! write this with
more sorrow than can tell you, for love
every bone in his body, and, next to nv
desire TO see the rebellion blasted is nv
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 General
Rosecrans are all that / could desire. or
fcially share his counsels and RESPONSE.
bilities, even more than desire; but | beg
you to know that this delay is against nv
judgment and my every wish. Pleasant as
are my relations here, would rather com.
mand 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 coin.
mand Of division, though l am
aware that it is q position that promises
better in the way OF promotion or popular
credit. But II this inaction continues long,
| shall ask to be removed, and sent some.
where where can be part OF q working
army. But l do hope that you will soon
hear that this splendid army is at last try.
ing to do its part in the great work. II the
War Department has not always been lust,
it has certainly been very indnlgent to this
army. But l feel that the time has now
come when It should allow no plea to keep
this army back from the most vigorous &C.
tivity.
II do hope that no hopes Of peace or
submissive terms on the part Of tie rebels
will lead the Government to delay the draft
and the vigorous prosecution Of the war.
TiHleo DaRGoS et dOnG terEnteS. Let the ma
ton now display the majesty Of its power,
and the work will speedily end. / hope
you will pardon this lengthy letter, but /
wanted you to know how the case stands,
and l was unwilling to have you think me
satisfied with the delays here.
with kindest regards, l am, as ever,
your friend, J. A. GARErELD.
"Hon. :. P. Chase"
General Rosecrans declines to say any,
thing in reply to the letter published
purporting to have been written by